Although candidates for city and county offices have until late summer or fall to decide if they want to run for election, citizens interested in serving on a township board have only until January 14, 2014 to announce their intentions. Anyone interested in serving in Lutsen, Tofte or Schroeder should contact the township to file now. Each of the West End townships has a supervisor and town clerk up for election at the annual town meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2014.
Lutsen incumbents undecided
In Lutsen, the town clerk position is currently held by Silviya Duclos. Duclos was appointed to serve as clerk in August 2011 to fill an unexpired term. She was reelected by the citizens of the township in 2012. Duclos said she is busier than in the past and she is trying to decide if she has enough time to commit to continuing as clerk, so she has not yet decided if she will run again.
The Lutsen supervisor whose position is up for election in 2014 is Marland Hansen. When the News-Herald reached him by phone, Hansen said he has not decided yet whether he will run for another term.
“I think we’ve accomplished a lot with the help of the Lutsen citizens. We’ve been good stewards of the town and have worked well with the fire department. We have other good people on the board, so if I don’t run that’s fine…so, maybe…?”
Currently serving on the Lutsen Town Board are supervisors Ginny Storlie and Tim Goettl and Treasurer John Groth.
The compensation for the Lutsen supervisors, clerk and treasurer is $85 per meeting. For township work outside of meetings, supervisors are eligible for $15 per hour and the town clerk and treasurer are eligible for $20 per hour for administrative work outside of meetings.
Lutsen meetings are the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Lutsen Town Hall at 116 Caribou Trail.
For information on filing to run for the Lutsen town board positions, contact Clerk Silviya Duclos at (218) 370-9255.
Another undecided supervisor in Tofte
In Tofte, Barb Gervais said she is interested in continuing to serve as town clerk. “I enjoy the position and I like to be involved in the township,” she said when reached by phone this week.
Gervais was first elected town clerk in 2006, when she was working at a financial firm in Duluth. Her Tofte commute got a little shorter when she worked as deputy auditor in Lake County and Gervais is now employed as the maintenance administrator at Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior in Tofte. “It’s easier now that I’m working closer,” she added.
Incumbent Supervisor Allan “D.C.” Olsen, elected to the Tofte town board in 2005, however, said he has not yet decided whether he will run for reelection or not.
Currently serving on the Tofte Town Board are supervisors Paul James and Jim King and Treasurer Bill Huggins.
Tofte supervisors, the clerk and the treasurer are reimbursed $75 per meeting and the treasurer and clerk are paid $20 per hour for administrative work outside the monthly meetings. Supervisors are eligible to be reimbursed $20 for work outside of meetings.
The Tofte board meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Tofte Town Hall at 7240 Tofte Park Road.
For information on filing to run for the Tofte town board positions, contact Clerk Barb Gervais at (218) 663-7315.
Schroeder supervisor also undecided
Reached by phone, Schroeder Town Clerk Doug Schwecke, who was elected to serve as town clerk in 2012, said he will be filing for reelection. However, he said he may rethink his decision if “there is a big surge of candidates.
“That would be wonderful,” he said, “but unlikely.”
Incumbent Supervisor Roger “Bill” McKeever is undecided at this time. McKeever said he has served on the town board “just about forever.” When the township was formed, as Taconite Harbor, the first town meetings were held in his Schroeder home.
“I wait until the last minute to see if anyone else comes forward. If someone comes forward who wants to run and who would do a good job, I could step down,” said McKeever.
Currently serving on the Schroeder Town Board are supervisors Tina McKeever and Deb Johnson and Treasurer Alisha Kangas.
Schroeder supervisors, the clerk and treasurer are paid $75 for each monthly meeting. Supervisors receive $10 per hour for work outside the regular meetings. The clerk and treasurer are reimbursed at a rate of $13 per hour for administrative work outside meetings.
Schroeder meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Schroeder Town Hall at 24 Cramer Road.
For more information, or to file to run for the Schroeder Town Board, contact Doug Schwecke at (218) 663-7599.
Township elections and annual meetings are held the second Tuesday of March. In 2014, township citizens will gather on Tuesday, March 11.
Citizens interested in running for these positions can file through January 14, 2014.
Leave a Reply