Candidate Filing Period Begins in One Week

SAINT PAUL — Today, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State reminds individuals interested in running for most public offices in Minnesota in 2016 that the official candidate filing period begins in one week. 

The official filing period runs from May 17 to May 31, and candidates for federal, state, county, and some local offices must file for office during this period for their name to appear on the ballot.

Candidate filing requirements vary depending on the office, whether the candidate is a member of a major or minor political party, and whether the office is partisan or nonpartisan.

• Candidates for President, Vice-President, and U.S. Representative must file with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. (Please note: the filing dates and process for President and Vice-President are different depending if a candidate is part of a major political party or non-major political party. For more information, click here.)
• Candidates for State Senator, State Representative, and any Judicial office may file with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State or the county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides.
• Candidates for county offices must file with their county auditor.
• Municipal candidates must file with their municipal clerk.
• School district candidates must file with their school district clerk.
• Candidates for special districts, such as hospital or park districts, should contact the district’s office for information on the filing process.

Candidates can find information about filing for office, along with information on campaign finance, filing a campaign committee, and fair campaign practices, at www.sos.state.mn.us in the “Election Administration & Campaigns” section.

10 candidates hope to join DNR conservation officer ranks

Ten conservation officer candidates with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will begin training Wednesday, April 23, at Camp Ripley in Little Falls.

It’s the first Conservation Officer Academy since 2012, and the 15th class since academy training began at Camp Ripley in 1994.

DNR Enforcement Director Col. Ken Soring praised the 10 candidates on their selection to the academy.

“This is a strong class of candidates that will receive some of the best natural resources protection training in the nation,” Soring said. “I'm confident that when they graduate these men and women will continue in the conservation officer tradition, willing and able to stand watch over our state’s valuable natural resources.”

The Conservation Officer Academy curriculum includes training in fish and wildlife laws, rules of evidence, patrol procedures, search and rescue, and fish and wildlife investigation. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officer Training Board, the licensing agency for police officer training, has certified classes presented at the academy. Upon graduation, the new conservation officers will spend 16 weeks in field training assigned to veteran conservation officers for “hands-on” training.

“It’s an intensive program,” Soring said. “We ask a lot of both the candidates and their families, but it is worth it as these are their future partners.”

Conservation officers ensure the future of natural resources for the people of Minnesota through responsible enforcement of appropriate laws, regulations and rules. A normal station covers 650 square miles so they usually work alone and cover extensive and often remote areas of Minnesota.

List of 10 candidates:

• Joe Kulhanek has experience as a seasonal park ranger with the National Park Service.
• Chelsie Leuthardt has been a patrol officer with the Breckenridge and Wheaton police departments, and a corrections and dispatch officer for the Traverse County Sheriff’s Office.
• Bill Landmark, police officer, Watford City (North Dakota) Police Department; experience with the National Park Service.
• Jim Van Asch has experience in the building, construction and property management trade. 
• Erik Benjamin is an Afghanistan and Iraq veteran with more than 15 years of U.S. Army and Army National Guard experience. He was a deputy sheriff with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Department. 
• Nick Prachar is an EMT who completed a 200-hour internship with multiple Minnesota conservation officers.
• Hannah Cowden, community service officer, St. Cloud Police Department.
• Beau Shroyer, police officer, Detroit Lakes. 
• Marc Hopkins is a Minnesota state trooper. Previously he was a police officer/police chief in Morton.
• Nick Klehr worked on a dairy farm and a campground/riding stable.  

Graduation is scheduled for July 15. The department has already started the hiring process for the next Conservation Officer Academy tentatively scheduled for 2015.

Minnesota agricultural councils seek candidates

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Four Minnesota agriculture research and promotion councils are seeking candidates for their board elections. Positions are open on the board of directors for the Canola, Dry Edible Bean, Sunflower and Area One Potato councils.

Farmers interested in running in the election must contact their respective commodity council by Friday, April 4, 2014. Candidates should be producers of the commodity they represent, be active in the industry, knowledgeable about promotion initiatives, and interested in representing growers in their region. 

Minnesota Canola Research and Promotion Council One position (each): District 3, At-Large position Contact: Beth C. W. Nelson, Executive Director 4630 Churchill St., Suite 1 St. Paul, MN 55126 651-638-9883	Minnesota Dry Edible Bean Research and Promotion Council One position (each): District 3, District 4 Contact: Timothy Corneya, Executive Vice President 50072 E. Lake Seven Road Frazee, MN 56544 218-334-6351
Minnesota Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council Two open positions Contact: Diane Peycke, Executive Secretary Box 29 East Grand Forks, MN 56721 218-773-3633	Minnesota Sunflower Council One position (each): District 1, District 2 Contact: Lerrene Kroh 2401 46th Ave SE Suite 206 Mandan, ND 58554-4829 701-328-5107

Senate District 20 Special Election to be Held April 10, 2012

St. Paul, Minn.—March 7, 2012—Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie today received a writ from Governor Mark Dayton ordering a special election to be held on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. The special election is being held to fill the vacancy in Senate District 20 caused by the death of Senator Gary Kubly. A special primary election, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

The candidate filing period for the Senate District 20 seat begins Thursday, March 8 and ends Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 5 p.m. Candidates may file with either county auditor of the county in which the candidate resides or the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul. The candidate withdrawal period ends at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2012.

Candidate and special election information will be posted on the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State website at: www.sos.state.mn.us.