Few contested municipal races in area

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Voters on Tuesday will make decisions on taxes, religion and sports logos as part of the statewide primary election ballot. Voters living in cities also will vote in municipal elections.

In Jamestown, six people are seeking three seats on the City Council. Councilmen Pat Nygaard and Ken Schulz are not seeking re-election. Charlie Kourajian is seeking re-election with Jodie Mjoen, Steve Brubbakken, Dan Buchanan, Samuel Upton and Jacqueline Dotzenrod also vying for the seats.

That is one of a limited number of contested municipal races in the area.

Voters from the small towns of Stutsman County will receive a municipal ballot on Tuesday but won’t find any contested races. Races without any declared candidates will be decided by the highest number of write-in votes.

Voters in Valley City will seat two new city commissioners. Jon Wagar and George Dutton are not seeking re-election. Ken Evenson, Arthur Frieze, Robert Drake, Mary Lee Nielson and Madeline Luke are seeking the positions.

Voters in LaMoure County have a three-way race for a vacant County Commission seat. Dale Muske, Brad Rodin and Lee Miller are seeking the seat currently held by Robert Muhs. Muhs was appointed to fill the term of Kenny Rohrbeck, who died in September while in office. Two of the three candidates will advance to the general election in November.

In Napoleon five people are seeking three positions on the City Council. Incumbents Todd Moos and Rod Kleppe are on the ballot along with Derrick Leier, Greg Pechtel and John Wald. Current City Council President Curt Christofferson is not seeking re-election.

In Griggs County voters will decide a $3.1 million bond issue for courthouse updates and repairs. A similar measure with a $4 million price tag was defeated during a special election in September.

Election officials say the lack of municipal races and county measures shouldn’t limit the voter turnout.

“The statewide measures should draw a crowd,” said Ed McGough, auditor and election administrator for Barnes County. “The absentee voting has been busy, especially the last few days.”

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, elections