No contests in West End spring elections, Tofte still needs Treasurer

COOK COUNTY West End – There will not be contested elections when voters in Lutsen, Schroeder and Tofte townships turn out to vote in the March 8 spring elections. Lutsen will get a new Clerk while all other incumbents are running for re-election. However, no one filed for the vacant Treasurer position in Tofte. Each of the townships elect a Supervisor for a three-year term and a Clerk for a two-year term. The filing period ended Tuesday, January 11.

Lutsen

In Lutsen, Samantha McQuatters-Spangle is the new candidate running for Clerk. Present Clerk Sharon Hexum-Platzer, who had announced that she was not seeking another term, said “I will stay on as deputy clerk as long as she needs me”. Carl Friesner is seeking a second term as supervisor.

Tofte

Sarah Somnis is running for re-election as supervisor and Kay (Burkett) Spielman is seeking another term as clerk in Tofte. No candidate filed for the one-year position of Treasurer, left vacant after Dan Shirley resigned last June. There will be a write-in contest for the position.

Schroeder

There are no changes at all in Schroeder. Supervisor Tina McKeever and Clerk Anna Green are unopposed on the ballot as they seek re-election.

Townships hold annual elections each spring. In each town, one of the three Supervisors is elected for a three-year term. The town Treasurer and Clerk are on the ballot in alternate years for two-year terms. These are the only annual and spring elections in Cook County.

Township government is very grass roots democracy. Each town holds an annual meeting on the second Tuesday in March where residents gather to make recommendations for the next year’s town budget and discuss town issues. The voters often cast their election ballots when they come to the meeting and the election results are announced during the meeting.

Residents can follow the happenings of their towns on the web sites each township maintains. Those sites contain dates and agendas for upcoming monthly town board meetings and the minutes of past annual meetings.