Candidate Filing for City, County Races Opens Today

Election filing for a variety of municipal and county offices—Burnsville City Council and Dakota County Board of Commissioners among them—opens at 8 a.m. today and runs through 5 p.m. June 5.

Taking a glance at local candidate filling information:

BURNSVILLE CITY COUNCIL

The four-year terms of Mayor Elizabeth Kautz and council members Dan Gustafson and Mary Sherry expire on Dec. 31.

The following election information is from the city’s website:

This fall, Burnsville residents will have the opportunity to vote–or run–for one Mayoral seat and two City Council positions during the 2012 election.

Candidates interested in running for one of these three positions can file an affidavit for candidacy beginning Tuesday, May 22 through Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Affidavits are available through the City Clerk’s Office at Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Parkway between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. during the filing period. The City Clerk’s office will accept affidavits until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5.

To file for City Council and/or Mayor, candidates must be eligible to vote in Minnesota, be at least 21 years of age when assuming office and a resident of Burnsville. A $5 filing fee will be assessed. Affidavits will not be accepted on Monday, May 28 when City offices are closed in observance of Memorial Day.

A municipal primary will be held on Aug. 14 if the number of candidates is one more than twice the number of individuals to be elected. That means a primary will be held if five or more residents file for City Council or if three or more residents file for Mayor.

For more information visit www.burnsville.org/elections or contact Macheal Brooks, City Clerk at macheal.brooks@ci.burnsville.mn.us or 952-895-4490.

DAKOTA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Because of redistricting, the city of Burnsville now makes up one commission district, which is District 5. The four-year term of District 5 Commissioner Liz Workman expires at the end of this year.

To file for election, commissioner candidates must be an eligible voter, pay a $50 filing and complete an Affidavit of Candidacy and campaign finance reports with the Dakota County Property Taxation and Records in Hastings.

For more information, email the Dakota County Elections and Voter Registration Department at elections@co.dakota.mn.us.

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

The following is information taken from a press release from the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District:

Individuals interested in soil and water protection in Dakota County should consider filing May 22 to June 5 to run for the position of Supervisor of the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD).

This year, the Dakota County SWCD has four Supervisor positions up for election. SWCD candidates appear on the ballot for the general election which will take place in November. Again, individuals who wish to be on the ballot must file for candidacy between May 22 and June 5.

Nomination Districts up for election this year are District 1, 2, 4 and 5. Due to recent Supervisor resignation, District 1 is considered a special election and will serve only a 2- year term. The other elected SWCD Supervisors will serve four year terms.

District 1 includes the cities of Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake and West St. Paul.

Supervisors meet monthly to discuss the business of the SWCD including grant opportunities, conservation priorities, coordination with other local units of government and state agencies, and legislative priorities. Supervisors do not receive a salary, although they do receive compensation for attending meetings and are reimbursed for expenses. Soil and Water Conservation Districts do not have taxing authority and land use authorities.

Any eligible voter that is at least 21 years old, and lives in a nomination district up for election, can file for a SWCD Board vacancy.

If you are interested in filing for an SWCD Board Supervisor position a “Minnesota Affidavit of Candidacy” is available from the Dakota County Election and Voter Registration Department, and there is a $20 filing fee. More information can be obtained at www.co.dakota.mn.us or by calling (651) 438-4380.

SCHOOL BOARD, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES

• Filing for candidacy for the Minnesota Legislature and the U.S. Congress is open from today through June 5.

• Filing for candidacy to the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District Board of Education is open from July 30 to Aug. 14.