Washington County voters will see lots of new names on municipal ballots in November

Mary Divine, Pioneer Press
·4 min read
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Contests to watch in Washington County this November include the mayoral race in Birchwood, where longtime mayor Mary Wingfield has decided not to run for re-election.

Meanwhile, incumbent mayors in Hugo, Lake St. Croix Beach and Marine on St. Croix are facing challenges.

And cities such as Bayport, Lake St. Croix Beach and Scandia could see major shake-ups.

In Stillwater Township, no one filed to run for Seat 2, one of the two open seats on the town board. The seat has been held since January by Rod Hunter, a former town board member who was appointed following the resignation of supervisor Bonnie Haines, Town Clerk Barbara Riehle said.

With no candidates filing, the general election ballot will reflect only write-in spots for candidates, said Amy Stenftenagel, interim director of the county’s property records and taxpayer services department, which oversees elections.

Alan Robbins-Fenger is running unopposed for Stillwater Township’s Seat 1 after Mike McMahon decided not to seek re-election.

Seventeen municipalities in Washington County will have contested mayoral or city council or township supervisor races on Nov. 8:

BAYPORT

Council member Michele Hanson is running unopposed for mayor after Susan St. Ores last week announced she was not running for re-election.

Four people are running for the two open seats on the council: incumbent John C. Dahl, as well as Trischa Heitman-Ochs, Katie Hill and Eric J. Larson.

BAYTOWN TOWNSHIP

Town board chairman John Fellegy is facing a challenge by Aaron Bye for Seat 4.

Avis Peters, who was appointed to the town board last year after Ron Fredkove’s resignation, is running unopposed for Seat 3.

BIRCHWOOD

Two newcomers to Birchwood politics are facing off in the fall mayoral race: Michael McKenzie and James Nelson. Longtime mayor Mary Wingfield decided not to run for re-election.

Ryan Hankins, a member of the city’s planning commission, and Katherine A. Weier are running for the two open council seats. Council members Jon Fleck and Kevin Woolstencroft decided not to seek re-election.

DENMARK TOWNSHIP

In Denmark Township, Jordan Foiles and Matt Ruben are running for Seat 2 supervisor.

Incumbent Julie Windschitl is unopposed for Seat 4, and Mike Femling is unopposed for Seat 5.

Town board members Shawn Racine and Ron Simon decided not to run for re-election.

FOREST LAKE

Mayor Mara Bain, elected in 2018, is running unopposed.

With city council members Kathy Bystrom and Kelly Monson not seeking re-election, four men are running for the two open seats: Leif Erickson, Marcus Gibbs, Jeffrey J. Larson and Blake Roberts.

HUGO

In Hugo, Jimmie Gregoire and David Michaelson are challenging Mayor Tom Weidt for the city’s top job.

Council members Becky Petryk and David Strub are running unopposed.

LAKE ELMO

Four people are vying for the two seats on the Lake Elmo City Council; former mayor and city council member Susie Dunn, council member Lisa McGinn, and Matthew Hirn and John Murphy.

LAKELAND

Mayor Joe Paiement is running unopposed.

Four people are running for the two open council seats: Arretta Eggleston, David Millard, Taylor Vaillancourt and incumbent Mike Thron.

LAKE ST. CROIX BEACH

Lake St. Croix Beach City Council member Cindie Reiter is challenging Mayor Tom McCarthy in the mayoral race.

Five people are running for the two open council seats: incumbents Noah Bluesky and Dawn Bulera, along with Alexander Eder, Tim Schneider and David Wanless.

MARINE ON ST. CROIX

Mayor Kevin Nyenhuis is being challenged by council member Lon Pardun.

Three candidates are running for the two open council seats: incumbent Charlie Anderson, Dana Vannen Anderson and former city council member Bill Miller.

NEWPORT

Four candidates have filed for the two seats on the Newport City Council: Zachary Murphy, incumbent Tom Ingemann, planning commissioner Tony Mahmood and former city council member Bill Sumner. Roz Johnson is not running for re-election.

OAKDALE

With Mayor Paul Reinke not running for re-election, council member Kevin Zabel is unopposed for the city’s top job.

Four candidates are running for the two open seats on the council: Lisa Behr, Andy Morcomb, and incumbents Susan Olson and Colleen Swedberg.

ST. MARY’S POINT

Mayor John “Jay” Roettger is running unopposed.

Three candidates have filed for the two seats on the council: Tom Grahek and incumbents Dale Pierson and Gary H. Williams.

SCANDIA

Mayor Christine Maefsky is unopposed.

Five people are running for two council seats: Donald Baber, Lori Lavin, Michael Lubke, Christopher Massicotte Johnson and incumbent Jerry Cusick.

STILLWATER

Stillwater Mayor Ted Kozlowski and council member Ryan Collins are running unopposed. Longtime council member Mike Polehna is facing a challenge from Tony Misenor.

WILLERNIE

Mayor Barbara K. Parent is unopposed.

Three candidates have filed for two council positions: Patrick Miller and incumbents Katherine Siver and Tammy Soderlund.

WOODBURY

Mayor Anne Burt is running unopposed.

Four candidates have filed for two council positions: Linda Ji, Molly Schaefer and incumbents Steve Morris and Jennifer Santini.

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