by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Filings closed June 2 for elected positions with a potential primary on Aug. 11. Here are the filings for offices as recorded by the Secretary of State.
U.S. Senate
DFL incumbent Tina Smith will be challenged by Steve Carlson, Ahmad R. Hassan, Paula Overby and Christopher Lovell Seymore Sr.
Republicans will have a choice between the party endorsed candidate, Jason Lewis, and John L. Berman, Bob Carney Jr., Cynthia Gail and James Reibestein.
Two minor party candidates filed for U.S. Senate. They are Kevin O’Connor, Legal Marijuana Now, and Oliver Steinberg, Grassroots – Legalize Cannabis.
Sixth District
Both parties will conduct primaries in the Sixth District. On the Republican side, incumbent Tom Emmer is challenged by Patrick Munro. Democrats will choose between endorsed candidate Tawnja Zahradka and Aaron Aanerud.
Legislature
There will be no primary contests for District 13 Senate and House.
In Senate District 13, Republican incumbent Jeff Howe will face DFL challenger Michael Willemsen. Republican incumbent Tim O’Driscoll will compete with Democrat Benjamin Carollo in District 13B.
District 13B includes Sartell, St. Stephen and northeast Stearns County.
House District 13A includes St. Joseph and most of southeast Stearns County from Lynden Township to Paynesville.
Sartell City Council
Four people are running for two seats on the City Council. The candidates are incumbent Mike Chisum, Aaron Johnson, Alex Lewandowski and Jill Smith. Brady Andel did not file for re-election. Because four candidates filed for the two seats, no primary is needed.
St. Cloud school board
There are four seats open on the school board. Incumbents Al Dahlgren, Shannon Haws and Monica M. Segura-Schwartz will be joined on the ballot by Scott Andreasen, Omar Abdullahi Podi and Andrea Preppernau. Incumbent Jeff Pollreis did not file for re-election. With seven candidates, a primary will not be necessary and all candidates will be on the general election ballot.
Commissioner District 2
Incumbent Joe Perske is the only candidate who filed to represent Stearns County Commissioner District 2. There will be no primary for that seat and he will run unopposed on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The filing period for offices that do no conduct primaries runs from July 28 until Aug. 11. Those races include St. Joseph City Council and Sartell-St. Stephen school board. The general election is Nov. 3.
