Opening June 28 and continuing through August 12, pre-election day (early) voting is now open in South Washington County for the August 13 fall primary. Candidate registration for fall ballot access, meanwhile, closes August 13 at 5 p.m.
With the official primary election day August 13, local residents have until then to make use of their franchise. Those wishing to vote in the primary or fall election will need to show acceptable ID, with same day registration at the polling place requiring proof of residency. Online registration closes 21 days before each election, as does paper registration, making onsite registration the only option for primary voters.
So who are the primary and potential fall candidates (should they prevail August 13) as of now?
Glad you asked.
Listed at the Minnesota Secretary of State website are four candidates (Bethany Cox, Scott “Cutter Junker, Michael Schultz, and Mark Wiens) for District 3 County Commissioner, as well as two candidates (Matt Lindholm and Karen Schik) for District 1 Soil and Water Supervisor.
Fran Miron is listed in County Commissioner in District 1, while John Rheinberger is listed for Soil and Water Supervisor in District 3.
As for District 3 Commissioner canddiates, Cox has a website at www.bethanycox.org while Wiens has a website at wiens4washco.com. No other candidate above has a listed website.
Shifting down to the city and township level, candidate filings for City Council include Myron Bailey (unopposed for Mayor), Tony Khambata and Justin Olsen (Cottage Grove Council Member) and Monique Garza for council member facing a special election. Garza was appointed to serve the remainder of Council Member Steve Dennis’ term, who resigned.
None of the Cottage Grove Council candidates has a listed campaign website.
At Newport, meanwhile, candidate filings with the Secretary of State as of August 6 showed only incumbents as well, Mayor Laurie Elliot registering for candidacy to the same post while incumbents Marvin Taylor and Kevin Chapdelaine are likewise registered for Council, no official campaign websites listed.
St. Paul Park does not have municipal offices on the ballot this year.
At Woodbury, meanwhile, there are five council candidates, these being Murid Amini (votemurid.com), Timothy Brewington (no website), Dave Hoelzel (daveforwoodburymn.com), Temmy Olasimbo (no website), and Donna Stafford (also no website).
With five candidates for two seats and none of them incumbents, at least one will be voted off the fall ballot before the August 13 primary is over.
Shifting to federal office and U.S. Senator, the primary offers several choices, including eight different candidates on the Republican side (all but one with website) and five for DFL candidacy (three with website).
For House District 2, five candidates are currently running: two Republicans, two DFL, and one Constitutional Conservative.
For U.S. President, three tickets are registered in the August primary: Shiva Ayyudarai and Crystal Ellis of the Independent party, Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia of the Socialism and Liberation, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan of We the People.
The Presidential candidates for the Republican and Democratic parties have already held primaries for November.
For those looking to get their hat in the ring locally, meanwhile, the deadline for candidacy registration remains August 13 at 5 p.m.
One notarized signature (the candidate’s) is required.