The candidates for Cass County Board have been set: A rancher and a retired nonprofit leader will face off in District 3, and a business owner will face the current commissioner in District 4.
Aaron Young and Leslie Bouchonville led the field of four candidates in the special election in District 3, which includes the cities of Hackensack and Backus and much of southern Cass County west of Pine River. The seat has been vacant since Commissioner Rusty Lilyquist died in February.
Young, who raises beef cattle using regenerative practices, garnered the most votes: 657 or 35.98%. Former Executive Director of the Pine River-Backus Family Center Bouchonville followed with 475 votes or 26.01%.
Dave Tanner of Woodrow Township voted for Fred Hage, who finished last.
“I know him, and I don’t know the rest of the candidates," he said. “I know him to be honest and straightforward.”
Woodrow Township is the only precinct Hage won. Young led in 14 of the 22 precincts, with Bouchonville taking Hackensack and Hiram Township and third-place finisher Jim Lundgren winning the remainder.
Lundgren spent the most of all the candidates, building a website, ordering signs and merch and buying candy for local parades. He spent over $4,000 in all, most of it self-funded.
Young has spent $1,300, mostly on signs and stickers and apparently self-funded, as he hasn't reported any donations.
Bouchonville has raised the most from local donors, amounting to $750. She has spent $2,300 so far.
Further north in District 4, Tyler Seifert of Remer narrowly edged out incumbent Scott D. Bruns, who is also advancing.
District 4 includes the cities of Walker, Longville and Remer.
Bruns won in Walker, the county seat, and the surrounding townships, but Seifert led in the rest of the district.
-
Plus: Marble getes funds to install water filters for manganese and iron; ag department accepts comments on socioeconomic impacts of large dairies, and it's a prolific pinecone season. -
Contributed/Hennepin CountyThe court filing comes ahead of a Sept. 23, 2026, sentencing hearing, 18 months after Eichorn’s arrest as part of an undercover law enforcement sting operation. -
Contributed/J. Stephen Conn via FlickrThe St. Louis County Sheriff's Office responded to the report at 6:19 a.m. Sept. 3, 2026, at the Ash River Visitor Center on Kabetogama Lake. -
Plus: District judges in Crow Wing County request deputy presence at hearings, highway construction project moves forward in Bemidji
-
Emma Krab/KAXEThe Northern Research Station was among several sites slated for closure in March 2026 when the Trump administration announced a major reorganization of the service. -
The Itasca County Sheriff's Office determined the bomb threat at the mine was not credible. Now, they've turned the investigation to the threat itself, which is a felony. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXERight after the back-to-school traffic rush on Sept. 8, 2026, MnDOT crews will implement a detour while rebuilding the north side of the Highway 71 intersection. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEForest Service officials continue to reopen additional sites and recreation areas impacted by wildfire in July 2026. -
Contributed/Fairview Health ServicesThe organization states the name change reflects the relationship between Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital and Fairview Health Services. -
Contributed/Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe Twig Area Trail Riders’ proposed trail system would include over 500 miles of new and existing trail segments.
