Elections will be held for town clerk and a supervisor in each of the West End townships on Tuesday, March 11, with polls opening at 5 p.m. and closing at 8 p.m., in time for the township annual meetings. Although Tofte has two candidates vying for one office, Lutsen has no one on the ballot.
Two candidates vie for Tofte supervisor seat
In Tofte, Clerk Barb Gervais said she is interested in continuing to serve as town clerk and her name will be on the Tofte ballot. She is running unopposed.
Incumbent Supervisor Allan “D.C.” Olsen did not file for re-election and two people are vying for that vacant supervisor seat. Judy Motschenbacher filed for election during the filing period and her name will be on the ballot with Gervais. Another candidate, Jeanne Larson, has announced her intentions to run as a write-in candidate.
The News-Herald reached both candidates by phone and asked why they decided to run for the Tofte town board.
Motschenbacher replied, “Because I have lived, worked, raised my family and devoted most of my life to the West End community. I think Tofte is at a turning point on the brink of this senior housing project.”
Motschenbacher said she believes her real estate experience would be valuable as the township pursues the senior living project. “I’ve been part of the Mink Ranch development and the Aspenwood development, working with some great people. I know real estate and I’m aware of seven vacant homes in Tofte. I think it’s a matter of figuring out how to get young families in those homes. We need to find ways to make it affordable.
“I’ve been on the North Shore Federal Credit Union board for 15 years. They have an excellent first homebuyers project,” said Motschenbacher, noting that there is also help available for homeowners from the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA).
Motschenbacher has also had experience with community youth having taught swimming and ski lessons. She was one of the founding members of the Birch Grove Foundation and Birch Grove Community School. She was also involved with the development of KidsPlus.
And, Motschenbacher said, she has an understanding of government affairs, having served as Lutsen supervisor when she lived in Lutsen and on the Cook County Planning & Zoning board.
“I think I have a good understanding of our community,” said Motschenbacher.
Jeanne Larson, current vice-chair of the Birch Grove Foundation, said she decided to announce a write-in candidacy at the urging of several friends. She said she has enjoyed getting to know the community in her role with the foundation, which happened almost accidentally.
Larson said she has had a home in Tofte since 1981 and moved here full-time three years ago. She said in the fall of 2012 she decided she would like to have a hearth oven. She was going to build one in her back yard, but she thought it would be nice if the community could use it. She approached Birch Grove Community Center about building a hearth oven there and ended up joining the Birch Grove Foundation board. She is now involved with efforts to create a community garden and green house.
“We’ve been going through a transformation of ourselves and our mission, trying to provide services to the West End community,” said Larson, adding that her service on the Foundation board led to her desire to run for the town board.
“We’ve had joint meetings with the school and the foundation. Our primary mission is fundraising for the school and managing the facility, but we need to provide to all ages,” Larson said, noting that she wants to be involved with the senior housing project.
“I’d like to see it more intergenerational,” said Larson.
Larson said she is running to put her education and experience to use. She received her undergraduate degree from Gustavus Adolphus University and her master’s from St. Thomas. She said she received a yearlong fellowship in the ’90s on community building. She has worked in the health care field, in hospice and was a nurse during the Vietnam War. And Larson said, she had been a lifelong entrepreneur. “I tend to be a visionary,” she said.
“That’s why I’m running,” said Larson. “I don’t know if I’ll win. It’s tough as a write-in candidate. But this is a chance to experience democracy on a local level. Sometimes you need fresh blood and energy. I want to improve the quality of life as a whole.”
Currently serving on the Tofte Town Board are supervisors Paul James and Jim King and Treasurer Bill Huggins.
Lutsen needs write-in candidates
In Lutsen, current Clerk Silviya Duclos and Supervisor Marland Hansen did not file for re-election. No one else filed for election, so Lutsen voters will face a ballot with two spaces for write-in candidates. At press time, no one had announced a write-in candidacy.
If no one is elected and agrees to serve, the town board can appoint a citizen to fill the vacant positions. For the clerk position, Amity Goettl is the township deputy clerk and she can temporarily fulfill the duties of town clerk.
A possible write-in candidate suggested by some Lutsen citizens is former Lutsen Supervisor Diane Parker. The Cook County News-Herald contacted Parker to see if she was willing to serve, but Parker said she really didn’t have the time. Parker is a volunteer on a number of other boards and committees.
Parker said she thought someone would win the election as a write-in, but said if no one was elected or willing to be appointed for one year, she would be willing to go back on the town board. “From what I understand, the town has to have three supervisors. Rather than let the township dissolve, in order to preserve the township, I would accept the appointment—but only for one year.”
Whoever is elected or appointed to the Lutsen Town Board would join supervisors Ginny Storlie and Tim Goettl and Treasurer John Groth.
Schroeder supervisor also undecided
Schroeder Town Clerk Doug Schwecke, who was elected to serve as town clerk in 2012, has filed for re-election, as has incumbent Supervisor Roger “Bill” McKeever. At press time no other candidates had come forward.
Currently serving on the Schroeder Town Board are supervisors Tina McKeever and Deb Johnson and Treasurer Alisha Kangas.
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