by Mike Knaak
St. Joseph voters re-elected Rick Schultz to a seventh two-year term as mayor. Schultz collected 1,307 votes to 1,166 for challenger Kelly Beniek.
Kevin Kluesner and Adam Scepaniak won four-year terms to the St. Joseph City Council. Kluesner finished with 1,398 votes, Scepaniak received 1,268 votes and third-place finisher Jon Hazen received 1,007 votes.
Zachary Dorholt, Natalie Ringsmuth and Heather Weems were leading in the six-person race for three seats on the St. Cloud school board. Dorholt had 16,371 votes, Ringsmuth 14,694, Weems 14,174, Mike Bueckers 13,530, Nicole Rierson 12,669 and Theresa Carlstedt 10,131. School board members serve four-year terms.
In District 13, Republican incumbents Sen. Jeff Howe and Rep. Lisa Demuth beat their DFL challengers. Howe beat challenger Alissa Brickman, 27,295 to 11,648. Demuth beat Andrea Robinson 15,190 to 5,325.
After redistricting, St. Joseph residents living south of CR 75 and east of College Avenue are in District 14. Incumbent DFL Sen. Aric Putnam beat Republican Tama Theis 15,350 to 13,969. In the 14A House election, Republican Bernie Perryman beat Democrat Tami Calhoun 7,259 to 7,061.
Senators serve four-year terms. Representatives are elected for two years.
County officers were re-elected without opposition. Second District Commissioner Joe Perske, Auditor-Treasurer Randy Schreifels, Sheriff Steve Soyka and County Attorney Janelle Kendall serve four-year terms.
