by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Sartell voters will have a chance to choose a mayor, two council members and three school-board members in the upcoming election. Voters will also have a chance to mark yes or no to a request for extension of the half-cent sales tax.
The following is what Sartell voters (those who live on the west side of the city in Stearns County) will see on the Nov. 4 Election Day ballots. The candidates, in the following order, were taken directly from a sample ballot from the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Those who live in east Sartell, in Benton County, will see a different ballot, with different choices for county offices and candidates for the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District. For a list of those candidates, please see the very end of this story.
FEDERAL OFFICES
U.S. Senator (vote for 1)
Steve Carlson, Independence
Mike McFadden, Republican
Al Franken, Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Heather Johnson, Libertarian
Write-in, if any
U.S. Representative District 6 (vote for 1)
John Denney, Independence
Tom Emmer, Republican
Joe Perske, Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Write-in, if any
STATE OFFICES
State Representative District 13B (vote for 1)
Tim O’Driscoll, Republican
Write-in, if any
Governor and Lieutenant Governor (vote for 1 team)
Hannah Nicollet and Tim Gieseke, Independence
Jeff Johnson and Bill Kuisle, Republican
Mark Dayton and Tina Smith, Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Chris Holbrook and Chris Dock, Libertarian
Chris Wright and David Daniels, Grassroots, Legalize Cannabis
Write-in, if any
Secretary of State (vote for 1)
Bob Helland, Independence
Dan Severson, Republican
Steve Simon, Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bob Odden, Libertarian
Write-in, if any
State Auditor (vote for 1)
Patrick Dean, Independence
Randy Gilbert, Republican
Rebecca Otto, Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Keegan Iverson, Libertarian
Judith Schwartzbacker, Grassroots, Legalize Cannabis
Write-in, if any
Attorney General (vote for 1)
Brandon Borgos, Independence
Scott Newman, Republican
Lori Swanson, Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Andy Dawkins, Green Party
Mary O’Connor, Libertarian
Dan R. Vacek, Legalize Marijuana Now
Write-in, if any
COUNTY OFFICES
County Auditor-Treasurer (vote for 1)
Randy Schreifels
Write-in, if any
County Recorder (vote for 1)
John Beuning
Diane Grundhoefer
Write-in, if any
County Sheriff (vote for 1)
John L. Sanner
Mark J. Bromenschenkel
Write-in, if any
County Attorney (vote for 1)
Mark Hansen
Janelle Kendall
Write-in, if any
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor District 1 (vote for 1)
Charles Uphoff
Write-in, if any
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor District 5 (vote for 1)
Thomas Gregory
Write-in, if any
CITY OFFICES
Mayor City of Sartell
Sarah Jane Nicoll
Write-in, if any
Council Member City of Sartell (Vote for up to 2)
David Peterson
Dawn Loberg
Pat Lynch
Write-in, if any
CITY QUESTION:
EXTENSION OF ONE-HALF PERCENT SALES TAX.
Explanation: The residents of Sartell, St. Joseph, St. Augusta, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park currently collect a ½-percent sales-and-use tax which will expire on Dec. 31, 2108. The State Legislature has authorized the extension of the existing ½-percent sales-and-use tax for the aforementioned cities through 2038, subject to voter approval in each city.
If Sartell voters approve an extension, the first $900,000 collected annually will be used to fund the jointly funded regional projects identified below with the remaining annual sales tax funds distributed in the area cities pursuant to a Joint Powers Agreement. The area cities can use the remaining sale-and-use tax dollars for other projects in their individual cities.
JOINTLY FUNDED REGIONAL PROJECTS:
Regional trails – Interconnection of trail system, not to exceed $500,000 annually; Regional community/aquatics center, not to exceed $200,000 annually; Regional Airport, not to exceed $200,000 annually.
SARTELL REGIONAL PROJECTS:
Acquistion and Improvement of Regional Park Land and Open Space, Community and Aquatics Center Facilities: All or part of the cost for acquisition of, betterment of, development of, and improvements to regional park land and open space which could include trails, recreational fields, pools, shelters and similar facilities and for the cost for acquisition, betterment, construction and development of community center facilities which could include gymnasium space, aquatics/pool facilities, library/media resource facilities, community meeting rooms, senior center activity space and similar facilities, in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the tax revenues received by the City of Sartell.
Regional Transportation Improvements: All or part of the cost of acquisition, betterment and construction of new and reconstruction of existing regional roadways and related infrastructure which could include Pinecone Road, 50th Avenue S., 27th Street N, LeSauk Drive and other regionally significant roadway corridors, in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the tax revenue received by the City of Sartell.
Shall the City of Sartell be authorized to continue the collection of a ½-cent sales-and-use tax through the year 2038 to pay for all or part of the above-listed regional projects?
SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES.
School Board Member Independent School District No. 748 (Sartell) (vote for up to 3)
Patrick Marushin
Mary E. McCabe
Michelle Meyer
Write-in, if any
(Note: the rest of the back of the ballot contains the names of more than 30 candidates for judges in various courts.)
BENTON COUNTY CANDIDATES:
COUNTY OFFICES
County Commissioner District 3 (vote for 1)
Brad Gunderson
Jim McMahon
Write-in, if any
County Auditor/Treasurer (vote for 1)
Karri Thorsten
Write-in, if any
County Recorder (vote for 1)
Marilyn J. Novak
Write-in, if any
County Sheriff (vote for 1)
Troy Heck
Pete Skwira
Write-in, if any
County Attorney (vote for 1)
Philip Miller
Write-in, if any
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor District 2 (vote for 1)
Joseph Jordan
Write-in, if any
Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor District 3 (vote for 1)
Phillip Grosland
Write-in, if any
SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES
School Board Member Independent School District No. 47 (Sauk Rapids) (vote for up to 3)
Phil Rogholt
Robyn L. Holthaus
Lisa J. Braun
Write-in, if any
