NORTHERN — Drew Hildenbrand and Kenneth Glidden were elected to serve for four years on the first-ever Northern City Council.
They were the top two vote-getters in a wide field of candidates for the new four-year positions.
Hildenbrand is the principal of Bemidji Middle School, and Glidden is a retired Navy veteran.
Town board member Curt Blumhagen was not elected to serve on the new Council. Brian Giaque, Ryan Grow and Deena Monk-Kobow also unsuccessfully vied for the positions.
Longtime town board member Jess Frenzel is running unopposed for mayor, slated for a two-year term beginning in January 2027.
Fellow town board members Michael Kelly and Gary Barnard ran unopposed for the two available two-year council seats.
Town board member Rhonda Dockendorf did not file for election.
This was the first election for a City Council in what is currently Northern Township.
Early in 2026, an administrative law judge granted Northern Township's petition to become a city while rejecting the city of Bemidji's counterpetition to extend its city limits around Lake Bemidji.
Northern will officially become a city when it reorganizes as a five-member body with four at-large members and a mayor on Nov. 23.
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