Hetland seeks to fill NYM mayor position

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Voters will have a bevy of choices for local elections when they head to the polls in November. 

The final day to register to be on the ballot for local elections was on Tuesday. Aug. 13. Many of the local elections have more people running than positions available, which isn’t always the case in local elections.

Among the most hotly contested races will be a jampacked New York Mills School Board election that features eight people running for four spots on the school board. 

Incumbents Derek Braukmann, Kristine Ehnert and Teresa Pederson will be joined on the ballot by challengers Adam Tervola Hultberg, Ethan Kern, Amber Rastedt, Jodi Seelhammer and Jayne Whiteford.

NY Mills School Board Chair Wendy Hetland did not file for re-election this year. 

In the City of New York Mills, long-time city council member Latham Hetland has filed for election as mayor. He was the only person to file for the position.

Current mayor Marsha Maki has filed for one of two city council positions on the November ballot, as well as incumbent Jerry Nesland. They will be challenged for one of two city council positions on the ballot by Sommer Dow, who has also filed for a spot on the city council. 

In Bluffton, current mayor Tim Pavek has filed for re-election and Ryan Kerkaert and Brian Nesland have filed for the two open positions on the Bluffton City Council. 

In Ottertail, three people have filed for a two-year position as mayor. Longtime incumbent Ron Grobeck will be joined on the ballot by William Layman and current city councilwoman Janet Hill.

Current city councilman Michael Windey filed for re-election for a four-year term in Ottertail. He will be the only person on the ballot for the two seats on the city council.

No filings have been reported to the Secretary of State office for the City of Deer Creek. There is one mayor position and two city council positions up for election in November.