Along with today’s presidential race, state and local elections are also taking place in Minnesota.
Poll open until 8 p.m.
International Falls City Administrator Betty Bergstrom says they are ready for a good turnout at the polls.
“We do have a full staff at all of our polling places. We are prepared and ready to go,” says Bergstrom.
“We’re ready for a busy day.”
International Falls is holding elections for mayor and one council position.
Four candidates, Sharon Ball, Wayne Hiebert, Pete Kalar and Andrew Donald Piekarski, are running for mayor.
Drake Dill has also been running a campaign as a write-in candidate.
Bergstrom says with a write-in candidate, a winner may not be declared for several days.
“If there are more write-ins than somebody else on the list, there is a very good chance that person won. However, if one of the people that are on the ballot has more write-ins the likelihood is they’re going to win,” says Bergstrom.
“But we won’t know that until we count all the write-ins at the canvassing meeting on November 14th.”
Mike Holden is the lone candidate on the ballot in the councillor at-large race, but write-ins can also occur.
International Falls Mayor Harley Droba is not seeking a second term, opting instead to run as the Democratic candidate in the race for
District 3A State House seat against incumbent Roger Skraba and Independent candidate Rich Tru.
Koochiching County’s Board of Commissioners is holding elections for two positions.
Seats in District 3 and District 5 are up for the taking, with Adam McIntyre listed as the lone registered candidate in District 3 and Dale Erickson in District 5.
Both are incumbents.
Minnesotans are also being asked if they support a State Constitutional amendment allowing the continuation of lottery money to fund Conservation and Natural Resources-related projects such as protecting the water quality of lakes, rivers, and streams, conserving wildlife habitat and natural areas and improving air quality.
Other races in the County include;
Big Falls
Mayor
Dick Ferguson
Council Member (2 to be elected)
Kenneth Kennedy
Amy Key
Sharon Moe
Beth Pihlaja
Kenneth Warner
Littlefork
Mayor
Michael L Fort
Council Member (2 to be elected)
Loren Lehman
Mizpah
Mayor
Brandon Hartman
Council Member (2 to elected)
Tara Albrecht
Courtney Moyer
Northome
Mayor
Karen A. Olson
Council Member (2 to be elected)
Merritt Montgomery
Cole Van Beusekom
Ranier
Mayor
Dennis Wagner
Council Member (2 to be elected)
Todd T. Coulombe
Jennifer Lahmayer
Joseph James Prettyman
INTERNATIONAL FALLS SD # 361
School Board Member (4 to be elected)
Dale Johnson
Bruce Raboin
Karen Salo
Roxanne T. Skogstad
JoAnn Smith
LITTLEFORK-BIG FALLS SD # 362
School Board Member (3 to be elected)
Jonathan Blake
Monte Nelson
Kimberly Wimmer
SOUTH KOOCHICHING SD # 363
School Board Member (3 to be elected)
Brian Dreher
Jake Hasbargen
Vickie Hasbargen
Douglas Jourdan
Bob Stueven
Thomas VanDamme
