KAXE contacted each candidate at least twice to invite them to participate in our Election Guide, using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published exactly as submitted, including typos and formatting.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics. We will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
Please contact our news team at news@kaxe.org with questions or comments or to report any errors.
KAXE's Election Guide includes contested races in communities with at least 100 people. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else will be on the ballot in November.
About these races
The county board is responsible for governing its county, including by approving the budget. Generally, counties are responsible for the following: property tax assessment, tax administration, elections, record keeping, transportation, planning and zoning, solid waste management, environment, parks and water management, law enforcement, courts and health and human services.
County Commissioner District 3 includes the western portion of the county. Neil Peterson is the incumbent, and he is running for reelection.
Each Soil and Water Conservation District is governed by a five-member board of supervisors elected by the citizens of the county. SWCDs provide technical assistance, funding and educational resources to meet the conservation needs of private landowners. The board is responsible for policy development, annual plans, long-range plans and budgets.
Kevin Wilde is the current SWCD District 3 board member and was appointed to the seat. He is running for election.
The winner of these elections will begin their four-year terms in January.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Age on Election Day: 37
Community: Pennington
Employment: Full-Time farmer and own and operate it
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
Pennington motor county blade operator for the last 5 years. lived in this county for my whole life and pay taxes like everyone else.
Why are you running?
I’m running for County Commissioner because I care deeply about our county and its future. as a lifelong resident, farmer, taxpayer, and former county employee, I understand the challenges our community faces. my five years working for the county gave me firsthand experience with our roads, infrastructure, and county operations
I want to bring common sense responsible spending, transparency, and accountability to county government. I’ll listen to residents work to protect essential services, and look for ways to reduce unnecessary costs.
I’m ready to work hard and serve the community I call home!
Why should voters elect you?
I’m asking for your vote because I’m a lifelong resident who understands this community and cares about its future. i was born and raised here, and I’m proud to be a farmer, taxpayer, and neighbor.
I also worked for the county for five years operating a motor grader, giving me firsthand experience with our highway department and the challenges of county government.
I believe taxpayers deserve responsible spending, accountability, and common sense. I will work to make every tax dollar count, control unnecessary spending, and keep the tax burden as reasonable as possible while protecting the services our community needs. I want to help make our county a place where families can prosper, young people can afford to stay, and farmers and local businesses can succeed. I know our county, I understand the people, and I’m ready to work for you. I would be honored to earn your vote.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
President Trump. to the point no. wishy wash direct. I don't agree fully with a lot of some of his policies but a lot of them I do
What are the three biggest issues your county is facing?
taxes, spending, accountability
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
spending. after working for the county for 5 years, I've seen a lot of ways that we could mitigate the spending while still maintaining the services that the highway department provides along with many other departments.
What would be your top spending priorities and savings priorities in the county budget?
The sheriff's department deserves lots of funding, deputies do a lot to protect and serve this County. Major savings would be in mitigating the new equipment purchases with wiser decisions, buying the equipment and maintaining current equipment to extend the life of current equipment a in the highway department.
Rising property taxes are a concern for many Northern Minnesotans. How would you aim to minimize levy increases?
control wasteful spending on unnecessary purchases. unnecessary equipment uses which includes using County vehicles for personal use to and from their job. do more in-house rather than hiring out certain projects in jobs.
Incumbent
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Age on Election Day: 32
Community: Pennington County
Employment: Goodridge fire dept first responder and ems
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
Worked for the highway dept as a motor grader operator for 9 years. I know the land and rivers like the back of my hand. President's list at NCTC, excelled in Environmental Science. Soil and Water is everything to a community
Why are you running?
Ensure our community is benefiting from all the money coming into this country from tariffs and investments and to ensure we are complying with the constitution
Why should voters elect you?
I excel in everything I do, from college football, to serving as a US army infantryman, to grading roads, to serving my community as a first responder, to Amazon sub contracting/delivering packages to the people, and what I'm most proud of, being a dad.
What does conservation and natural resources management mean to you?
It is our future, it is everything, my daughter's future depends on it
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
Transparency, maximizing financial benefits for the community, maximizing public engagement and involvement, clean water and healthy soil.
What do you think the relationship should be between the SWCD and tribal partners?
Strong and open, water flows no matter what our relationship is, might as well make the most of it
Incumbent
KAXE did no receive a response from this candidate.
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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The retired DNR forester gave a walking tour of his forest property as part of a Cass Soil and Water Conservation District forest management event.
