In the second week of the filing period to run for seats on the Grand Marais City Council, North Shore Hospital board and School District 166, a few more citizens have come forward. However, the school board and Grand Marais council are still lacking candidates. The filing period is open until Primary Election Day, August 12, 2014
Grand Marais City Council
In Grand Marais there are three seats on the ballot, for mayor and two council seats. Mayor Larry Carlson and Councilors Bob Spry and Bill Lenz currently hold those seats. Last week Bob Spry told the News-Herald he would not be running again.
This week Mayor Larry Carlson told the News-Herald he would not be running again and declined making any further statement.
The News-Herald reached Bill Lenz by phone and he too, said he is not running for reelection. “I ran twice,” said Lenz. “I was happy with what we accomplished. I’m not sorry I did it, but it’s time to quit.”
Asked if he had anything to say to citizens considering serving on the council, Lenz said, “I would tell them they are one of five people.”
Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux, owner of the Art House B&B in Grand Marais, has filed for mayor. Dave Mills has filed for a council seat.
In the race for the vacant council seats, the top two vote getters are elected. Anyone interested in running for those seats can file at Grand Marais City Hall between 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The filing fee is $2. Candidates must live in the city of Grand Marais.
There are also three terms expiring for the School District 166 school board this year. The seats are District 1, District 3 and District 5. District 1 includes Colvill, Hovland and Grand Portage. District 3 serves the Grand Marais West and the Cascade area. District 5 serves Lutsen, the Pike Lake area, Tofte and Schroeder. Deb White holds the District 1 seat. Jeanne Anderson currently holds the District 5 seat. Anderson also currently serves as board chair.
Reached by phone last week, White said she was going to run for reelection. “I feel there is a lot of work to be done yet. It’s a really exciting time to be at the school. And, I feel there is nothing more important in this county than our children’s education. That is what propels me.”
White and Anderson both officially filed for reelection on August 4.
The third seat, District 3, is currently held by Leslie Ann Sullivan. She was appointed to fulfill the term when Mary Sanders resigned from the board because she had moved out of District 3. The News-Herald reached Sullivan on July 30 and she said unfortunately she cannot run. She has also moved out of the district.
Sanders made a plea for citizens to come forward to run for the District 3 seat in a letter to the News-Herald last week. Sanders wrote, “Serving on Cook County’s ISD 166 school board was a great privilege for me. Yes, of course there were challenges but there was also personal growth and satisfaction in a job well done during that time of service. I would be more than happy to answer any questions and discuss any concerns you may have about the possibility of your own service. Please contact me by phone at 387-1729 or email msanders@boreal.org.”
Candidates for school board must file with the Cook County auditor’s office at the courthouse. The auditor’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. The office stays open until 5 p.m. on the last filing day, August 12, which is also the day polls are open for the primary election.
There is a $2 filing fee and candidates must live in the district they are wishing to represent.
North Shore Hospital Board
Three Cook County Hospital Board members will be up for reelection this fall. All three incumbents— Sharon Bloomquist in District 1; Howard Abrahamson in District 2; and Thomas Spence Sr. in District 5 have filed to be on the November ballot.
Anyone wishing to run for the hospital board in those districts needs to file at the Cook County Auditor’s Office. The fee for filing is $2. Candidates must live in the district they are wishing to represent.
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