Speed Dating For Your Vote

What would you ask Minnetonka's School Board and City Council candidates if you had three minutes alone with each? 

You'll have that chance when Minnetonka Patch hosts the first Speed Dating For Your Vote, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Gold Nugget Tavern & Grille in Minnetonka.

This isn't an old-fashioned debate or candidate forum. Just like speed dating, where single people rotate to meet each other over a series of short "dates," each candidate for local school board and city council seats will have three minutes to sell you on themselves, their ideas and their answers to your questions. After three minutes, a bell sounds, and you'll move on to the next candidate in the circle.

What will you learn in those three minutes? That's entirely up to you—ask the candidates whatever you like. Before you know it, you'll have met every candidate—and a lot of other people from the community, too.

Running for four seats on the Minnetonka School Board are eight candidates: incumbents Lisa Wagner and Karen Walkowski, along with Derek Eitreim, Charlie Kanan, Kevin Maire, Laurie Stoltenberg, Lisa Sumner and Joe Torelli.

As for the Minnetonka City Council, Ward 1 and Ward 4 are contested races. Incumbent Bob Ellingson faces off with Peggy Kvam in Ward 1. In Ward 4, Jason Iannone challenges incumbent James Hiller. Running unopposed are incumbents Tony Wagner in Ward 2 and Brad Wiersum in Ward 3.

Anyone of voting age is invited to our Speed Dating For Your Vote, and the event is free. So come prepared with questions—and unlike many real dates, we hope it's fun, relaxed and informative.