The filing period to run for office in 2014 opened on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 and all of the county offices that will be on the ballot have at least one candidate except Soil & Water Conservation District supervisor District 4. The deadline to file for county offices is Tuesday, June 3.
In Commissioner District 1, three candidates have filed, John W. Bockovich of Hovland, Steve Fleace of Hovland and Frank Moe of Colvill. At press time, incumbent Janice Hall of Hovland had not filed.
County Commissioner District 3 Commissioner Sue Hakes has announced that she will not be running for reelection. Reached by phone, Hakes said the decision not to run was one of the most difficult choices she has ever made. However, “I love it. I love the job. It’s been so rewarding and I’ve learned so much—some of it the hard way,” said Hakes.
However, in March 2014, Hakes learned that her application for a Bush Foundation Fellowship had been granted. The prestigious award will allow her to earn her master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, as well as attend Harvard Kennedy School executive education courses. She will begin classes this August.
“It is with mixed emotions that I have decided not to run for reelection to the county board. The gift of the Bush Fellowship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I want to take full advantage of all it has to offer.
“If I can’t put myself 100 percent into my commissioner duties, I just can’t do it,” said Hakes.
Hakes encourages anyone interested in running for the county board to contact her. “If you wonder what it’s like to be a county commissioner in a small community, contact me. I would be happy to share my experiences with you,” she said.
A citizen has come forward to run for the District 3 seat, Jan Sivertson of Grand Marais.
In Commissioner District 5, the West End, incumbent Bruce Martinson was the only candidate that has filed at press time.
The Cook County sheriff race has two candidates, both who declared their candidacy before the filing period opened, Deputies Patrick S. Eliasen and Leif Lunde. Incumbent Sheriff Mark Falk announced that he would be retiring on June 30, 2014.
Two other county officials, Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers and Recorder Dusty Nelms have both filed for reelection and at press time were unopposed.
Molly Hicken, who has been fulfilling county attorney duties since County Attorney Tim Scannell went on medical leave on October 13, 2013, is running for that office.
There are two positions up for election on the Cook County Soil & Water District. Nancye Belding has filed for S&W District 3. No one has filed yet for the S&W District 4 seat.
The City of Grand Marais, the Cook County North Shore Hospital District and School District 166 have a different election filing period. Candidates for those offices must file between July 29 – August 12.
Candidates can find guides for filing for office on the Secretary of State website, along with information on campaign finance, fair campaign practices and more at www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=635. More information is also available at the Cook County Auditor’s Office.
Filing offices will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.
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