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.
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