Cook County News Herald

Election filing closes with few challenges to incumbents




The election filing period for a number of local government positions closed on May 31, 2016. Although there were a number of seats on the ballots, at press time only a handful of candidates had filed— and only one incumbent county commissioner, Garry Gamble, had a challenger. Myron Bursheim filed to run against Commissioner Gamble.

Gamble represents Commissioner District 2, east Grand Marais.

Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk represents District 4, which includes Maple Hill and the Gunflint Trail. No one filed to run against Doo- Kirk.

The Soil and Water Conservation District has three supervisor seats up for election, currently held by Donald Goodell (District 1); Joan Farnam Morrison (District 3); and Jerry Hiniker (District 5). All of the incumbents filed for re-election. Grand Portage Tribal Council general election coming

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa held its primary on April 5, 2016. Council member Marie Spry won her seat with 54 percent of the vote. There are two candidates for Tribal Council Chairman, incumbent Norman Deschampe who is being challenged by Donovan Dahman.

The Grand Portage General Election will be held Tuesday, June 14. Polls will be open at the Old Log School from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Another filing period in August

The city of Grand Marais, School District 166 and North Shore Hospital do not have primaries; so filing dates for those boards is later, from August 2 to August 16.

The North Shore Hospital Board will be seeking candidates in District 2 and 4, currently held by Justin Mueller and Kay Olson respectively. In the city of Grand Marais, the mayor and two council seats will be on the ballot. Incumbents are Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux and councilors Tracy Benson and Tim Kennedy.

School District 166 board seats on the next ballot are held by Terry Collins (District 2) and Sissy Lunde (District 4). State and federal races

In state races, Jennifer L. Havlick of Two Harbors has filed to run against incumbent District 3 Senator Thomas (Tom) Bakk.

A Grand Marais man, Tom Long, has filed to run against recently elected Rob Ecklund of International Falls.

Incumbent U.S. Representative Rick Nolan is once again facing businessman Stewart Mills in the race for the Congressional District 8 seat.



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