Politics & Government

City Election Race Gets Underway

The filing period for Minnetonka's city elections is May 17 through May 31, 2011.

Starting Tuesday, and for the next two weeks, Minnetonka residents who hope to serve on the Minnetonka City Council can make their intentions official.

And within hours of being eligible, five Minnetonka residents had thrown their hats into the ring and formally filed as candidates for office.

Peggy Kvam was the only one of those hopefuls who does not currently sit on the Minnetonka City Council. 

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I look forward to representing the Ward in the planning for two proposed Light Rail Transit stations on the Southwest Corridor line,” Kvam said today. “I will be conscientious with our tax dollars and responsive to our residents.”

Kvam will be running against two-term Ward 1 incumbent, Bob Ellingson, who also made his candidacy official Tuesday. 

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tony Wagner has filed as a candidate for the Ward 2 spot—a position he has held since January 2004. He is currently running unopposed.

Brad Wiersum, hoping to win a third term as the Ward 3 representative, also filed Tuesday. He was appointed to the Minnetonka City Council in January 2003 and then elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2007. Wiersum is currently running unopposed.

James Hiller also wants to secure another term representing the people who he currently serves, Minnetonka's Ward 4. Hiller filed his candidacy Tuesday and is, so far, running unopposed.

The Minnetonka City Council is made up of the Mayor, and six council members, four of whom are elected by ward and two who are elected at large. Each member serves a four-year term. Up for grabs this cycle are the all four ward seats. The Mayor and two at-large council seats will be up for reelection in November 2013.

The Minnetonka School Board—the body that governs the Minnetonka School District—will also hold an election this year.  That seven-member board is elected at large, each member serving a four-year term. This November, four of those seven seats will be up for grabs but because school board elections in Minnetonka don't participate in primaries, the first day someone can file as a school board candidate is August 9. 

If more than two people file for any one city council seat, a primary election will be held Aug. 9. Those interested have until May 31 to file. For information on how to file and for answers to voting questions, see the city’s website.

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Not sure which Ward you are in? Click here to find out. 

Looking for updated candidate information? Click here. (Updated every 10 minutes)


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