Candidate filing period open through Tuesday

Anyone interested in running for local school board, township office or most municipal mayor and city council seats has until the end of the day Tuesday, Aug. 13, to file an affidavit of candidacy and pay the minimal filing fee at the respective city, town or school office.

Nate Sandman says it’s the best $2 you’ll ever spend.

The Cloquet school board chair is wrapping up his eighth year on the board. He doesn’t plan to run again, but said anyone who cares about kids and is passionate about education should consider running.

There were zero candidates running for Cloquet School Board as of Wednesday.

“There are people out there that would be good for the board,” Sandman said. “Sometimes it’s just taking that step forward.”

Serving on a school board is also a good first step for anyone interested in public office, he said, to develop their understanding of governance.

“I learned quite a bit and met a lot of great staff,” Sandman said. “I look back at all the changes over the last eight years: a new middle school, new superintendent, Covid…. It’s definitely been an eventful time on the board.”

Sandman, Ken Scarbrough and Melissa Juntunen are the three Cloquet school board members whose terms are ending this year. As of Wednesday, none of them had signed up to run again.

Check the isd94.org home page for a comprehensive guide to filing and qualifications. Paperwork and the $2 filing fee can be submitted to Mary at the Cloquet Public Schools district office in the old Garfield School building at 302 14th St., Cloquet, through 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Other school boards

Each school district has three seats open every two years, unless there’s a special election for a vacant seat. Candidates can download paperwork online or just stop by the local school district office, which is where people have to file, by Tuesday. All seats are at-large.

Other local school board openings follow.

Barnum: As of Wednesday, four incumbent candidates had filed for four seats in Barnum: Louis Bonneville, Beth Dinger, Stephanie Ferrin and Patrick S. Poirier.

Carlton: As of Wednesday, two people had filed in Carlton: Ryan Leonzal and Dan Solarz. Leonzal was elected during special election in November 2023 to fill the seat vacated by Tim Hagenah. Terms are ending for Leonzal, Julianne Emerson and Eryn Szymczak.

Cromwell-Wright: No one had filed yet for school board in Cromwell-Wright as of Wednesday. Terms are ending for Tristan Johnson, Brian Granholm and Timothy Homstad.

Esko: No one has filed yet, but superintendent Aaron Fischer isn’t worried. “This is normal,” Fischer said. “Most years people sign up closer to the filing deadline.” Terms for current school board members Steve McConnell, Leona Johnson and Jerry Frederick end this year.

Moose Lake: One candidate, Jim Gerdes, had filed for Moose Lake school board as of Wednesday. Terms are ending for Gerdes, Lisa Anderson-Reed and Ben Anderson.

Wrenshall: As of Wednesday morning, two people had filed for Wrenshall school board: Jon Beck and Ashley Laveau. Terms are ending for Nicole Krisak, Misty Bergman and Alice Kloepfer.

City offices

With the exception of Cloquet, which filed in May, the filing period is open through Tuesday for other city council and mayor positions. Here’s a quick update on who has filed as of Wednesday, according to the Secretary of State website:

Carlton: Incumbent mayor Mike Soderstrom has filed for reelection. One person, Denise Coleman Lyng, has filed for city council, which has two seats up for election.

Barnum: No one has filed for two council seats.

Cromwell: No candidates have filed for the two four-year council seats or the special two-year election council position.

Kettle River: No one has filed for mayor or two city council positions in Kettle River.

Moose Lake: Both Doug Juntunen and Jim Michalski filed for mayor in Moose Lake. Kristin Heaton Huso and Lou Ohly filed for the two city council seats.

Scanlon: Only Scott Boedigheimer has filed for the two city council seats.

Wrenshall: Jeff Bloom had filed for mayor. Steven Studniski and Cindy Washensky had filed for the two council seats.

Wright: Donovan E. Ranta filed for mayor. Jerri Haugan and Gene Lott had filed for the two council positions.

Townships

No one has filed for either Town Board Supervisor Seat C or Seat D in Thomson Township as of Wednesday, seats currently held by Bill Gerard and Dave Sunnarborg.

The county’s other organized townships also have seats up for election on their town boards. Find updates at candidates.sos.mn.gov; in the “Search by Office” pane, select “City/Township” or “School District” from the dropdown menu.