A number of familiar candidates will show up on the ballot for this fall's upcoming elections in Carlton County. Several of them have run for office before, and at least one incumbent is "switching gears" to seek a different post.
By the close of filing on Tuesday, July 15, two candidates had thrown their hats in the ring for the position of Carlton County Commissioner from District 5. They include incumbent Ted Pihlman of Moose Lake and challenger Gary L. Halverson of Mahtowa.
In a three-way race for commissioner in District 3, Mark Roberts, Gary Gatewood and Thomas Proulx, all of Cloquet, will vie for the post currently held by Mel Tan, who did not file for reelection. Proulx is leaving his post as at-large Cloquet city councilor to enter the county race. Candidates for this position will be on the primary election ballot on Sept. 9.
Incumbent Dick Brenner of Commissioner District 1 remains unopposed for that county position.
Filing for other county posts were Barbara Dahl, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) 1; Carol Hauck, SWCD 4; and Mark Thell, SWCD 5.
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Incumbent Bruce Ahlgren will run unopposed for the position of mayor of the city of Cloquet, as will incumbents Deb Hill in Ward 5 and Neil Nemmers in Ward 4.
In a two-way race to fill Proulx's at-large position will be candidates Claire Mills Cassandro and Barb Wyman.
Cloquet School District will have three four-year positions up for reelection and one two-year term. Filing for the four-year spots were Gary Huard, Duane Buytaert and Jim Crowley, all incumbents. Filing for the two-year post was incumbent Ron Gittings.
Cromwell School District will have three four-year board positions up for election on the November general election ballot. Filing for those positions were Lola Hakala, Jerri Haugan, Doreen Warner, Steven Bridge (incumbent) and Walter Collman.
Cromwell School District will have an Excess Debt Service Levy Bond Referendum on the Sept. 9 primary ballot, giving school district voters the opportunity to renew, or not renew, the operating referendum originally approved in October 1999 and reauthorized in December 2004 and again in December 2006.
The Pine Journal will update election filings for other city, school district and township positions around the county as they become available during the month of August.
