Brainerd School Board candidate list keeps growing

By Dispatch staff report

August 12, 2022 at 5:50 PM

Members of the community continue to show interest in serving on the Brainerd School Board as the 13th candidate joined the list Friday, Aug. 12.

Michelle Brekken of Baxter became the sixth person seeking one of two seats up for special election, meaning those elected would serve two-year terms.

More election 2022 coverage

Seven other candidates thus far filed for the other three seats available, which include a four-year term. Two current incumbents who occupy seats up for election this year — Ruth Nelson and Tom Haglin — are not among that group with two business days left in the candidate filing period.

Also jumping into the fray Friday were two incumbent mayors. Crosby Mayor Diane Cash filed for reelection, joining candidate Sierra McLean for a competitive race. And in Emily, current Mayor Tracy Jones entered the race, the third candidate to do so.

A fourth candidate, Bryan Held, filed for Pequot Lakes School Board, making the race competitive for three seats.

Those interested in a seat at the table in their local city, township or school district government have through 5 p.m. Tuesday to file.

Visit candidates.sos.state.mn.us to view who’s filed thus far and to learn which seats are up for election.

Filings on Aug. 12

School districts

Brainerd School District No. 181

Special election for School Board member (elect two) — Michelle Brekken.

Cass Lake-Bena School District No. 115

School Board member (elect three) — Terri Finn-Goggleye.

Crosby-Ironton School District No. 182

School Board member (elect three) — Russell Reisz.
Special election for School Board member (elect two) — Steve Hudson Cotariu, Laura Lee.

Pequot Lakes School District No. 186

School Board member (elect three) — Bryan Held.

Cities

Backus

Council member (elect two) — Nancy Foley.

Crosby

Mayor — Diane Cash (incumbent).

Deerwood

Mayor — John V. Taylor.
Council member (elect two) — Joshua H. Voller.
Special election for council member — Bridgett Quist.

Emily

Mayor — Tracy Jones (incumbent).
Council member (elect two) — Andrea Donnelly.

Fifty Lakes

Council member (elect two) — Jill Radman.

Walker

Council member (elect two) — Jim Senenfelder (incumbent).

Townships

Crooked Lake Township

Township supervisor, seat 3 — Jerry Shields.

Fairview Township

Township supervisor, seat 1 — Walter Richmond (incumbent).
Township supervisor, seat 3 — Tony Cyr.

Long Lake Township

Township supervisor, seat B — Mark Olson.
Township treasurer — Virginia Smart (incumbent).

Pelican Township

Special election for township supervisor, seat C — Thomas Boldt.

Shingobee Township

Township supervisor, seat 5 — Ronald W. Geiser (incumbent).

Wabedo Township

Township supervisor, seat 2 — Chaz Ratz (incumbent).

Wolford Township

Township supervisor, seat 1 — Cathy Preston.

Hospital district

Cuyuna Range Hospital District

Hospital district board member, Wolford Township — Roger Twigg (incumbent).

By Dispatch staff report

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of "staff." Often, the "staff" byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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Brainerd School Board candidate list keeps growing

Also jumping into the fray Friday were two incumbent mayors and a Pequot Lakes School Board candidate.

Filings on Aug. 12

School districts

Cities

Townships

Hospital district