Some offices beg for a challenge.
Do it now or regret it later.
UPDATE: June 1: The earth did not tremble with quakes, tsunamis, or torrential storms before filings closed, so at a guess whoever wanted to be a candidate now is one, and whoever chose otherwise is satisfied.
I am. There will be some interesting contests. There will be some unopposed incumbents extending their time in office (unless there were a flurry of last minute actions).
_______________FINAL FILINGS INFO REPORTED______________
Eric Hagen of ABC Newspapers has the latest (June 1) news. While his report is far more extensive, this excerpting:
County races
Incumbent Matt Look, Ramsey, will be challenged by Marsha Van Denburgh, Oak Grove, in the District 1 race for the Anoka County Board. District 1 includes all of Oak Grove, Nowthen, Ramsey and St. Francis and most of Anoka west of Ferry Street.
Incumbent Julie Braastad, Ham Lake, will face off against Maris Schilling, Andover, to represent Anoka County’s District 2 residents. This includes all of Bethel, East Bethel and Ham Lake along with most of northeast Andover and a small portion of Blaine north of 125th Avenue.
The voters in Anoka County’s District 3 will be narrowing the candidate pool during the Aug. 9 primary. Incumbent Robyn West, Blaine, is being challenged by Michael Harasyn, Spring Lake Park, and Nyle Zikmund, Blaine. District 3 includes Blaine south of 125th Avenue and Spring Lake Park on the west side of Highway 65.
Board Chairperson Rhonda Sivarajah, Lino Lakes, will face off against Kevin Ryan, Stacy, in the Nov. 8 general election.
[... LOCAL - RAMSEY] There will be no challengers for the four incumbents of the Ramsey City Council in the general election. Mayor Sarah Strommen and Council Members Mark Kuzma in Ward 2, Chris Riley in Ward 4 and at-large Council Member John LeTourneau all filed for re-election. Nobody else filed before the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline.
The County Board challengers will have to define themselves before the general election, but it appears that filing was not so heavy as to require any primary winnowing. What is the proper reading of the four Ramsey incumbents going unchallenged? Who knows? Perhaps the Ramsey Reflector will opine. (last post there, Jan. 2016).
The SD 35, and HD 35A and HD 35B seats will not involve primary elections, Hagen reporting:
Senate District 35 – Incumbent Jim Abeler, Republican, Anoka; Roger Johnson, DFL, Coon Rapids.
House District 35A – Incumbent Abigail Whelan, Republican, Anoka; Andy Hillebregt, DFL, Ramsey.
House District 35B – Incumbent Peggy Scott, Republican, Andover; Wes Volkenant, DFL, Andover.
Again, the ABC Newspapers full report is online now; this link.