Filings for office close

The candidate filing period for political races subject to a primary election ended on Tuesday, yielding a ballot with more than a few surprises.

In Cloquet, councilors Lara Wilkinson, Iris Keller, Kerry Kolodge and Lyz Jaakola will all run unopposed, barring a write-in campaign mounted against any of them, on the Nov. 5 ballot.

In Carlton County, the commissioners’ races are a tale of three different outcomes.

To replace outgoing Dick Brenner in District 1, representing west Cloquet, Scanlon and Sawyer, Sarah Plante Buhs and Caleb Dunlap will meet on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Incumbent commissioner Tom Proulx, representing District 3 and most of Cloquet, is running unopposed.

And in District 5, spanning the western half of Carlton County, including Cromwell, Wright, Kettle River and Moose Lake, voters will chose two candidates at the August primary from among six that filed.

The six are: Neil Dickenson of Wright, Alex French of Cromwell, John Peura of Moose Lake, Dan Reed of Kettle River, Jason Syrett of Moose Lake, and Chad Walsh of Moose Lake.

Those half-dozen candidates will meet in the Aug. 13 primary, vying for the right to replace outgoing commissioner Gary Peterson, who filed and is running unopposed for a seat on the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District after 12 years on the Carlton County board.

“Gary was very thoughtful, asked a lot of questions, and spent time figuring out all the sides of an issue,” Reed said. “I was very proud to have him as my commissioner.”

The Pine Knot sought insight from candidates in contested races.

Carlton County District 1

In Carlton County District 1, both Buhs and Dunlap responded.

Currently serving on the Cloquet school board, Buhs said her desire to run was “prompted by my long-term goal of serving in this larger capacity.”

Buhs is executive director of United Way of Carlton County, and has a long history of serving on local boards and commissions. Earlier in her career, she spent many years working with the Cloquet fire department and later the area fire district. Her commissioner focus would be on economic development and growing the tax base.

“I see great potential in our county,” she wrote in response to a newspaper inquiry. “And I will work to leverage some of the incredible business minds in our area to attract and grow business and residential development.”

Dunlap, like Buhs, grew up here before attending UCLA in California. He is currently communications director for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa after working previously at Amazon headquarters in Seattle, implementing programs impacting millions of people, he said. He’s “deeply committed” to serving people, he said, including experience with direct service to people who are homeless and low-income, veterans and the aging population among them.

He called Brenner’s 32 years in the seat “an inspiration.” His priorities align with improving roads and other infrastructure, water quality, natural resources, and land use, he wrote.

“I am passionate about supporting the needs of our county community and am committed to serving all its members as county commissioner,” he wrote.

Carlton County District 5

In District 5, Dickenson, Syrett and Walsh all bring law enforcement backgrounds. Dickenson served in Carlton County for 23 years as a Minnesota State Patrol. He’s been an instructor at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College law enforcement skills program for more than 20 years and served on the Wrenshall school board and as the school’s boys’ basketball coach.

“I am looking for a new challenge in my life,” Dickenson wrote. “I have been retired now for three years and I feel that I have the qualifications and life experience to be the voice for the Carlton County taxpayers.”

Syrett did not respond to questions, but is a former 10-year Moose Lake police officer who ran against Sheriff Kelly Lake in 2022. In that race he sought improved mental health interventions and to curb the number of “frequent flyers” in and out of the county jail.

Walsh is also a former Moose Lake police officer who described himself as a disabled veteran and successful small business owner who helped start a unionized portable restroom company as well as the Dead On Arms gun store and range. He and his spouse have since sold the gun store.

He served in the Army as a military police officer. He previously ran unsuccessfully for sheriff in St. Louis County.

“I am running for office to ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely,” Walsh said. “I want to know why are we spending this money. Public Safety is also a priority. Our community needs to know they are getting the protection they are paying for.”

French, an accountant professionally, won a primary but lost against Peterson for the District 5 seat in 2020. He’s currently on the Cromwell city council and serves as treasurer on the Northwest Carlton County Area Ambulance District.

“I hear a lot about property taxes,” French said. “Taxes are going to go up, but it’s about managing the increases and managing the spending and being an advocate for well-spent tax dollars.”

French, who coaches seventh and eighth grade football in Cromwell, contacted Peterson before running again.

“What Gary told me didn’t scare me,” French said. “It’s a lot of work, a time commitment, but it’s worth the effort.”

Puera is a longtime community advocate, currently serving a second term on the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education. He’s also a Kettle River emergency medical responder, and serves on the Ma and Pa Kettle Days committee.

This school year when Barnum announced a bus driver shortage, Puera acted, getting the proper license and taking on a bus route — something he’s agreed to do again next year. He’s a strong advocate for Carlton County’s Kettle River garage, which has been considered for closing. He also wants to oversee the roll-out of county deputies policing Moose Lake, a development Puera watched closely by attending meetings.

“I will continue to listen to concerns and solutions to issues to formulate the best resolution possible,” Puera said. “My focus is change and longevity versus short-term gains.”

Reed has been a longtime contributor to local newspapers, including the Pine Knot. He’s covered the board in that capacity and also serves on his township board, in addition to being a local historian.

“I’ve been an avid watcher of county government and how it works for probably 20 years or better,” Reed said. “I’ve seen things unfold. One thing I know for sure: I don’t have to take time to get up to speed, because I’m very well aware of the issues.”