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Polling hours, annual meeting times, and annual meeting sites for each township are listed below. Most are similar to last year, with one exception. St. Martin Township will hold its annual meeting at 8 p.m. this year, instead of in the afternoon, and will have polling hours for township elections from 5-8 p.m.

Elected supervisors will serve three-year terms, and clerks will serve two-year terms. Only two supervisor races are contested this year, based on the filings for township offices and barring a write-in candidacy, in Paynesville Township and in Union Grove Township.

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

Zion
Candidates who filed in Zion Township are newcomer Robert Hemmesch for supervisor and incumbent Carolyn Reeck for clerk. Incumbent supervisor Tim Wegner did not file for reelection.

Supervisor
Robert Hemmesch, 60, has lived in Zion Township for over 30 years. He farms in Zion Township and in Paynesville Township. He has served on the board for the Paynesville Farmers Union Co-operative for 17 years and on the St. Louis Parish Council for 16 years. He and his wife, Sandy, have six children and 16 grandchildren.

Why are you running for the township board?
To help continue good leadership in Zion Township.

Union Grove
Candidates who filed for supervisor in Union Grove Township are incumbent Robert Groshens and challenger Don Kelm. Incumbent Loren Pearson filed for clerk.

Supervisor
Robert Groshens, 49, has lived in Union Grove Township for 45 years. He has worked for the Meeker County Highway Department for 30 years, currently as a maintenance foreman. He has served on the township board for three years. He and his wife, Jody, have three sons.

Why are you running for the township board?
To be more involved with the day-to-day operations of the township.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
Frost boil repair. Road maintenance. To work with the other town board members on the above projects.

What distinguishes you from your opponent?
I've been on the town board for three years and know how the township operates and know the needs of the people in our township. And I've worked with contractors on several road projects over the last three years.

What is your long-range vision for Union Grove Township?
Rebuilding roads to meet the needs of increasing traffic.

Supervisor
Don Kelm, 46, has lived in Union Grove Township for 22 years. He farms and also works at Koronis Parts during the winter months. He and his wife, Irma, have two children.

Why are you running for the township board?
I feel that our governor is trying to take money away from our local townships. I think it is time to get involved. What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
My priority is to concentrate on improving our township. Another priority would be to try and bring back some of the power back to the township.

What distinguishes you from your opponent?
I don't have a conflict of interest, and I have a fresh outlook on the situation. (Editor's Note: Groshens works to maintain the roads in Union Grove Township as part of his job.)

What is your long-range vision for Union Grove Township?
I would like to see a newsletter started for the people in our township. I would like to see funds set up for tarring our gravel roads, starting with the most traveled roads in our township.

Clerk
Loren Pearson, 43, has lived in Union Grove Township all his life. He works for Paynesville Farmers Union Co-op. He has served as township clerk for nearly 20 years. He and his wife, Vicky, have two sons.

Why are you running for township office?
I have been township clerk for nearly 20 years. I enjoy serving in a public capacity.

St. Martin
Candidates who filed in St. Martin Township are incumbents Kenny Utsch for supervisor and Don Rausch for clerk.

Roseville
Candidates who filed in Roseville Township are incumbents Jim Schultz for supervisor and Patricia Fenske for clerk.

Supervisor
Jim Schultz, 49, has lived in Roseville Township for 25 years. He has served on the township board for nine years. He and his wife, Beth, have two grown children.

Why are you running for the township board?
Over the past nine years, I've learned a lot about the township and want to maintain that same quality service.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
My first priority is road maintenance. Secondly, keeping communication open with Roseville residents and also with the board itself.

Paynesville
Candidates who filed for the election in Paynesville Township are incumbent Don Pietsch and challenger David Kidd for supervisor and incumbent Don Wiese for clerk. Also, voters in Paynesville Township will decide on a measure to expand the township board to five supervisors. Related story

Supervisor Candidates profiles

Clerk
Don Wiese, 66, has lived in Paynesville Township for 29 years. He is self-employed with a family resort on Lake Koronis and in income tax preparation. He has served as the township clerk for 22 years and has served on the board for the Koronis Lake Association for 26 years. He and his wife have five grown children.

Why are you running for township office?
Experienced in township government. Enjoy working with citizens to make Paynesville a better place to live and enjoy for everyone.

Munson
Candidates who filed in Munson Township are incumbents Joe Willenbring for supervisor and Michelle Hemmesch for clerk.

Supervisor
Joe Willenbring, 46, has lived in Munson Township all his life. He farms and also works as a laborer. He has served six years on the township board. He and his wife, Judy, have four children.

Why are you running for the township board?
Interested in local government. Would like to be part of the decision-making using common sense. To be there for people to come with questions or problems in our area.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
To keep local government alive so that people in the township have a say in what happens close to home. I want to see our residents driving on safe roads and have a safe place to live. Continue striving to keep taxes low.

Manannah
Candidates who filed in Manannah Township are incumbents Steve Kraushaar for supervisor, and Agnes Schmitz for clerk.

Clerk
Agnes Schmitz, 59, has lived in Manannah Township for 25 years. She works as a teller at the Center National Bank in Litchfield. She has served as clerk for Manannah Township for three years. She and her husband, Bernie, have two sons and four grandchildren.

Why are you running for township office?
I have learned a lot in the past three years about township work and will do my best to continue to learn and to do a good job as clerk of Manannah Township if I am reelected.

Lake Henry
Candidates who filed in Lake Henry Township are incumbents Joel Roelike for supervisor and Ralph Klassen for clerk.

Supervisor
Joel Roelike, 42, has lived in Lake Henry Township for 19 years. A farmer, he has served on the township board for six years, including five years as chairman. He and his wife, Joyce, have five children.

Why are you running for the township board?
I have run for office in the past because of the people that want me there. I try to do what's best for the township and will continue to do so if reelected.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
My main priorities are to watch over spending so we can keep the township financially stable and keep our roads in good condition. With the help of the rest of the board and our grader driver, Linus Burg, I feel we are accomplishing both of these goals.

Clerk
Ralph Klassen, 64, has lived in Lake Henry Township all his life. He farms and sells fertilizer. He has served as the township clerk for ten years. He and his wife, Marcella, have six children and 10 grandchildren.

Why are you running for township office?
We have streamlined the way the township operates with the help of excellent supervisors and local residents. The township has been approached to create a township park, and I see as a necessary approach to conserve some recreation land for the future.

Irving
Candidates who filed in Irving Township are incumbents Harlow Olson for supervisor and Donel Williamson for clerk.

Eden Lake
Candidates who filed in Eden Lake Township are incumbents Jon Schaumann for supervisor and Gerri Kadlec for clerk.