Candidate filing closes for Grand Marais, ISD 166 and North Shore Health races

Kalli Hawkins | July 29, 2026

The candidate filing period closed Tuesday, July 28, for seats on the ISD 166 School Board, the North Shore Health Hospital District Board and the Grand Marais City Council.

The Nov. 3 general election ballot will include one mayoral race, two Grand Marais City Council seats, three North Shore Health Hospital District Board seats and three ISD 166 School Board seats.

Candidates who filed are listed below.

Grand Marais City Council

Mayor

Tracy Benson (incumbent)

City Council (two seats)

Dane Kufa
Ben Peters (incumbent)
Bill Lovaas (incumbent)

North Shore Health Hospital District Board

Member 1

Patricia Winchell-Dahl (incumbent)

Member 3

Sharon Berglund
Steven Frykman (incumbent)

Member 5

Pat Campanaro
Randy Wiitala (incumbent)

ISD 166 School Board

District 1

Robert James
Catherine Rich

*Current District 1 board member Erik Redix did not file for reelection.

District 3

Rena Rogers (incumbent)

District 5

Dan Shirley (incumbent)

Candidates have until Thursday, July 30, at 5 p.m. to withdraw and their name will not be placed on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The filing period for Cook County offices closed earlier this year, on June 2.

Candidates who filed for county races include:

County Board of Commissioners

District 1

Deb White (incumbent)
Matt Kelm
Christine Childs

District 3

David Mills (incumbent)
Roger Westerlind

District 5

Chris Homyak

Soil and Water Conservation District Board

District 2

Stan Tull (incumbent)

District 4

Gail Gieseke (incumbent)

Cook County Sheriff

Ty Backlund
Ben Hallberg

Cook County Attorney

Jeanne Peterson

Cook County Auditor/Treasurer

Braidy Powers

Cook County voters will first cast ballots in the primary election on Aug. 11, which includes the Cook County Board District 1 race and statewide contests such as Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District and House District 3A. Candidates advancing from the primary will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

During the July 28 Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board approved the appointment of 48 Cook County citizens as election judges for the state primary and for the general election in November.

The county auditor’s office said many of the Cook County residents who signed up this year have previously served in the role in past county elections. All election judges receive training as required by statute prior to the state primary election in August.

Election judges may serve at the polling places in Grand Marais to process mail and absentee ballots, or help with early voting during the early voting period, the county auditor’s office said. Furthermore, a handful of judges may also assist the auditor’s office with election administrative tasks.

On July 29, county officials announced a change in polling place for District 2 Precinct 5 for the upcoming elections. The former location at the Cook County Courthouse Commissioner’s Room will no longer be used. The new polling place location will be at the Grand Marais City Hall, 15 North Broadway, Grand Marais, MN, 55604.