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Wabana Township 2026 Election Guide

Tommy Bennett, James Brooks and Lafe Ness are running for Wabana Township Board.

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.

Election Guide Homepage


About this race

The town board of supervisors is responsible for governing the township, including approving a budget and passing city ordinances. Supervisors do not have any individual authority and can only exercise power as part of the board.

Town budgets primarily go toward managing roads and bridges, though the exact services offered vary widely from township to township.

Wabana Township is about 20 miles north of Grand Rapids in Itasca County.

Only one candidate, Steven Melin, filed for Wabana Township clerk.

No incumbents filed in the Seat A position.

Three are running for the seat: Tommy Bennett, James Brooks and Lafe Ness.

The winner of the election will begin their four-year term in January.


Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates

Tommy Bennett

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

James Brooks
James Brooks is running for Wabana Township Board in the 2026 election.
Contributed
James Brooks is running for Wabana Township Board in the 2026 election.

Age on Election Day: 57

Employment: Minnesota North College Hibbing

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

Retired Sheriff Deputy dedicated to service of my community and life long resident of Wabana Township

Why are you running?

Help my community

Why should voters elect you?

Dedicated public servant

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

Assisting in governing Wabana Twp, budgeting, and decision making community functions

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

President Ronald Reagan. He was a proven leader with a great sense of humor even when it came to diversity

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

Fiscal responsibility, Transparency, and a stronger community

Lafe Ness

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.


Return to Election Guide

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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