Next week signals the official opening of the candidate filing period for many local and state offices, although some candidates have already declared they are running.
The official filing period runs from May 17 to May 31. Candidates for federal, state, county, and some local offices must file for office during this period for their name to appear on the ballot. If more than two candidates file for any seat, there will be a primary election in August, according to Carlton County Auditor/Treasurer Paul Gassert.
Candidate filing requirements vary depending on the office, whether the candidate is a member of a major or minor political party, and whether the office is partisan or nonpartisan. A synopsis how to file for local and state offices follows; all these offices have the May 17-31 filing period:
Candidates for U.S. Representative must file with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Local candidates for State Senator, State Representative, and any Judicial office may file with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State or Carlton County Auditor Paul Gassert. Both the State Representative 11A seat and the State Senator District 11 seat are up for election. Sixth District (Carlton County) Judge Leslie Beiers’ seat is up for election. Candidates running for judicial office need to live in Carlton County or St. Louis County and file where they reside.
Candidates for county offices must file in person at the Carlton County Auditor’s office at the Carlton County Courthouse in Carlton. County offices up for election this year include Carlton County Commissioner for Districts 1, 3 and 5 and Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor for Districts 1, 4 and 5.
Candidates for Cloquet City Council must file with the city clerk at Cloquet City Hall. Open seats in the city of Cloquet are the Ward 4, Ward 5 and at-large city councilors.
Filing fees vary, depending on the office. The fee for County Commissioner is $50, SWCD is $20 and Cloquet City Council is $5. Most city offices, townships and schools are $2, Gassert said, including the Cloquet School District, which will have three at-large seats up for election.
For all other categories including townships, school districts and municipalities (other than Cloquet), the filing period runs Aug. 2-16. Gassert said candidates should file in person with the appropriate filing officer (usually a clerk) for cities, townships and school districts.
Candidates for special districts, such as hospital or park districts, should contact the individual district’s office for information on the filing process.
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Candidates can find more information about filing for office, along with information on campaign finance, filing a campaign committee, and fair campaign practices, at www.sos.state.mn.us in the “Election Administration & Campaigns” section. The state Primary Election Day is Aug. 9, and General Election Day is Nov. 8 this year.
For more information, contact Gassert at 218-384-9127.
