Our view: Want to see change in your community? Get on the ballot
Nearly everyone has an opinion when it comes to politics. So if you don't like how your tax dollars are being spent or what's happening in your public schools, you can do more than just post about it on social media.
One of the most basic and most important ways to shape the future of your community is by voting. Take it a step further and run to maximize your impact.
But how does your name get on the ballot?
The path to elected office begins by filing candidacy paperwork. Election season officially kicked off when filings for local offices started Tuesday. The filing period for most local offices is open until May 31.
In the St. Cloud area, nonpartisan elections will be held for city councils, school boards and county commissioner seats. Some counties will also have elections for county attorney, auditor-treasurer, sheriff and other positions. All of Minnesota's Senate and state House of Representatives seats are up for election this year, as are statewide constitutional offices like governor, attorney general, secretary of state and auditor.
More: Candidacy filings opened Tuesday, here's what's on the ballot around Central Minnesota
Candidates for most state and county offices file at the county auditor's office. City candidates file with the city clerk, and school board candidates file with the school district clerk.
In St. Cloud, four city council seats are up for grabs. Sauk Rapids will have two city council seats on the ballot and both Sartell and Waite Park will elect a mayor and two city council members in November.
If city government isn't your thing, St. Cloud Area School District 742 will elect three board members. And county commissioner seats are open in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties. There are numerous township positions (elected at a different time) if none of those appeal.
As with every election, the St. Cloud Times will be following up with each local candidate, publishing stories about issues important to our area and bringing you election results.
The qualifications to run for most local offices are: You must be eligible to vote in Minnesota, be at least 21 years old at the time of assuming office, have lived in the district you are running in for at least 30 days before the general election, and have not filed for another office in the upcoming election.
So, what's stopping you from getting involved and running for office?
You can learn more about how to register to vote, file for election and more at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/.
— This is the opinion of the St. Cloud Times Editorial Board, which consists of News Director Lisa Schwarz and Content Coach Anna Haecherl.
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Our view: Want to see change in your community? Get on the ballot
