2023 Township elections filing period

West End townships election period starts now,

Board supervisor and Treasurer positions on March ballot

Candidates file for office through January 17

Lutsen, Schroeder and Tofte, the three townships in Cook County, hold annual elections each March. On the ballot this year are one of the three Supervisors and the Treasurer. Candidates for the positions can file their nomination papers between now and January 17. The election date is March 14, the day of the township annual meetings.

Township board Supervisors serve threeyear terms while Treasurers are elected for two years.

Many of the incumbents whose terms are ending have all said they will seek another term.

Candidates for the March 14 elections, who must be township residents, get on the ballot by filing an Affidavit of Candidacy with the township clerk and paying a $2.00 filing fee. The form is available from the Clerks and can also be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State web site.

Attempts to reach all incumbents whose terms are up in March were made by email and phone. Two did not reply by press time.

Schroeder

Long time Treasurer Carla Menssen says she will file for another Term. Incumbent Supervisor Lloyd Chase, who is completing his first term, said in an email “I have until January 19 to decide.” [January 19 is the last day for persons who have filed by January 17 to withdraw their names as candidates.]

Lutsen

Treasurer Ashley VanDoren says she is planning on running for re-election. She has held the position since March 2020. Supervisor Lollie Cooper, first elected in 2020, was not reached.

Tofte Supervisor Craig Horak says he will file for re-election to the township board. Treasurer Alayna Carrier did not reply on her intentions. She was appointed in 2022 to fill the vacant position.

Townships hold annual elections each spring. In each town, one of the three Supervisors is elected for a three-year term. The town Treasurer and Clerk are on the ballot in alternate years for two-year terms. These are the only annual and spring elections in the county.