In the contested races, it’s always like a game of musical chairs. When the election is over, the results are tallied, the music stops, and only a select few will have a seat at the table.
On the other side of the coin, when the community is short candidates, it’s a question of who wants the job. But what happens if nobody wants the job? According to the Fillmore County Auditor/Treasurer, a “write-in candidate can accept or not accept the nomination. If they don’t, the municipality will then need to decide whether or not to appoint someone or have a special election to fill the vacant seat(s).”
Here’s the breakdown based on candidate shortages and contested races for our newspaper coverage area.
State Representative District 26B
The incumbent, current State Representative Greg Davids, will face challenger Allie Wolf on Election Day. For the August 13, 2024, primary in District 26B, the competing republican candidates (Davids and Steuart) reeled in a combined 3,666 votes compared to the democrat candidates (Leitzen and Wolf) who garnered 1,783 votes. In 2022, Davids ran uncontested, earning 15,037 of the votes for District 26B. For the 2020 election, Davids faced challenger Jordan Fontenello. Incumbent Davids won the election with more than 63% of votes, with challenger Fontenello receiving more than 36% of the votes.
County Commissioner
Fillmore County – District 3
– Contested Race
Lawrence Hindt and Gerald A. Wolf are on the ballot.
Houston County – District 5
– Contested Race
Greg Myhre and Mikal Syllling are on the ballot.
City Council & Mayor
Caledonia Mayor –
Contested Race
Pree Amin and Jeremy Leis are competing for votes for the title of mayor.
Canton City Council –
Short Candidates
Jen Dolwing is running, but there are two seats to fill.
Chatfield Mayor –
Contested Race
John McBroom and Curtis Sorenson will face off on Election Day.
Fountain City Council –
Short Candidates
There are two seats available and nobody on the ballot. Write-ins welcome.
Harmony City Council –
Contested Race
Jesse Grabau, Keith McIntosh, Tara Morem and Brad Thacher are competing for two available seats on the council.
Lanesboro Mayor –
Contested Race
There’s a line forming for this opportunity to lead: Mindy Albrecht-Benson, Donald Bell, Alicia Pearson and Ken Soiney. We have four candidates seeking the position of Mayor for Lanesboro.
Lanesboro City Council –
Contested Race
Joe Cullen, Sarah Pieper and Kathryn Wade will be seeking votes to earn a spot on the city council. Only two seats available.
Mabel Mayor –
Contested Race
In Mabel, Clarence Austin Brumm will face Adam Wilder for the title of Mayor.
Mabel City Council –
Contested Race
Four individuals, Craig Amdahl, Kelly Sand, Cory Wilson and Kirsten Wyffels are vying for two available seats on the city council.
Ostrander Mayor –
Contested Race
Pam Kunert will face Stephanie Start for the seat of mayor.
Ostrander City Council –
Contested Race
Laney Brincks, Jimmie Dean Jr., Crystal Erickson, Dan Hellerud and Vernon Thompson are competing for two open seats on the council.
Preston Mayor –
Contested Race
Austin Baukol, Alison Leathers, and Kurt Reicks are seeking votes for the position of Mayor.
Rushford Mayor –
Short Candidates
No candidates filed. Another write-in opportunity.
Rushford City Council –
Short Candidates
No candidates filed, and there are two seats available.
Spring Grove Mayor –
Contested Race
Bryan Goober Wilhelmson and Saundra (Saundry) Solum are competing for the lead role of mayor.
Spring Grove City Council – Contested Race
Three candidates, two seats available. Morgan Buckland, Rinda Connelly and Michael Hagen are on the ballot.
Spring Valley Mayor –
Contested Race
Justin Mlinar and Luan R. Ruesink are seeking the position of Mayor.
Spring Vally City Council – Contested Race
Greg Brooks, Chris Danielson and John Dols are competing for two open seats on the council.
Wykoff City Council –
Contested Race
Two seats available and four candidates seeking election: Jane Baker, Jerico Bushman, Barbara Fate, and Mitchell Joe Horsman.
School Board
Caledonia School District – Contested Race
Four candidates and only three seats. Julie Augedahl, Leigh King, Carol Nelson and Spencer Yohe are on the ballot.
Chatfield School District – Contested Race
Four candidates and three positions to fill: Aric T Bauman, Jill Harstad, Tom Keefe and Katie Priebe.
Fillmore Central School
District – Contested Race
Four candidates, Aaron Bishop, Carrie Mathison, Brian Michel and Jason Schwarz are seeking one of three seats on the school board.
Grand Meadow School
District – Contested Race
Six candidates and three seats available. Russell Crabtree, Steve Meyerhofer, Justin A. Queensland, Courtney Soltau, Karsen Ulwelling and Matt Unverzagt.
Houston School District – Short Candidates /
Contested Race
There are three seats available for School Board Member, and only two candidates: Mimi Carlson and Josh Norlein. Meanwhile, there are two candidates and one seat to fill for the Special Election for School Board Member: Frederick Beseler and Lisa Schultz.
Kingsland School District – Contested Race
Dan Freeman, Kyle Mulhern, Ann Oeltjen, Cindy Seabright and Brady Wolfgram are running in a contested race for School Board Member at Large with four seats to fill. For the Special Election for School Board Member at Large, there are two candidates vying for one seat: Dan Schmidt and Steven Lynn Tammel.
La Crescent-Hokah School District – Contested Race
Five candidates and four seats up for grabs. Those on the ballot are Brandon Lange, Paige Matthews Schoepel, Eric Morken, Steven Porter and Wade Welper.
Lanesboro School District – Contested Race
Another hotly contested race. Lucas Bergo, Tamara DeGarmo, Mark Holmen, Jennifer Kimball-Olson, Sarah Peterson and Christine Troendle are on the ballot, and voters can only pick three.
LeRoy-Ostrander School
District – Short Candidates
Four seats to fill and only three candidates: Daniel Evans, Nicole Wallace, and Jessica Yoch. Write-in candidates needed.
Mabel-Canton School District – Short Candidates
Three candidates, Jason Marquardt, Chris Miller and Mark Weidermann are on the ballot, but there are four seats to fill. Another write-in candidate will be needed to fill all four seats.
Rushford-Peterson School
District – Contested Race
Five candidates and four seats up for grabs. Chris Grindland, Matt Helgemoe, Marge O’Laughlin, Ken Swalve and Amy Woxland are on the ballot.
Spring Grove School District – Contested Race
Four candidates and three seats: Shawn Buckland, Myriah Klug, Stephanie Morken Jaster and Lisa Myhre.
Getting to Know Candidates…
All candidates in contested races have been mailed a letter including the following questions to answer for voters.
- Tell us about yourself.
- Why are you running for office?
- What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?
The cost for candidates to have their Q & A published is $50. If any of these candidates have not received a letter in the mail, they can contact our Preston office at 507-765-2151 or news@fillmorecountyjournal.com.
The submission deadline is Tuesday, October 8. All Q & A submissions will be published in the October 14, 21 and 28 issues of the Fillmore County Journal.
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