Homyak signs up for Lutsen supervisor opening

Christopher (Chris) Homyak

Expressing enthusiasm mixed with some uncertainty, Christopher (Chris) Homyak announced that he is throwing his hat in the ring for the three-year Lutsen supervisor township opening.

The uncertainty comes because Chris is already a very busy young man. He said he felt some responsibility to sign up as a write-in candidate when the January 12 filing deadline passed and no one came forward to run.

As the new owner of the Clearview General Store and co-owner of the Clearview building and a new member of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, Chris has a lot on his plate. Still, he said, growing up, his parents taught him civic responsibility and the need to give back to the community you live in.

With renovations at the store, and the need to talk this matter over with his family, the cutoff date got away from him to sign up for the general election. However, when no one else put their name on the ballot, Chris discussed the opening with his family and once he got the nod, he decided to sign up as a write-in.

Chris is no stranger to the county. He has been coming to Cook County since he was little. “I learned to ski at Lutsen Mountains when I was five. I moved here full time in April 2008 to take an internship at Lutsen Resort under head Chef Rob Wells and I never left.” He has spent much of that time working in both Lutsen and Grand Marais in a variety of hospitality roles.

He met his wife, Flavia, here when she was doing an internship and they bought a house up the Caribou trail six-years ago, where they are raising their three-year-old Ethan.

“I have come to love the shore and this community,” he said, adding, “I have always taken part in community service activities, volunteering to help with various community events and fundraisers.”

If he is elected, Chris said he would like to focus on moving forward with the Gitchi Gami Trail in Lutsen, making it a safe place for bikers and hikers in Lutsen, both locals and visitors to the area.

He also said he would like to help create a true downtown where people can safely walk and get around.

“I would like to help better my community and give something back,” he said.