Announcing Candidate Forums in Menahga, MN

The League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area will hold a Candidate Forum for all candidates for the Menahga District 821 School Board and Menahga City Council & Mayor on October 14th beginning at 6:00 pm. It will be held at Menahga High School Library, 216 Aspen Ave SE, Menahga, MN.  We will start with the school board at 6 pm and hold the city council/ mayor starting at 7:15 pm

The purpose of the Candidate Forum is to give Menahga voters an opportunity to hear their candidates discuss the issues of importance to them in this election. The candidates that have filed for and have been invited to the forum are:

• Mayor:  Jody Bjornson,  Tim Ellingson
• City Council: James Kraskey, Durwin Tomperi, Keith Waaraniemi, (vote for 2)
• School Board: Julia Kicker, Cherie Peterson, Helen Lehto, Sara Makela
  (vote for 3)

The event is free and open to the public. The candidates will answer written questions from the public during this moderated event.

Voters have two opportunities to submit questions to the candidates. Written questions will be accepted throughout the forum. Also voters are encouraged to submit questions via email by Saturday October 12th to LWV Park Rapids Area email: lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.

By League of Women Voter policy, the identity of the person asking the question is confidential. Any questions submitted via email will remain confidential with all identifying information removed before the event. The email option for submitting questions creates an opportunity for voters to ask questions in a more private manner because it guarantees anonymity. All questions are screened by a neutral committee to ensure that questions are applicable to all candidates, are forward looking, not personal in nature, and are addressed to subjects relevant to this forum.

League of Women Voter Candidate Forums follow the nonpartisan, unbiased and impartial format established by the League of Women Voters Minnesota. LuAnn Hurd-Lof and Carolynne White, both LWVPRA members, will moderate the forum. The League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office.

Specific rules governing the Candidate Forum were given to each candidate along with information on how to prepare for the Forum.  We will be audio and video recording this Forum and making it available to voters on YouTube.
If you have any questions about this forum, please email lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org 

Nevis City Council Candidate Forum Video Link

On October 2nd, League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area held a forum for the Nevis City Council. The four candidates who have filed for 2 positions on the City Council are:

• Jamie Caughey, (participating)
  
• Teresa Leshovsky,(participating)
  
• Mark Koebnick (unable to attend)
  
• Mary Carrier.(unable to attend)
  

Sue Gray is running unopposed for mayor and makes a statement at the end of this video.   

You can view the full video from this link:   https://youtu.be/hjs-QxN6Zeo 

If you have any questions about the race or voting, please contact lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org

If you have questions about positions the candidates expressed, please contact them directly. 

 

 

Announcing: Nevis City Council Candidate Forum: Oct 2nd

The League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area will hold a Candidate Forum for all candidates for the Nevis City Council on October 2nd beginning at 6:00 pm. It will be held at Nevis City Council Chambers, 102 Main Street West, Nevis, MN. 

 
The purpose of the Candidate Forum is to give City of Nevis voters an opportunity to hear their candidates discuss the issues of importance to them in this election.

 The candidates that have filed for Nevis City Council are: 

Jamie Caughey,
Teresa Leshovsky,
Mark Koebnick
Mary Carrier.
Sue Gray is running unopposed for mayor.   

The event is free and open to the public. The candidates will answer written questions from the public during this moderated event.

Voters attending the forum have two opportunities to submit questions to the candidates. Written questions will be accepted throughout the forum. Voters encouraged to submit questions via email by Sunday September 29th to LWV Park Rapids Area email: lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.

By League of Women Voter policy, the identity of the person asking the question is confidential. Any questions submitted via email will remain confidential with all identifying information removed before the event. The email option for submitting questions creates an opportunity for voters to ask questions in a more private manner because it guarantees anonymity. All questions are screened by a neutral committee to ensure that questions are applicable to all candidates, are forward looking, not personal in nature, and are addressed to subjects relevant to this forum.

League of Women Voter Candidate Forums follow the nonpartisan, unbiased and impartial format established by the League of Women Voters Minnesota. LuAnn Hurd-Lof, an LWVPRA member will moderate the forum. The League does not support or oppose political parties or candidates for public office.

Specific rules governing the Candidate Forum were given to each candidate along with information on how to prepare for the Forum.  We will be audio and video recording this Forum and making it available to voters on YouTube.
If you have any questions about this forum, please email lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org 

Absentee/Early Voting for the November Ballot start 9/20/24

 

Absentee/Early Voting has been a reliable way to vote in Minnesota for over a century. Absentee Voting is secure and convenient.

    As of June 1, state residents can ask to be added to a Permanent Absentee Voter List. People on the list will automatically receive a ballot in the mail for all national, state and local elections for which they are eligible to vote.
    You can ask to be added to this list when you register to vote. If you are already a registered voter, you can update your information and ask to be added to the list. Registering and updating can be done online at mnvotes.sos.mn.gov. You can also download a paper application from the Secretary of State website.

Another option to register or update your voting preference is in person at your County Election Office. You will need a Minnesota driver’s license or State ID card.

Absentee/Early ballots can be used to vote by mail or in person. Early voting for the Nov. 5 General Election starts Sept. 20.

• In Minnesota mailed ballots must be received, (not just postmarked), on or before Election Day.
• Absentee ballots cannot be accepted at your local polling place on Election Day. If you have not turned in your absentee ballot before election day (Nov 5th), you should destroy that absentee ballot and go to your precinct to vote in person. ( The roster at your precinct will note that you have not turned in an absentee ballot)
• We have 9 Precincts that are Mail In-Ballot Precincts in Hubbard County. The courthouse is their precinct polling place. They can come in person to vote on Nov 5th starting at 7 am and closing at 8pm.   You can also drop that completed ballot off at the courthouse even on election day until 8 pm.
• Any ballots received after Nov 5th will not be counted.

Absentee and Early voting in Minnesota is very secure. When your ballot is received by the County Elections Office, it is reviewed by at least two people on the Absentee Ballot Board. Trained election judges and other trained auditors serve on the Ballot Board. The review ensures the person is eligible to vote and the person voting is the one who requested the ballot. After the ballot is accepted, it is placed on the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS). The System ensures that someone cannot vote again on Election Day or request an additional absentee ballot.

Voters can track their ballot and confirm it was received and counted. Sign up for ballot tracking at sos.state.mn.us.

A reminder to all voters:  Over 30 years ago, Minnesotans voted to dedicate a portion of state lottery proceeds to conservation. Since then, it’s provided over $1 billion for our Great Outdoors. In November, a question to renew this funding will be on the front of every Minnesotan’s ballot. To ensure this critical funding source remains dedicated for the Great Outdoors, over 50% of voters must vote “YES.” Leaving the question blank counts as a “No” vote. If it doesn’t pass, the constitutional protection for this important conservation funding will expire.  For more information: https://www.mngreatoutdoors.org/

In the past couple of years there have been changes to Minnesota voting rules. As with any change, people have questions. The League of Voters Park Rapids Area is a non-partisan organization and a source of accurate information about voting. If you have specific questions, email lwvparkrapida@lwvmn.org. The League of Women Voters of Minnesota has been a trusted source of voter information for over 100 years, and serves communities across the state to ensure free, fair and secure elections.

FYI: Early Voting In Person Location & Hours:
Hubbard County Courthouse - 301 Court Ave., Park Rapids
September 20, 2024 through November 4 -

Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 2, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 3, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

LWV Park Rapids Area and Braver Angels of MN invite you to find out "How to Disagree Better" on Sept 23rd

On May 2nd League of Women Voters Park Rapids hosted a program called “Citizenship in an Anxious World.” The panel consisted of 2 local ministers, 2 youth leaders from Park Rapids High School and a representative from Braver Angels of Bemidji. The panel shared their observations regarding community issues from their perspectives . (you can view the program on our YouTube channel)   At the end of the program many in the audience expressed a wish to hear more from the Braver Angels Organization and to have a workshop to develop skills on disagreeing with respect and civility.

LWVPRA followed up with their suggestions and is hosting a workshop by a Braver Angels facilitator, Lucy Gerold.  She was a Deputy Chief and Commander for Leadership and Organizational Development for the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). She created and led the implementation of Community Policing as the Director of Community Crime Prevention/SAFE for the MPD, developing the training and coaching for unique police/civilian work teams.  Lucy has also taught Personal Empowerment classes. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, a master’s degree in Human Services from Concordia University and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police.

Lucy will lead us through a workshop called Skills for Disagreeing Better.  This will be a 90- minute workshop held at Northwoods Bank Community Room (1200 First St E, Park Rapids) on Sept 23rd at 6:30 pm.
This *FREE* event is to be attended in person. Use promo code BRAVER during registration to get a free ticket. You will receive an email confirmation of your registration. In it will be a link to a pdf worksheet. Please download it and bring it with you to the workshop.

(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skills-for-disagreeing-better-mn-stateleague-of-women-voters-of-park-registration-964519181837?aff=oddtdtcreator)



The following are the goals of this workshop:

• Understanding values and concerns of people who differ from you politically.
• Improving skills for listening in a way the other person feels heard.
• Increasing skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear even if they disagree.

This workshop is interactive and includes opportunities for practice and discussion.
Please remember that The League of Voters Park Rapids Area is a non-partisan organization. We are a source of accurate information about voting.  If you have specific questions, email lwvparkrapida@lwvmn.org. The League of Women Voters of Minnesota has been a trusted source of voter information for over 100 years. We serve communities across the state to ensure free, fair, and secure elections.