Tuesday, Aug. 8, marked a special election in numerous areas across Minnesota, with three commissioner races to fill vacancies in Northern Minnesota.
Hubbard County
In Hubbard County, Steven J. Kernanen of Nevis will join the County Board after receiving 365 votes, or 52.9% of the vote. His opponent, Lyle Howg of Laporte, had 324 votes. This special election for Commissioner District 4, which includes northern Hubbard County including Laporte and Akeley, comes after a primary to fill a vacancy in May.
Commissioner District 4 had 2,995 registered voters as of 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Roseau County
To the north in Roseau County, another special election took place to fill a county commissioner vacancy in District 4 after the resignation of Commissioner Russell Walker. This district contains 12 townships in the southeastern segment of Roseau County.
With 329 votes, Kermit Jensen of Warroad won the seat handily over Tim Palmquist, also of Warroad, who earned 122 votes.
A total of 1,719 District 4 voters were registered as of Tuesday morning.
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Contributed/Minnesota News ConnectionLast year, roughly 2,000 church groups, community organizations, business teams, and individuals filled up more than 42,000 bags of trash. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXESuzy Langhout carries on her mother's tradition of celebrating creativity in dance for annual Bemidji State University Funtastic Dance Follies
Koochiching County
Four candidates ran in a special primary to fill a District 5 vacancy on the Koochiching County Board. A special election became necessary upon the death of Koochiching County District 5 Commissioner Wayne Skoe in February, according to a news release.
Dale N. Erickson of Birchdale received nearly half the entire vote with 270 ballots cast in his favor, with Rich Mastin of Big Falls a distant second with 157 votes. Erickson and Mastin will appear on ballots again in November for a special election. Also on the ballot in Koochiching were Dale Promersberger, earning 104 votes, and Erika Stoltzman, who garnered 17 votes.
Koochiching’s District 5, which includes the cities of Big Falls and Mizpah, has 1,449 registered voters.
More results
Polk County Commissioner District 1, special election
Commissioner District 1 includes 3,299 registered voters and covers the central region of the county, including the cities of Beltrami, Fertil, Mentor and two wards of the city of Crookston, along with 11 townships.
- Paul LF Reese, 581 votes (56.79%).
- Michelle Cote, 441 votes (43.11%).
Red Lake County Commissioner District 3, special election
Commissioner District 3 includes 500 registered voters in Oklee as well as Equality, Garnes and Lambert townships.
- Eric Mickelson, 174 votes (78.38%).
- Arlen Brekke, 48 votes (21.62%).
