Local candidates file for November ballot, election
News | Published on August 6, 2026 at 6:26pm GMT+0000 | Author: Chad Koenen
0By Chad Koenen
Publisher
There will likely be more than a few familiar faces come 2027 on local school boards and city councils.
Filing to appear on the November ballot for school boards and city councils closed last week across the state. Unlike in recent years when voters had more candidates than open seats to choose from, this year’s election will likely be a bit more tame as there will be few contested elections, outside of a possible write-in campaign.
In New York Mills, Latham Hetland filed for another two-year term as mayor, while challenger Sommer Dow and incumbent Richard Grotheer filed for another four-year term on the city council. Current council member Eric Hammond did not file for re-election.
The NY Mills School Board has just three candidates who filed to fill the three open spots on the school board this year. The candidates include incumbents Derek Geiser and AmyAnn Mursu, as well as challenger Cody Barthel. Incumbent school board member Brian Schermerhorn did not file to seek re-election.
The City of Ottertail will have a large slate of candidates to select from with everyone but current city councilman Michael Windey on the ballot.
Incumbent mayor Ron Grobeck will run unopposed for another two-year term as mayor, while incumbents Jerry Martin and Elizabeth Augustus will be challenged by William Layman for a four-year term on the city council. Incumbent Jill Carlson did not file to seek re-election to the city council.
In addition to the four-year terms, Seth Dokken and Candance “Dacey” Rastedt will compete in a special election for a two-year term on the city council. The special election became necessary after Martin was appointed to the city council after the last election and the candidate will fill the remaining two-years of that term, before being on the ballot again in 2028.
In the City of Deer Creek, long-time councilman Jayme George has filed to run for mayor, while Roderick Woodward has filed for one of the two open seats on the city council. No other candidates filed for city council by the July 28 deadline. The two seats on the city council up for election this year are currently being filled by George and Robert Lund.
Current Mayor Troy Beiswinger and Lund did not file for re-election.
The Dispatch did not receive a response from the City of Bluffton concerning candidates who filed for city council or mayor by the time of press.