Election 2012: The Races You Care About

Editor's note: Brian Ims has withdrawn from the mayoral race.

Tuesday, the final day of a two-week filing period for municipal, county and state political races, turned out to be a whopper.

Several folks waited until the final hours to make their candidacies official.

Here's a breakdown of races that affect Northfield. Not included is the , for which the filing period is July 31-Aug. 14.

We'll have much, much more on these races and candidates throughout the summer and fall, but for now, we'll give you the information that matters: Who's running and for what.

Northfield City Council

Mayor

• Dana Graham
• Rhonda Pownell
• Suzie Nakasian (WITHDREW)

Nakasian and Pownell both currently serve on the and their terms don't expire until the end of 2014. Nakasian is in her first term, while Pownell served out a two-year term before being elected in 2010.  previously served on the council from 2001-04. Because only two candidates can be on the ballot for the Nov. 6 general election, a primary election will be held on Aug. 14. Mayor Mary Rossing is not seeking re-election.

Second Ward

• Frank Balster
• David DeLong
• Paul Reiland
• Wade Schulz

Balster is the chair of the city's Charter Commission. Delong served two terms on the council. Delong also volunteered to finish out term last year but wasn't selected. There will be a primary for this race.

Third Ward

• Jon Denison
• Erica Zweifel (incumbent)

Zweifel currently serves as the Third Ward representative on the council. Denison was on the council from 2007-2010, but did not make it past the primary in the 2010 election.

At-large seat

• Betsey Buckheit—betseybuckheit.com
• Joe Gasior
• David Ludescher

Betsey Buckheit is at the end of her four-year term as the Second Ward representative. Because of redistricting, she was moved out of that ward. She had originally filed to run as mayor two weeks ago, but on Tuesday (the last day for filing) withdrew from that race and filed for the at-large position. , who came in second in a 2008 bid for the other at-large seat and came in second out of last year when councilors needed to fill out the remaining term of Councilor Kris Vohs' seat, has also filed for the seat. David Ludescher also was a candidate in last year's nine-person selection for fill Vohs' seat. Ludescher had filled in on the council for a brief period in the 1990s. A primary will be needed to eliminate one candidate.

Minnesota Legislature

Minnesota Senate District 20

• Kevin Dahle (DFL endorsed)—kevindahle.net
• Mike Dudley (Republican endorsed)—mikedudley.org
• Gene Thomas Kornder (Republican)

Dudley and Kornder will face off in a primary.

Minnesota House District 20B

• David Bly (DFL endorsed)—davidbly.com 
• Brian Wermerskirchen (Republican endorsed)

Minnesota Senate District 58 (Dakota County precinct of Northfield)

• Andrew Brobston (DFL endorsed)—andrewbrobstonforsenate.com
• Dave Thompson (Republican endorsed)—davethompsonforsenate.com

Minnesota House District 58B (Dakota County precinct of Northfield)

• Jim Arlt (DFL endorsed)
• Pat Garofalo (Republican endorsed) 

Rice County Board of Commissioners

District 1 (Ward 4, Precinct 2 and Ward 2, Precinct 1, Dundas, many townships)

• Kathleen Doran-Norton
• Jake Gillen (incumbent)

District 2 (Represents all of Northfield except Ward 4, Precinct 2 and Ward 2, Precinct 1)

• Galen Malecha (incumbent)
• Jeff Quinnell

Dakota County Board of Commissioners

District 1 (Dakota County precinct of Northfield)

• Dean Birnstengel
• Jaye Budenski
• Christy Jo Fogarty—Website: christyjofogarty.com
• Mark A. Henry
• Mike Slavik

There will be a primary for this race.

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