Rae Piepho
This week citizens attended election caucuses to let their preferences for the 2016 presidential race be known. On March 8, Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder residents will cast ballots for their local government representatives. All three townships hold their annual meeting and elections that day, with polls opening at 5 p.m. and the annual meeting beginning at 8 p.m.
New names on the ballot in Lutsen
Incumbent Lutsen supervisor Tim Goettl did not file for re-election. Rae Piepho has filed to run for that seat.
Asked why she is running, Piepho said it wasn’t something she was really thinking of doing, but she heard from acting Lutsen Clerk Sharon Hexum-Platzer that no one had filed. She contacted three people who she thought would be good for the job. All three said it wasn’t the right time for them to take that on. But all three, Piepho laughed, said, “You should do it!”
She decided it was time, remembering that she ran for county commissioner 28 years ago, running against Orton Tofte. “I was really active in the school and worked with Andrea Peterson to set up the PTA. I felt there was a need for a bridge between the school and the county commissioners.”
Piepho did not win a commissioner seat, but she said she greatly enjoyed knocking on doors and meeting people. Through that experience she met Realtor Bob Ryan and began her 22½ year career in real estate. That experience could be helpful, she said, as Lutsen considers annexation of the Deeryard Lake and Cascade area.
After the third person told Piepho she should run, she decided to do so and she is excited about the opportunity to serve. She feels she has the experience to help the community. “We’ve lived here 42 years. We have four kids who graduated here. We’ve been involved in tourism since we first came here,” said Piepho, “If I can be of help and serve the community, I want to do that.”
In November, Sharon Hexum-Platzer was appointed by the town board to serve as clerk, to fill the unexpired term of Amity Goettl. Hexum- Platzer is running for the clerk position.
The News-Herald asked semi-retired education consultant Hexum- Platzer why she decided to fill in as clerk and then run for the seat. Hexum- Platzer laughed and said it is because she “flunked retirement.”
Turning serious, Hexum-Platzer said, “I believe that everyone needs to support their community in some way or other. I’m following a long line of people who have done their part and it’s my turn.”
Hexum-Platzer, who graduated from Cook County High School, has been involved in the community since she moved back to Lutsen, serving on the Lutsen Trailbreakers Snowmobile Club.
As acting clerk, managing the mail, handling town hall rentals and working on taxes, she said she is learning a lot. “I’m learning more about accounting than I ever thought I’d need to know. I hope I can continue to help,” said Hexum- Platzer.
Schroeder
There are no contested races in Schroeder. Incumbent Supervisor Tina McKeever has filed for re-election as has Clerk Doug Schwecke.
McKeever, who has worked remotely for a data processing company for almost 25 years, now serves as chair of the Schroeder Town Board. Noting that she was first elected to the town board in March 2010, the News- Herald asked if she was getting the hang of being a supervisor. McKeever laughed, “Do you ever?”
She said there is always something to learn. Recently all three West End townships have been struggling with making sense of the information from the Minnesota Association of Townships about contributions that townships can—and cannot—make. “That has been a huge undertaking,” she said. “We’re trying to do what’s best for our community and to keep things going.”
Asked why she decided to run for re-election in light of those sometimes-contentious meetings, McKeever said, “I’m willing to trudge through it, to hopefully make our community a better place.”
Schwecke too, said questions about donations have been trying, but overall his tenure as clerk have been enjoyable. However, he added, “I’d be happy to step aside if someone else would like to take on the job.”
Two candidates for Tofte supervisor
Tofte is the only township that will have two names on the ballot. See our interviews with Incumbent Supervisor Jim King and opponent Sarah Somnis on the right.
The clerk position is currently held by Barb Gervais and she is running for re-election.
Tofte has an additional spot on the ballot for a one-year term for treasurer. Erin Huggins was unable to serve as treasurer after being elected in 2015 and Nancy Iverson has been filling that role. Iverson has filed to serve the unexpired term.
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