The Bemidji Pioneer
Josh Peterson is running unopposed in the race for the Ward 2 seat on the Bemidji City Council.
He won his position on the council in a special election held in August 2020, defeating Jamie Thibodeaux 224-140. The special election for the ward was called after former
council member Mike Beard resigned from the position earlier that year due to health reasons.
Peterson is the executive director of Visit Bemidji and has also been an anchor for Lakeland PBS.
“I want to simply continue the great work that we started,” Peterson said in speaking with the Pioneer about his reelection plans. “We have some great
momentum.”
Peterson wants to continue his work on public safety, attracting businesses and jobs and protecting the natural resources that make Bemidji special.
“(We can) be proactive about protecting our natural resources, our lakes, our rivers, and all the natural resources that everyone comes to Bemidji to know and love.”
► Age: 41
► Executive Director of Visit Bemidji, guest anchor at Lakeland News
► Born and raised in Bemidji
► Has a bachelor’s
► Age: 47
► Is a paralegal at a local law firm
► Has lived in Bemidji over 30 years
► Earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Indian Studies from BSU and master’s in Social work from UMN Duluth
The Bemidji Pioneer
Incumbent Emelie Rivera is hoping to retain her seat on the Bemidji City Council on Nov. 8, while former Bemidji Fire Chief David Hoefer hopes to claim the Ward 4 spot.
Emelie Rivera was elected to the council in 2018, defeating former incumbent Richard Lehmann 509 to 426. Rivera is a paralegal at a private law firm and also serves on the state guardian ad litem board.
“I wanted to provide a perspective that I didn’t necessarily hear when I was running for office the first time,” Rivera said. “Now that those voices are coming forward I really want to continue to amplify that.”
Rivera also believes in representing the diversity of Ward 4 and working to ensure that every voice is heard when making decisions that could impact the community.
“I’ve spent my professional career advocating for people whose voices aren’t necessarily heard,” Rivera said. “I want to make sure that when decisions are made we consider all of the diversity in the ward and bring all of those voices to the table.”
David Hoefer has lived in Bemidji since 2010 and served as fire chief for the Bemidji Fire Department for 11 years before his retirement in December 2020.
“It’s important to have choice in our elections, that’s one of the things that makes our democratic system healthy and strong,” Hoefer said.
►Age: 55
►Retired Bemidji Fire Chief
lived in Bemidji for 12 years
an associate’s degree in Fire Technologies from NTC
Rivera has been a part of multiple projects as a member of the council, including the water treatment and wastewater treatment plants.
“Local government has an opportunity to make decisions that impact the future health, safety and welfare of the entire community,” Rivera said. “To be a part of the projects that we see come to fruition, it’s really encouraging.”
Rivera has also been a part of several city commissions and helped create the Police Advisory Commission and the Sustainability Commission.
“It’s been so exciting to be a part of that,” Rivera said. “I want to foster the continued growth and development of what we offer as a city.”
Hoefer believes his experience working with the city in the past makes him well-suited for the position, and his priorities will include fiscal responsibility and economic development.
“I’m a strong believer in economic development, helping our community grow through good economic development that encourages expanded business growth,” Hoefer said.
Hoefer also hopes to improve transparency in government practices.
“I’m also a strong advocate for transparency in government and making sure that what we’re doing in government is open,” Hoefer said, “that our public is able to see that and they’re given the opportunity to participate in the process.”
BY NICOLE RONCHETTI
The Bemidji Pioneer
Ron Johnson and Audrey Thayer are running head to head for the at-large position on the council, meaning a special election will follow for one of their current seats after the winner is named in the Nov. 8 election.
Ron Johnson is currently the council representative for Ward 3, a position he’s unable to run for again following redistricting. His current term representing Ward 3 continues through 2024.
Johnson was first elected to the city council in 2000 and is serving his sixth consecutive term, which he won in 2020 after defeating challenger Greg Kuhn 924-608. He is a promotion manager for Lakeland PBS.
“I thought this opportunity to run for at-large is probably one of the better options I have, I would like to continue serving on the council past my current term,” Johnson said.
Johnson believes that his years of experience and knowledge of the city make him a qualified candidate to represent the entire city on the council.
“As Mayor Pro Tem and a lifelong Bemidji resident who has actually lived in three of the wards over the course of my life … I’m very familiar with the town,” Johnson said.
Johnson has been an active member of the League of Minnesota Cities, an organization for which he is currently presidentelect.
“I just thought it would probably be a natural step to run for the at-large position,” Johnson said.
Audrey Thayer is the current council representative for Ward 1 and was elected in 2020 defeating Joe Gould 476-408. She has lived in Bemidji for more than 30 years and is an instructor at Leech Lake Tribal College. Thayer is also an enrolled member of White Earth Nation.
“My decision was to run so I could serve the entire city,” Thayer said. “I’ve been involved
in the community like an at-large councilor, I’ve done it since my term started.”
Another reason Thayer is running for the at-large position is to allow her more time to finish the projects she’s been involved with on the council.
“I think that being at-large allows time to finish those projects,” Thayer said. “It allows me to continue being an action-oriented council person.”
Thayer feels she brings fiscal responsibility and on-the-ground involvement to the position and has helped in the creation of the Police Advisory and Sustainability Commissions.
In addition to her work as an educator and councilor, Thayer has also been involved in community service, participating in the Ridgeway Neighborhood Initiative and working with Bemidji’s homeless population.
“I believe that our responsibility is to work hard and be visible, not just on council nights and votes, but actually being in the community and listening,” Thayer said.
► Age: 72
► Current Ward 3 Councilor and promotional manager at Lakeland News
► Lifelong Bemidji resident
► Has degrees in Visual Arts and Graphic Design, and Television and Radio Broadcasting from BSU, Alexandria Community and Technical College and Brown College in Minnesota
► Age: 71
► Current Ward 1 Councilor and is an instructor at Leech Lake Tribal College
► Has been a Bemidji resident for over 30 years
► Holds a bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies, a master’s in Education in Counseling Psychology and is working on a doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership
before each session and that he has only missed one meeting in three and a half years.
University. He lives in Turtle River with his wife and children.
Due
all five districts of the Beltrami County Board are up
election on Nov. 8. In District
incumbent Craig Gaasvig will run against Mark Morrissey for a position as county
Craig Gaasvig was elected to the county board in 2018 when he won against Natalie Grosfield 2,037-1,709. Gaasvig is a regional account manager at North Country Business Products.
“I’m trying to just give back to my community, especially after growing up here,” Gaasvig said. “I want to be a part of the solution, not the problem.”
Gaasvig is also the chair of three local boards, the Cass Lake Rural Fire Association, the Blackduck Ambulance Emergency Services Board and the Mississippi Headwaters One Watershed One Plan Board.
“I take the position very seriously,” Gaasvig said, who mentioned he studies
A primary reason Gaasvig is seeking reelection is to continue his work on the questions surrounding the future of the Beltrami County Jail.
“One of the big challenges (facing the county) is being forced to do something with our jail,” he added. “I would like to have some continuity, I would be able to know the history of where we’re at and be able to make the best decisions for our residents.”
Gaasvig hopes to continue representing the constituents of District 1 for another term.
“I just want to make a difference in representing my constituents,” he said. “I think I’ve been doing that, and I would like to continue to do that for another four years.”
Mark Morrissey is the assistant director of campus recreation and outdoor programming at Bemidji State
“I’ve been around in campaigns a lot, and I’ve been involved with politics,” Morrissey said. “I’m familiar with the county board and I think it’s a really important role.”
He was inspired to run for the District 1 seat after seeing the race was unopposed and decided he wanted to get involved and improve county governance.
“Clear and transparent governance is important to me,” Morrissey said. “We want to let people know what we’re doing and hear from them and their concerns.”
Morrissey has been a member of the county’s Parks and Trails Commission and has been involved in local political campaigns. He hopes to embody
some of his local heroes in politics, like former county commissioner Jim Heltzer and state representative Frank Moe.
He also hopes to bring some change to the contentious messaging he feels the county board has engaged in and bring its focus back to local issues.
“I want to counter some of those messages that have been sent out by our county board,” he said, “not making these last-minute zigzags or culture war things.”
Listening to constituents and addressing their concerns would be the priority for Morrissey if elected, alongside fair and open governance.
“In a nutshell that’s it, hearing from people and being fair and transparent,” he explained. “It’s important to me that we just govern with integrity.”
BY NICOLE RONCHETTI
The Bemidji Pioneer
Joe Gould and Don Heinonen will face off to represent District 2 on the Beltrami County Board when the race continues on Nov. 8 after both made it through the primary election on Aug. 9.
Gould and Heinonen were two of five candidates included in the primary and received the highest number of votes, Gould with 456 — 52.47% of the votes. While Heinonen received 173 — 19.91%.
Joe Gould, 35, is a Bemidji State University graduate and a sixth-grade teacher in the Cass Lake-Bena school district.
Gould hopes to approach the budget with the goal of getting more state funding directed to Beltrami County through being in regular contact with state representatives.
“I think our leaders in St. Paul need to do a better job to support our counties in terms of county aid and (Payment in
Lieu of Property Taxes),” he explained.
Gould said he would also go after state bonding dollars to help pay for infrastructure and other costs while keeping the county taxes low.
As for how Gould would approach public safety, he emphasized that creating a good relationship with the new sheriff and other law enforcement agencies would be vital.
“I would want to create a positive relationship with the new sheriff, whoever that’s going to be, and be brought up to speed on the issues facing law enforcement,” he explained.
Public safety also ties into another of his priorities, which is investing in children’s mental health throughout the county.
Gould hopes that supporting children and families in distress on the front end will help reduce calls to law enforcement and create a safer and more supportive environment in the county.
Another topic he discussed was working to retain and recruit county employees, through improving pay and other methods.
“We need to be paying our county employees more and make sure that every office is filled to its capacity,” Gould said. “I think there’s certainly room for improvement there.”
Don Heinonen, 59, is a shop and fleet shop manager and a graduate of Northwest Technical College. He has been a resident of Bemidji for 38 years.
Heinonen has been carefully considering how he would approach the county’s budget if elected. To help increase the funds available to the county, he would work to lobby the state and federal government for more local county aid. This includes taking a look at the formula used by the state government to portion that funding.
“They need to reformulate that so they take into account the economics of a county as well,” Heinonen explained. “It’s a tough thing and tough sell, but I think it’s just one of those things that you’ve got to keep after.”
He also noted the county’s tax levy, which he would like to keep as low as
possible.
Public safety, Heinonen said, is one of his top priorities. He would work to coordinate with law enforcement agencies and try to improve access to mental health services and different support programs for those in the county jail or going through the criminal justice system.
“I think we all need to work together, collaborate and pool those dollars so we can control crime,” he said. “I think the key is that you’ve got to try and find some more ways to make sure that everybody in the county feels safe.”
Heinonen would also work to increase access to mental health services outside of the criminal justice system.
The final topic Heinonen brought up was supporting and improving the county’s infrastructure.
“I think we need to find and leverage some new ways to use county dollars to be able to fix our infrastructure,” he added. “We need to make sure that we’re looking at all of our infrastructures, whether that’s roads, bridges, parks or even county buildings.”
Incumbent Richard Anderson is running against challenger Brian Merschman for the District 3 seat on the Beltrami County Board, as all five districts are up for election on Nov. 8 due to redistricting.
Richard Anderson is a retired educator and has served on the Beltrami County Board since he was first elected in 2011, defeating Scott Winger 1,152960. His most recent reelection was in 2018 when he ran unopposed.
“I’ve enjoyed representing the people that elect me,” Anderson said. “I always take the time to listen and return the phone calls of people who have needs or questions about county government.”
Anderson has served on a number of committees for the board and has also been involved in the ongoing Beltrami County Jail feasibility study, something he hopes to continue if reelected.
“We’re just getting into it, and I’d like to be on that to make sure we spend the money in a positive and responsible way,” he said.
As a former township officer, Anderson also believes he has an understanding of the needs of smaller local governments.
“I was a township officer for close to 40 years, so I really do understand the needs of the townships,” he added.
Anderson also discussed some of the different accomplishments done by the county board, including changing how the county offers its employees health insurance and improving access to specialized mental health care in Beltrami.
“I like what I’m doing,” he said. “I really believe in county government.”
Brian Merschman is a mechanic with Paul Bunyan Transit in Bemidji and has been a member of the Bemidji Township Board for well over a decade.
“I’ve been on the Bemidji Township Board for many years, since 2005 if I remember correctly,” Merschman said. “I’ve been involved a lot with government, and I just wanted to move on a little bit further.”
Merschman hopes to bring his experience from the township board and working with organizations like the Headwaters Regional Development Commission to the county board.
“(I want to) be as successful at the county as I have been with Bemidji Township,” Merschman said. “Be involved with planning, and zoning and elections, pretty much everything that I do now.”
► Age: 75
► Is a retired educator
► Lifelong Beltrami County resident
► Holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from BSU and a master’s in Educational Administration from UMN Twin Cities
► Age: 65
► Is a mechanic with Paul Bunyan Transit
► Has lived in the area for 40 years
► Completed vocational school and some studies at BSU
•
•
•
•
Current District 4 Beltrami County Commissioner Tim Sumner is running against newcomer Joseph Neft for a seat on the county board on Nov.
as all five districts are up for election due to redistricting.
Tim Sumner was first elected to the Beltrami County Board in 2012 and won his third term in 2020 after defeating challenger Danny Anderson 2,588 votes to 1,270.
Sumner is a case manager at the Red Lake Homeless Shelter and studied at Northwest Technical College.
“I love what I do working on the county board, I’ve always had that passion to want to help,” Sumner said. “Even after 10 years I still enjoy what I’m doing, meeting the people, working hard
for my constituents.”
Sumner is seeking reelection in part to continue his work on the board’s many ongoing projects.
“I’m running to see that a lot of these projects we’re currently working on are finished and followed through,” Sumner said.
These projects include efforts to repair roads, improve mental health services, and decide the future of the county jail.
“These issues are important,” Sumner said. “I believe at the end of the day, whether I win or lose, it’s important that we see every issue and see how we can move the county forward.”
Joseph Neft is a farmer and trucker from Shooks Township and has been a lifelong Beltrami County resident. Neft is also a member of the Shooks Township Board.
“We’re starting to get a lot of
growling on taxes and property taxes,” Neft said. “It looks like we’ve got to do something to get a handle on where all this money is going to.”
Neft hopes to take a look at the county budget and examine where the money is spent and how to do it more efficiently and effectively.
“Sometimes you have to take a look at the big picture,” Neft said, “look at what the costs are, what are we doing here that’s costing so much money?”
Neft is also interested in serving on the county board in the interest of his grandchildren and the younger generations’ future.
“I’m starting to get a little concerned about my grandchildren’s future,” Neft said. “So maybe it’s time to step up to the plate and take a little more interest in what’s going on and see if we can’t make a difference.”
► Age: 69
► Is a retired accountant and insurance agent and former Minnesota state senator
► Has lived in the area for 51 years
► Holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from BSU
► Age: 62
► Is the executive director of Village of Hope and community development specialist at the HRDC
► Has lived in the area for 34 years
► Holds a bachelor’s in Community Health and Patient Education from Moorhead State University and a master’s in health care from the University of Phoenix
The Bemidji Pioneer
John Carlson and Sandy Hennum are facing off for the District 5 seat on Beltrami County Board as Jim Lucachick, the current District 5 commissioner, is no longer eligible to run for his seat following redistricting.
John Carlson is a former Minnesota Senator who served from 2011 to 2013 representing Congressional District 4.
Carlson is a Bemidji State University graduate who has lived in the city since 1971 with his family. He has worked as an accountant and insurance agent and is currently semi-retired.
“I believe my understanding of how our state government works, my accounting background and my ability to build consensus will be valuable assets to our county board,” Carlson said.
During his time as a senator, he helped pass 28 pieces of legislation and worked to build agreement and cooperation with other legislators.
Carlson also hopes to bring his knowledge of finance to the commissioner’s seat to help ensure fiscal responsibility at the county level.
“I have the time to devote my energies to making sure that our county practices sound fiscal policies,” he said. “How those needs are prioritized with limited resources will be the key to good governance.”
Carlson remarked that the county was losing a financial watchdog following Jim Lucachick being redistricted out of his seat.
“As a county commissioner, I would be responsive to my constituents and be a good steward of the tax dollars collected,” Carlson said.
Sandy Hennum is the executive director of Village of Hope, an emergency shelter for families in Bemidji. Hennum has lived in Bemidji for 32 years with her family and has two adult children.
“Amazing people in Bemidji do such amazing work, and I just want to support that,” Hennum said. “I just know that by working together we can make Bemidji better for everybody.”
Hennum has spent much of her life involved in service to the community. Along with her work at Village of Hope, Hennum is also a Rotary Club member and chair of the Rotary Ridgeway Neighborhood Initiative.
“I’ve lived my life working toward collective impact,” Hennum said.
“I have worked extensively with statewide organizations, advocacy groups and different legislative groups to bring more resources to this part of Greater Minnesota.”
As the director of an emergency shelter, Hennum is passionate about housing and related issues and hopes to bring her experience working in those fields to the county board.
“I really want to work on the housing supply and the mental health services,” Hennum said. “I just think I bring that experience and collaborative spirit to give some help to these issues that really make it hard sometimes for people to move forward.”
BY DALTYN LOFSTROM
The Bemidji Pioneer Jason Riggs and Jarrett Walton will face off for the position of Beltrami County Sheriff in the November general election after the two received the majority votes in the Aug. 9 primary.
Riggs received 54.79% of the vote with 2,926 ballots cast in his favor, and Walton received 1,257 votes or 23.54%.
With more than 21 years of law enforcement experience, Jason Riggs currently acts as a captain with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office where he has worked for the past 18 years. He has also served as the commander of the Headwaters SWAT team since 2012.
Riggs looks forward to forging stronger trust between law enforcement and community if elected as sheriff.
“Law enforcement needs to take back the community by becoming a part of it again,” Riggs said. “With the backlash from the George Floyd incident among other incidents in the country, we need to be seen as public servants again and go back to our traditional roots as peace officers.”
Regarding a Jail Needs and Feasibility Study for the Beltrami County Jail Riggs anticipates the building of a new jail and offering better services for inmates.
“The future population of the jail looks fairly staggering. The current footprint and internals of the jail would no longer satisfy its growth,” Riggs said. “I anticipate the need for a new facility operated with a much lower staffto-inmate ratio, providing better services medically and better services mental health-wise.”
With public safety as his main priority, Riggs highlighted his readiness to
serve Beltrami County in a new capacity.
“I look forward to talking with people about public safety,” Riggs added, “and the future of rolling up my sleeves and getting to work.”
While Chief Deputy Jarrett Walton doesn’t consider himself a politician, he hopes his 25 years of law enforcement experience, 20 of which have been with the BCSO will land him the sheriff’s position on Nov. 8 after serving as chief deputy the past three years.
Emphasizing a holistic approach when it comes to the well-being of prison inmates, Walton highlighted the need for more support for those afflicted by mental health and substance abuse issues while still holding them accountable for their actions.
“We have to actively hold people accountable and provide them these services. They’re not bad people.
They make bad decisions or because of health or substance abuse issues,” Walton said. “Drugs drive a lot of criminal activity. We’re never going to stop the problem, but can deter people or reduce the demand.
“Chemical dependency causes lots of collateral damage to families. If we can affect even 15-20% (of addicts) and make their personal lives better by tackling underlying issues, it’s a win for everyone in the process.”
Having supervised all divisions of the sheriff’s office, Walton sees transparency as the link between law enforcement and the community, and the key to forging trust.
“Being out there and partnering with the community, it’s to make the community healthier and safer,” Walton left off.
► Age: 49
► Is a captain with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office where he’s worked for 18 years
► Has lived in the Bemidji area for 20 years
► Earned an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Hibbing Community College
► Age: 48
► Is the Chief Deputy with the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office where he’s worked for 20 years
► Has lived in the Bemidji area for 20 years
► Earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northland College and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from BSU
years Investigative Sergeant, 1.25 years as a Patrol Sergeant, and 9.75 years as Field Training Coordinator
• Member of the Beltrami County Budget Committee 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022
• Northern Lights Task Force Chair of Communications/Technology Subcommittee (received an award from MN DPS recognizing my leadership)
• Lead Jail Task Force Committee to address staffing levels in the jail. Staffing levels were at 45%, staffing levels are now 94%
• Member Jail Project Steering and Finance Committee
There are 10 candidates running for three four-year positions for the Bemidji Area Schools Board of Education
Nov. 8, including two incumbents and eight newcomers. Incumbent Jeff Lind is not seeking reelection.
Incumbent Carol L. Johnson, 63, has served on the board since 2005 and has retired from 37 years at Ken. K. Thompson Jewelry.
“I think we need to market Bemidji Area Schools showcasing our highly qualified staff and all of the opportunities offered to students from academics to athletics to the arts and everything in between,” Johnson said. “We need to ‘sing our own song.’”
If reelected, Johnson wants to enhance positive relationships with all stakeholders in hopes of increasing
enrollment and supporting financial stability.
“I want to continue to build on my 18 years of experience on the school board supporting students and staff,” she added. “I look forward to the future of our district under the leadership of our new Superintendent Jeremy Olson.”
Incumbent Sarah Young, 51, has served on the board since 2019 and is an associate professor within TRIO Student Support Services at Bemidji State University.
If reelected, Young wants to address enrollment, specifically by expanding preschool capacity.
“Expanding preschool helps parents with childcare, starts children on their path toward graduating and establishes an early connection with (the district),” Young said.
Regarding graduation rates, Young mentioned, “I also pledge to work
collaboratively with our dedicated teachers, staff and administration toward the ideal of 100% graduation rate. Together, we can do it.”
Ashley Brue, 37, is a software development engineer for the Minnesota State System of colleges and universities.
Brue highlighted certain challenges surrounding the recruitment and retention of staff members throughout the district.
“Passionate educators and staff drive Bemidji Area Schools and its students to thrive,” she said. “Over the past few years, Bemidji has struggled to find staff to fill vacant positions. If we want excellent staff in Bemidji Area Schools, we need to support a school environment that our existing staff are passionate about and that new staff are excited to join.”
Jenny Frenzel, 42, is a licensed preprimary and elementary teacher and a business owner.
“If elected to the board, I plan to work toward rebuilding trust and respect between the board, school staff and the community,” Frenzel said.
Frenzel also detailed her concerns regarding the district’s budget and helping the public understand where money is being spent throughout the district.
Focusing on students, Frenzel left off, “as a board member, I want to help ensure the best education possible is being provided to the students in (the district).”
Kerin Hanson, 35, is a middle school science teacher at Heartland Christian Academy.
“As a parent of students in the district, I have a vested interest in the current issues that have not been addressed that affect many students, not just my own,” Hanson said. “My main priority is straightening out the budget.
“(This) will help us hire more staff to help our teachers, staff, and most importantly students, ensure we keep important programs related to literacy, art and music, and provide the materials to teachers that are needed in the classroom.”
Hanson also wants to address bullying and figure out why families transfer out of the district.
Nicole Jaranson, 36, works in health care.
“I have a personal interest in improving the quality of our schools as my children go to school in the Bemidji School District,” Jaranson said. “I believe we need quality public education for our children as they are our future.”
Citing her interactions with staff, students and administration throughout the district, Jaranson added, “I feel we need to put the responsibility back to the parents. We also need to improve on discussion and communication with parents, teachers and the community.”
Meredith Kehoe, 73, is a recent retiree from the Bemidji Area School District where she taught for 50 years and also
teaches Academic American English for international students at Bemidji State University.
Referencing challenges from the past couple of years, Kehoe stated, “I believe education has the opportunity to evolve and adapt to the current needs of students.”
Kehoe’s main purpose for running for school board is to support students and added that, “every decision the board makes should be rooted on what is best for the kids.”
Anna Manecke, 38, is a registered nurse.
“I am running for school board for all school kids including my three children, parents and guardians, the staff and the taxpayers of the Bemidji School District who need a new voice and listener,” Manecke said.
Manecke emphasized her knowledge and ability to build integrity between the school district and the broader community.
“I want to bring transparency and accountability from the school district to the community, academic excellence to increase performance and excel in achievement, (and) safety to the staff and students to carry out a stronger learning environment,” she left off.
The Pioneer was unable to reach Wesley Newell for comment.
Dave Wall, 56, is a financial worker at Beltrami County Health and Human Services.
In detailing his motivation for running for school board, Wall said it comes from a growing concern he has for the direction the country is headed in, which starts with the education of children.
“I see that public education is being undermined and turning from objective learning that develops good
critical thinking skills, to a one-sided indoctrination that is based on feelings, fear and subversion of solid American values,” Wall stated.
Wall detailed two action steps he would take if elected to the board.
“One, seek to direct the school district from the administration, faculty, staff and students to focus their efforts to promoting the exceptionalism that America was founded on,” he detailed.
“Two, ensure that school curriculum contributes to the development of students as contributing, moral and responsible citizens of these great United States.”
• Academic Excellence to prepare our youth for their future
• Safety for students and staff
• Transparency from the board and administration to the community, parents/guardians and staff
• Giving parents/guardians back the choice of health decisions to their own children
Paid for by Anna Manecke
I am a graduate of Bemidji High School and I have 3 children who attend Bemidji Schools
P.O. Box 1724
Bemidji, MN 56619
A total of 13 candidates are vying for only two twoyear positions on the Bem idji Area Schools Board of Education on Nov. 8.
These positions will fulfill the remainder of the terms of former board members Jeff Haack and Gabriel Warren who resigned in November 2021 and July 2022 respec tively.
The Pioneer was unable to reach Brian Dow for comment.
Guy Drevlow, 46, is an assistant manager and chief operating officer at Bemidji Cooperative Asso ciation.
“I feel the district needs to be run more like a busi ness and be fiscally respon sible for decisions that are made as they move for ward,” Drevlow said. “I see decisions being made with out much thought being placed into that decision such as land purchases and other savings that could be made.”
Drevlow detailed other priorities including the use of cleaner fuels in district transportation, forging trust between the school board and the public, and more effective communica tion with district residents.
Jake Hemingway, 40, works in finance and as part of his priority list, he explained that cutting wasteful spending and lowering taxes is just one of them.
Stating his support for a student and parent’s bill of rights, specifically elim inating future mandates regarding masks, vaccines, social distancing and lock downs, he mentioned, “as a father, I have seen first hand the harm done to my teen daughter from (the board’s) one size fits all policies.”
Hemingway also refer enced curriculum issues that he wants to address.
“Schools have become little more than leftist indoctrination centers, with the goal of produc ing mindless automatons that blindly obey, never question authority and can only regurgitate the propa ganda talking points of the authoritarians,” he said. “This must end.”
Justin Hoover, 44, is the owner of Blue Ox Storage.
“What motivates me to run for school board is see ing the need for parent’s voices to be heard and their desires to be upheld by the elected school board,” Hoover said. “I would like to be a part of helping our schools become
a safer, more welcoming environment for both teachers and students.”
Stating his commitment to education, Hoover added, “we must work together when challeng ing times arise in order to provide the best education possible in the best envi ronment possible. I would be honored to be a part of this process.”
Kimberly Jannson, 48, is a job counselor for the Leech Lake Nation.
“As a mother to a bi-ra cial son and a community leader, I am confident that I’ll bring a positive impact on our school district and help provide opportunities for our staff and students,” Jannson said.
Multicultural awareness among students and par ents is one of Jannson’s main priorities should she be elected to the board.
“I hope to represent equity and equality to our children’s education, and I am looking forward to bringing our community in to have these discussions,” she left off.
Julie Laitala, 47, is a lead ophthalmic assistant at Sanford Health of Bemidji and the owner of Revolu tion MMA Fitness.
Laitala hopes to bring a different perspective to the
I believe investing in our youth, teachers, and community is essential to a better future. I have the ability to listen, research and use my own experiences as a leader, community member, and mother to bring forth policies that will support and unite students, staff, faculties, parents, and residents of ISD 31. I feel I can bring a different perspective that is much needed in our community. I was adopted at 4 years old by Mary & Richard Chernugal and was taught the importance of community, empathy, and education from them!
Prepared and paid for
board as a leader, commu nity member and mother that would unite all stake holders of the district.
“My top priority will be to make decisions that have a positive impact on all students, staff and facil ities all while represent ing our community,” she detailed. “We must keep the education, safety and well-being of each student at the forefront of any decisions and policies.”
Laitala also emphasized students’ equitable access to trade school opportuni ties, work-study programs with local businesses and support systems for students and teachers all while being financially responsible.
C.T. Marhula
C.T. Marhula is the chief executive officer of Moon light Research and a mem ber of the Bemidji Charter
Commission.
Drawing on six years of being on the Grand Forks School Board, Marhula would like to aid in the transition that has come with new Superintendent Jeremy Olson.
“My initial goals are quite simple: assist the new superintendent in establishing a great, trust ing relationship with all stakeholders,” Marhula mentioned.
He also detailed his aspirations of a 100% graduation rate, staff compensation discussions and increased reading proficiency for elementary students.
Michael Meehlhause, 33, is an academic advisor at TrekNorth High School.
“I’m running for Bemidji School Board because I believe that strong public
schools equal strong com munities,” Meehlhause said. “I understand the challenges students and teachers face in the class room because I am an edu cator myself.”
If elected, Meehlhause detailed his priorities of addressing teacher reten tion, managing the dis trict’s budget and ensuring that student success and wellbeing are the primary focus during board deci sions.
Daniel Nynas, 41, is a financial analyst for a cred it union and a board mem ber for the Bemidji Boys and Girls Club.
“As a parent of two children attending (the dis trict), I will work to ensure we deliver excellent edu cation, programming and
I will work with others in a positive way, regardless of differences.
Julie Laitala, 5117 Power Dam Road NE, Bemidji, MN 56601.
Prepared
We must unite as a school district to support our students and staff.
As a concerned parent, I am focused on strengthening our schools and youth services. I bring financial knowledge and experience, and I am committed to ensuring the district achieves its educational goals while keeping spending in line.
Ensure the safety of all youth and staff within the district.
Ensure ISD #31 is run in a financially sound manner.
Improve communication and transparency between the district, parents and our community.
A member of the White Earth Nation will represent Minnesota Senate District 2 in the state senate following the 2022 general election on Nov. 8, but, will it be Steve Green, the five-term Republican member of the Minnesota House, or Alan Roy, the former secretary-treasurer of the White Earth Nation?
Both candidates said they believe in cleaning up the red tape at the state level and reining-in statewide agencies that can create obstacles to economic development and businesses in the district through regulations or rule-making.
“The agencies have become the behind-the-scenes government and they’ve expanded their rule-making
authority beyond what I think it should be,” Green said, adding that one of the legislature’s purposes is to rein-in out of control government agencies.
According to Roy, in some cases, businesses are being overregulated, which can slow growth and employment needs.
“There’s too much red tape,” he said. “We’ll take that on a case-bycase basis, but I want to sit down with the business owners ... to see what areas we can work on. With me, it’s got to be feasible and it’s got to be pragmatic.”
The candidates also shared what their main policy concerns were and how they would address them.
“We’ve got public safety and the issue with parental rights,” said Green. “The parental rights issue has
to be done in a way that allows the local school boards to make their decisions.”
He said the curriculum standards coming from the state should be academic and focused on reading, writing, math and science, and any other social issues could be handled within the home.
Green also said addressing public safety will be a lot harder because of law enforcement staffing shortages affecting communities across the state.
Roy said he believes furthering the economic development in the district’s area of the state would be a leading priority if elected.
“At the state level legislatively ... to incentivize businesses to invest
support to every student with our available fund ing,” Nynas said.
He highlighted his 18 years in banking and non profit work along with his master’s in business administration which he feels would provide the necessary expertise to navigate the district’s budget decisions.
“If elected, I will respect and listen to everyone in our district regardless of differences, work to provide transparency and accountability, renew trust in district leader ship, and unite our com munity to prioritize our students,” he left off.
Marie Claire Richey, 25, is a homeschool teacher of three children.
With family members attending the district, prior volunteer experi ence and her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bemidji State University, Richey feels she can effec tively serve on the board.
“I would love to put my passion and skills to good use to serve the parents,
children and teachers of (the district) and improve the safety, fiscal respon sibility and transparency of the Bemidji School Dis trict,” Richey said.
Danielle Thorson, 36, is a financial counselor at the Sanford Joe Lueken Cancer Center.
“As a current district parent, I decided to run for school board after two failed referendums, know ing the school board had serious and difficult choic es to make,” Thorson said. “I am faced with difficult and time-sensitive situa tions daily in my career, and pride myself on find ing creative solutions to these scenarios.”
Stating her support for students, teachers, staff and the community, Thorson added, “I am committed to continuing the practice of inclusion and diversity within our school system to continue to empower, engage and support all persons in the district.”
Miriam White, 57, is an associate professor of education at Bemidji State
University.
Expressing support for a referendum, White men tioned, “I understand that we need to pass a referen dum in order to continue to have autonomy in our decision-making ability and will work to keep that in place.”
White highlighted the different opportunities that are available to stu dents throughout the dis trict and wants to contin ue the focus on students.
“I believe that Bemidji Schools have their core values focused on ‘stu dents first’ and I want to help continue that mind set,” White left off.
Rebecca Whiting, 40, is a homeschool teacher and a small business owner.
“I went to graduate school originally to be a teacher, but once I got into the school system I realized the limitations that the system had for the kids,” Whiting said.
“Instead of allowing myself to be molded into what the school system wanted from teachers, I stepped out and immersed myself in homeschooling
and walked away from the career I wanted.”
Whiting credits her experiences with home schooling and public school systems for her
perspective on what the school district needs.
“Those challenges are still there, but I am now at a place in life where I feel that I could make a
positive impact where the entire community could benefit in overcoming challenges that require out-of-the-box thinkers,” she added.
The Bemidji Pioneer
Beltrami County Commissioner Reed Olson will be the DemocraticFarmer-Labor challenger facing incumbent Matt Grossell for the Minnesota House 2A seat on Nov. 8.
Reed Olson, a current Beltrami County Commissioner, is the executive director of the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless, and also the owner of the Wild Hare Bistro in Bemidji.
“I’ve been in local politics for about a decade,” Olson shared. “I’m hopeful that my background in local government will make me a more effective policy maker and legislator at the state level.”
He added that much of the state’s legislation and action hits the ground at the county level, and believes his work with the Beltrami County Board will provide unique insight into what policies are most effective.
“(As county commissioners) we’re able to see that maybe a wellintended policy at the state level just doesn’t really do what it’s supposed to when it hits the county or the municipality,” Olson said. “I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to craft policy that’s more receptive to the needs of rural Minnesota. “
Creating more housing in northern Minnesota would be one of Olson’s primary focuses if elected.
“I want to build more housing, first and foremost,” Olson said. “I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to figure out some policies that will help us increase housing in rural Minnesota.”
Olson also would work to increase child care capacity in the region, something he noted was another
desperate need.
“Both of these are economic development tools,” Olson said, noting that housing and child care are ways to boost the economy and address the ongoing worker shortage. “It’s hard to get businesses to relocate here or existing businesses to expand if there isn’t enough workforce housing or daycare for their employees.”
Olson shared that supporting local businesses and providing a productive environment for them would be another focus.
“I’ve had a small business for 17 years now, so I’m very attuned to the challenges they face,” Olson said. “(We need) to make sure that small businesses have a healthy market that they can thrive in.”
He emphasized his continuous work in the community.
“I have a track record of working really hard in our community and getting things done,” Olson said. “I’ve been working on local issues for over a decade now, and I want to continue to work for the district and the good people of North-Central Minnesota.”
Matt Grossell, a Republican, was first elected to the 2A seat in 2016 and is seeking a fourth term. He is a retired law enforcement officer and a former member of the U.S. Navy.
“I want to continue to make our district a better and safer place for people to come and work and live,” Grossell said. “I’ve been serving this district in one form or another since I was 18 years old — in the military, in law enforcement and now in the capacity of a legislator.”
He emphasized an economic focus for his campaign, highlighting
how inflation has impacted people throughout Minnesota.
“We’ve got to get inflation under control, and we’re not going to do that by continuing to spend money in the wrong places and in the wrong ways,” Grossell explained.
Besides proposing tax cuts, including eliminating the social security tax, he also noted the need for people to return to work and boost the economy.
He also noted his support of trade industries, such as mining and logging, as well as the construction of pipelines.
Grossell highlighted that he aims to represent everyone in the district and continue his work to ensure that northern Minnesota is a safe and thriving place to live.
“I am here to be a voice for everybody in the district,” he shared. “We’re not always going to agree, but I want to continue to work hard and continue to keep our families safe and our small businesses and communities thriving.”
► DFL
► Age: 46
► Is a current Beltrami County Commissioner, executive director of the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless and owns the Wild Hare Bistro
► Lives in Bemidji, has been in the area for 18 years
► Has a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Wisconsin Madison
► Republican ► Age: 57
► Is a retired law enforcement officer and U.S. Navy veteran
► Lives in Clearbrook
► Has a law enforcement certificate from Hibbing Community College and associate’s degree from Itasca Community College
in rural Minnesota we’ve got to take a look at some of these tax rates that our business owners and some of our folks are being hit with up here because I get a lot of complaints about that,” Roy said.
In general, he said, Minnesota needs to look at a systemic rethinking of its tax rate structure to
eliminate continued surpluses and put that money back in the pockets of Minnesotans.
He also said he wants to focus on farming and agriculture.
“I think a lot of our farmers in northern Minnesota have been forgotten about in terms of making sure that they are receiving
the support that they need,” Roy detailed. “I know there was a long delay on the drought relief and that hurt our farmers up here.”
Both candidates said they appreciated the issues-based campaign currently being run in district 2 and hope every voter in the district exercises their right to vote on Nov. 8.
The Bemidji Pioneer Republican Matt Bliss is facing off against Democratic-Farm er-Labor party challenger Erika Bailey-Johnson for the Minne sota House 2B seat in the Nov. 8 general election.
Matt Bliss is the current rep resentative for Minnesota House Seat 5A, but is running for 2B following redistricting. He is running for a third term and is a small business owner.
He hopes to continue the work he’s been involved in at the legislature, including tax cuts, bills supporting law enforcement and mining projects. Improving the economy will be one of his initial focuses in the legislature, particularly in light of inflation and rising fuel prices.
His main strategy to address this relates to supporting fossil fuels.
“We need to stop (financially supporting) companies who
don’t invest in oil companies because they disagree with the carbon emissions,” Bliss said. “They’re using it as a political tool and that needs to stop. That will help lower the cost of oil.”
Although he emphasized that he is not against clean energy and supports projects that work toward reducing carbon emis sions — just not to the detri ment of the economy.
Bliss also plans to focus on public safety by supporting law enforcement agencies and get ting them the support they need.
“We need to fund our police and work with our local munic ipalities on ways to retain their officers,” he explained. “We also have to improve the whole way police are treated in our commu nities.”
Ultimately Bliss emphasized his past work as a legislator, and that he is not a career politician.
“I’m running for my third term, but I’m not a career pol itician,” Bliss said. “I’m a very effective legislator and I’m responsive to the community.”
Erika Bailey-Johnson is the Sustainability Director at Bem idji State and an enrolled mem ber of Red Lake Nation.
If elected, one of the biggest focuses for Bailey-Johnson would be education, making sure it’s supported and that rural school districts like the ones in northern Minnesota get the funding they need.
“We need to really examine what is happening in schools and if it’s still relevant, and how we raise good citizens,” she said.
Bailey-Johnson believes she has one solution to make funding more equitable for rural school districts, namely changing the transportation funding formula to account for the distance that students have to travel. This change would benefit geographically larger districts like those in northern Minnesota.
She also hopes to boost the economy by supporting sustain ability efforts and clean energy.
“I think we need to really be focusing on becoming more sustainable communities,” she explained. “To me, that means supporting local businesses and local agriculture.”
In addition to this, she also discussed the need to lessen society’s dependence on fossil fuels.
“We have to consider all of the full costs of everything, from production and extraction of raw materials,” she detailed. “Not just the immediate finan cial impacts, but the long-term financial impacts on ourselves and future generations.”
She believes her experience and track record of finding solutions to complex issues with different groups of people have prepared her for working in the legislature and emphasized that she would not approach things in a partisan manner.
“I really believe in the value of pulling all the different people together to get work done,” she said.
► Republican
► Age: 58
► Works in information technology, is the owner of Bliss Point Resort and is a U.S. Navy veteran
► Lives in Pennington
► Studied auto mechanics at a technical college and electronics and communications while in the military
► DFL
► Age: 47
► Is the Sustainability Director at BSU
► Lives in rural Bemidji
► Has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from UMN Morris and a master’s in Environmental Studies from BSU