Return to Archived Stories

Polling hours, annual meeting times, and annual meeting sites for each township are listed below.

Elected supervisors will serve three-year terms, and treasurers will serve two-year terms. Four contested races exist in the Paynesville area this year: for supervisor and for treasurer in Lake Henry Town-ship, for supervisor in Munson Township, and for supervisor in Roseville Township.

In Paynesville Township, incumbent supervisor Pat Meagher has refiled and, for the first time since 1997, the supervisor race in Paynesville Township is unopposed, though the challenge came by write-in campaigns in 1999 and 2000.

This information was supplied by each candidate; some candidates did not submit any information.

Eden Lake
Candidates who filed in Eden Lake Township are incumbents Conrad Blomker for supervisor and Donald Schlangen for treasurer.

Irving
Candidates who filed in Irving Township are incumbents Daniel Olson for supervisor and Howard Powers for treasurer.

Lake Henry
Candidates who filed in Lake Henry Township are incumbent Celestine Fischbachand challenger Gary Olmscheid for supervisor and incumbent Ray Loxtercamp and challenger Ray Nietfeld for treasurer.

Supervisor
Celestine Fischbach, 76, has lived in Lake Henry Township for all his life except for eight years. A farmer and part-owner of the Regal Elevator, he has served on the township board for 12 years. He also has served for three years on the Belgrade Co-op Board and is a member of the Lake Henry Lions. He and his wife, Bernice, have one son.

Why are you running for the township board? To keep as much local control as possible.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? Same as previous questions. To keep family farms in the township.

What distinguishes you from your opponent? Had 12 years with the town board, and as chairman got an easement from a land owner to rebuild a road that others weren't able to get.

What is your long-range vision for Lake Henry Township? Keep the roads in good condition. The township needs to work to keep the fire department and rescue squad.

How should local control be maintained in the township? Keep people informed about township and county issues.

Supervisor
Gary Olmscheid, 48, has lived in Lake Henry Township all his life. A dairy and beef farmer, he previously served six years on the township board and has been the gambling manager for the Lake Henry Lions for the last nine years. He and his wife, Pat, have three children.

Why are you running for the township board? To get younger people on the board.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? Build roads that we need and keep roads in good shape. And keep the fire and rescue departments running and keep taxes down.

What distinguishes you from your opponent? Younger and live on township road.

Treasurer
Ray Loxtercamp has lived and farmed in Lake Henry Township since 1973 and has served as the township treasurer for 16 years. He would like to continue to serve as treasurer until he turns 80, two more years.

Treasurer
Ray Nietfeld, 67, has lived in Lake Henry Township all his life. A dairy and hog farmer, he previously served as a supervisor in Lake Henry Township, and he is an area delegate for Land 'O' Lakes; belongs to the Knight of Columbus, serving various offices, including treasurer for 12 years; and has been a trustee for St. Margaret's Church for 17 years. He and his wife, Rita, have four adult children and 12 grandchildren.

Why are you running for township office? (1) Some members of the township have asked me to run; they want a change. (2) To help preserve the township government and keep local controls.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? (1) Keep local control. This is being taken from us faster than people realize. (2) Keep balanced budget. Don't spend more than you take in. (3) Be respectful to the local fire department and rescue squad.

What distinguishes you from your opponent? Present treasurer has served his time. Some members of the township want changes, so here's their chance. I'm for the family farm and resident ownership of farms. I'm still farming with a lot of bookkeeping experience. Let the Lake Henry Township residents decide what the difference is.

Manannah
Candidates who filed in Manannah Township are incumbents Harold Kelm for supervisor, and Janine Shepersky for treasurer.

Munson
Incumbent supervisor Tom Gertken did not re-file in Munson Township. Instead, Gerard Gertken and Denis Hemmesch have filed for supervisor and incumbent Dick Behnen for treasurer.

Supervisor
Gerard Gertken, 37, is a crop farmer and works part-time as a rural mail carrier. He has been an election judge for five years.

Supervisor
Denis Hemmesch, 44, has lived in Munson Township all his life. A dairy farmer, he has served for six years on the Munson Township Planning and Zoning Board. He and his wife, Michelle, the township clerk, have six daughters.

Why are you running for the township board? To maintain the rights and needs of all township residents.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? To treat all township residents fairly. To continue to have an open mind on all issues raised throughout the township. To work for the good of the township and maintain our rural way of life.

What distinguishes you from your opponent? Six years of township experience. I have met and worked with many county personnel, so I can direct residents to people for help and to answer questions they might have.

What is your long-range vision for Munson Township? To keep township growth in concentrated areas. To help maintain the rural lifestyles throughout the township.

How should local control be maintained in the township? To depend less on the county and keep all control in the township.

Paynesville
Candidates who filed for the election in Paynesville Township are incumbents Pat Meagher for supervisor and Laura Lindeman for treasurer. (Lindeman was appointed to the treasurer position in December when Sharon Wendroth resigned.)

Supervisor
Pat Meagher, 45, has lived in the township for 33 years. A UPS driver, he has served on the township board for three years. He and his wife, Lorie, have six children.

Why are you running for the township board? To give back to the community. I'll try to make our community a better place to live and work.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? I'd like to see the trail connected to the beach and to the Glacial Lakes Trail. I'd also like to get a good orderly annexation agreement with the city.

What accomplishments on the board would you list as reasons for you to be re-elected? We've done improvements to roads, and we've built a good section of trail. I've worked well with others on different committees.

How should taxes and services be balanced in the township? We have good services and reasonable taxes; I'd like to keep it that way.

Do you support the Lake Koronis Recreational Trail? If so, what township resources would you be willing to use to continue this project? Yes. We can use road and bridge funds. We also levy a small amount for recreation, and those funds could also be used.

What role should the township play in deciding the future route of Highway 23, and what proposed route do you feel is best for Paynesville Township? The city has final say on this. I feel the far west is the best; it would take the fewest homes and keep a lot of noise/air pollution/traffic congestion away from town.

What is your long-range vision for Paynesville Township? I see our community growing quickly once Highway 23 is upgraded. We need to keep our roads maintained and improve our trail system.

Treasurer
Laura Lindeman , 40, has lived in Paynesville Township for over eight years. She was appointed treasurer for Paynesville Township in December. She works at H&R Block, and she and her husband, Mark, have three children.

Why are you running for township office? It gives me an opportunity to use my education and contribute to the community. This position is also flexible enough to fit in with my family responsibilities.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? To keep accurate accounting records.

Roseville
Candidates who filed in Roseville Township are incumbent Mike Flanders, who was appointed last summer to replace Bill Ryan, and challenger Allen Keller for supervisor and incumbent Terry Schaefer for treasurer.

Supervisor
Mike Flanders, 53, has lived in Roseville Township for 30 years. He was appointed to the township board last summer and represents the township on the Highway 23 Task Force. A rural mail carrier, he also operates a western saddle and clothing store and a riding stable with his family. He and his wife, Jo, have four children.

Why are you running for the township board? I have always been interested in grassroots government. Now that our children are older, I have more time to attend meetings. Finishing out Bill Ryan's term was an interesting learning experience, and now that I have learned the basics, I am excited about the prospect of serving on the board in the future.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? I would like our township to continue the relatively low property tax we have always experienced. In addition to road maintenance, I would like to see us have some influence in decisions pertaining to developing properties, water quality, fire protection, Highway 23, the state DNR trail, gravel pits, and other new issues that may arise in the future.

What distinguishes you from your opponent? I do not know my opponent very well, and therefore am not sure of his position on township issues. It might be safe to assume that he has more hair than me.

What is your long-range vision for Roseville Township? Roseville Township has provided a great rural setting for us to live in and raise our family. My vision for the future would be for that to continue for as long as possible so that current and new families can experience the same.
I would like to see the board come up with a plan to meet anticipated challenges in keeping this vision in place.

How should local control be maintained in the township? Local control can best be maintained by confronting our problems and attempting to solve them at the local level. This includes listening to people and acting on issues or problems that arise before deferring them to the county or state. For issues involving the county and state, we need to make our interests and opinions known.

Supervisor
Allen Keller, 38, has lived in Roseville Township all his life. A dairy farmer, he and his wife, Shari, have two daughters.

Why are you running for the township board? To give voters a choice and to give representation throughout the township.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? To improve our roads and maintain a good relationship with township residents.

What distinguishes you from your opponent? I feel I am more readily available if something comes up.

What is your long-range vision for Roseville Township? To improve the township without raising taxes and keep things running smoothly.

How should local control be maintained in the township? By people becoming involved and voicing their opinions at local board meetings.

St. Martin
Candidates who filed in St. Martin Township are incumbents John Feldewerd for supervisor and LeRoy Garding for treasurer.

Union Grove
Candidates who filed for supervisor in Union Grove Township are incumbents Rick Thompson for supervisor and Jeff Johnson for treasurer.

Supervisor
Rick Thompson, 47, has lived in Union Grove Township all his life. He farms and works for Paynesville Excavating and currently serves as the township chair. He and his wife, Gail, have four children.

Why are you running for township office? To continue to work with the board and residents on issues pertaining to the township.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? Road maintenance and land-use issues.

Treasurer
Jeff Johnson, 50, grew up in Union Grove Township and has lived there again since 2001. He works as a training and development specialist for Land 'O' Lakes and is running for a second term as township treasurer. He and his wife, Rebecca, have three children.

Why are you running for township office? Two years ago, I was given the opportunity to serve as the township treasurer, filling the position after long-time township resident LeRoy Thomsen sold his farm and moved to town. It was during that time that I learned the true importance of the township board.
This opportunity generated a real interest in local government for me. Serving as your township treasurer gives me the chance to pay back to the community what I have received all of these years.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board? I feel it is the responsibility and obligation of the local board to be the "eyes and ears" of the township. We also need to monitor and manage the financial position of the township with the highest integrity and respect.
I would also like to thank the citizens of Union Grove Township for their support and confidence.

Zion
Candidates who filed in Zion Township are incumbents Richard Leyendecker for supervisor and Carol Wegner for treasurer.