Posted: 7/24/02

Local county elections are set

Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Voters in area county elections will have choices to make at the ballot box this fall, including key decisions in the primary election on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

With the close of the two-week filing period on Tuesday, July 16, contests have emerged for key county positions.

Five candidates have filed for the job of Chisago County Attorney. In Anoka County, nine candidates have entered the race for the District 6 seat on the county board where there is no sitting incumbent because of redistricting.

Both contests will require a decision by voters on Sept. 10 when the two finalists are selected and move on to the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

A primary election will also be needed to determine the finalists for Anoka County Sheriff where three candidates have filed.

In Washington County, incumbent District 1 County Commissioner Dennis C. Hegberg of Forest Lake wonít see a primary challenge, but will be opposed on Nov. 5.

Dennis A. Robinson, Forest Lake, has tossed his hat in the ring for the two-year term on the county board seat.

2 crowded fields

The race for the county board seat in the Anoka County district west of Forest Lake, and the county attorney slot in Chisago County have both produced crowded fields.

In the county board race for District 6, the nine candidates are:

ïDon Anderson of Centerville; ïMary Capra of Centerville; ïKirk Corson of Lino Lakes; ïLinda Hurtley of Linwood; ïHoward A. Juni of Lino Lakes; ïKevin Ryan of Linwood; ïRhonda Sivarajah of Lino Lakes; ïKim Sullivan of Lino Lakes; and ïDick Swanson of Blaine.

The race for sheriff in Anoka includes Bruce Andersohn of Andover, the current sitting sheriff who was appointed to the position this spring when Sheriff Larry Podany resigned to become executive director of the Minnesota State Sheriffís Association.

Also hoping to win a four-year term at the ballot box are Lino Lakes resident Dave Pecchia, chief of police in Lino Lakes, and John A. France of Coon Rapids.

In Chisago County, five candidates have filed for county attorney. Ted Alliegro, the current county attorney who was appointed to the post when James Reuter was appointed judge in the 10th Judicial District, is not seeking election.

The filings include: Stoney L. Hiljus, Katherine M. Johnson, Jesse A. Johnson, Tim Peterson and Timothy T. Ryan. Ryan, a private practice attorney from Lindstrom, came close to upsetting Reuter in the 1998 race for county attorney.

One other primary will be needed in Chisago County.

In the contest for Minnesota House 17B, two candidates have filed on the Democratic-Farmer-Labor ticket. They include Lent Township Supervisor Monica Abress, who has party endorsement, and George McMahon.

The winner of the primary will face Republican candidate Peter Nelson of Lindstrom and Independence Party candidate P.J. Richardson of Wyoming in the November election.

Chisago County Republicans will also have a decision to make in the 8th Congressional District where two candidates have filed for the right to take on incumbent James Oberstar.

The two candidates are Bob Lemen and Warren L. Nelson.

Other races

In Washington County, the incumbent sheriff and county attorney will be unopposed.

County Attorney Doug Johnson and Sheriff Jim Frank are both seeking four-year terms with no opposition.

In other county board seats, Bill Pulkrabek is unopposed in District 2. Wally Abrahamsonís decision to not run in District 3 has led to the filing of six candidates: Barbara Arney, Gary J. Funke, Nile Kriesel, Jesse Kurtz, Steven Meister and Tim Mossak.

In District 4, incumbent Myra Peterson will be challenged by Jerry Taube. In District 5, incumbent Dick Stafford will be challenged by Greg Orth.

In Chisago County, incumbent District 4 County Commissioner Ben Montzka, who serves the Wyoming and Stacy areas, is running unopposed this fall.

In other county board contests, District 1 incumbent Tom Delaney is being challenged by Brian Greene and Lora Walker. In District 2, incumbent Bob Vande Kamp is opposed by Richard Greene and Rick Olseen.

Chisago County Sheriff Randy Schwegmanís decision to not seek another four-year term has opened the door for two challengers. Chisago County Chief Deputy Todd Rivard and Minneapolis police officer Rick Duncan are the two candidates who will meet on Nov. 5.

In Anoka County, incumbent County Attorney Robert M. A. Johnson will be challenged by William J. Marshall.

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