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Township elections will be held on Tuesday, March 11, in conjunction with the annual meeting for each township. (Check here for a list of polling hours, annual meeting times, and site for each township.)

Elected supervisors will serve three-year terms, and treasurers will serve two-year terms. Except for Paynesville Township (whose profiles can be found on page 3) only incumbents filed for re-election.

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 Ralph Hennen for supervisor and Don Schlangen for treasurer.

Irving
Candidates who filed in Irving Township are incumbents Russell Schmidt for supervisor and Howard Powers for treasurer.

Lake Henry
Candidates who filed in Lake Henry Township are incumbents Math Hemmesch for supervisor and Ray Loxtercamp for treasurer.

Supervisor
Math Hemmesch, 55, has lived in Lake Henry Township all his life. He was a dairy farmer for 34 years and now works at Lake Henry Implement. He and his wife, Karen, have four children. He has been a township supervisor for three years.

Why are you running for the township board?
To represent the whole township and help maintain grassroots government.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
To maintain services and hold down costs.

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

Munson
Candidates who filed in Munson Township are incumbents Daniel Holthaus for supervisor and Dick Behnen for treasurer.

Supervisor
Daniel Holthaus, 53, has lived in Munson Township for 30 years. He and his wife have five children and seven grandchildren. He is self-employed with Dan's Repairs and has served on the township board for 21 years.

Paynesville
Candidates who filed for the election in Paynesville Township are incumbent John Atwood and challenger H. Harry Thielen for supervisor and incumbent Sharon Wendroth for treasurer.

Roseville
Candidates who filed in Roseville Township are incumbents Foster Hudson for supervisor and Terry Schaefer for treasurer.

Supervisor
Foster Hudson, 87, has lived in Roseville Township for 83 years. He farmed and made cabinets for a living. He and his wife, Ollie, have two married sons and five grandchildren. He has served on the township board for 21 years and has served on the Kandiyohi County Township Officers Association for 18 years, including eight years as chairman.

Why are you running for the township board?
With 21 years of experience on the Roseville Township Board, I feel I can be of some assistance in adopting our budget. Due to cuts in government aid, we will need to watch our spending and still maintain our roads, etc., without increasing the township revenue.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
One area I'm working on is the 9-1-1 signs. The paperwork is almost done. I would like to finish this project.

Treasurer
Terry Schaefer, 39, has lived in Roseville Township all his life. He is a self-employed dairy farmer. He is married and has six children. He has served as treasurer for the township for 14 years, has served as a Kandiyohi County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor for seven years, and has served on the Kandiyohi County Planning Commission for one year.

Why are you running for the township board?
I believe that with my experience and knowledge within township government I can offer the residents of Roseville Township quality, honesty, and accuracy as a member of the board.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
As treasurer, my priorities will be to ensure balanced books, to watch closely the expenditures, and to continue to offer my knowledge and suggestions regarding township investments.

St. Martin
Candidates who filed in St. Martin Township are incumbents Clarence Olmscheid for supervisor and Leroy Garding for treasurer.

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

Supervisor
Verrol Smith, 77, has lived in Union Grove Township for 76 years. He is retired from the Meeker County Highway Department but runs a sharpening service. He and his wife, Joyce, have seven grown sons.

Why are you running for the township board?
I was asked to fulfill Floyd Waits' term after he passed away. I have the time to donate to do it.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
I don't know if I have any priorities. We have a bridge approach to do this year, weather permitting. It was too wet last year to get it done.

Treasurer
Jeff Johnson, 48, grew up in Union Grove Township and moved back with his family in 2000. He is a training development specialist and milk quality consultant for Land O' Lakes. He and his wife, Beckie, have three children.

Why are you running for the township board?
Interest in township activities and rural environment.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
Fulfill duties of township treasurer.

Zion
Candidates who filed in Zion Township are incumbents Duane Burg and Carol Wegner for treasurer.

Supervisor
Duane Burg, 59, has lived in Zion Township since 1969. He is a dairy and beef farmer. He and his wife, Irene, have six children. He was first elected to the township board in 1984 and has served as chairman since.

Why are you running for the township board?
Local government is very important to me. The tax levy is decided at the annual meeting, and it is an opportune time for everyone to have their say. I think I'm a good listener and try to respond to the needs of the community. There is a lot of uncertainty about funding and experience from the past should be helpful.

What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
Good roads and bridges and trying to keep the budget in line. Fire protection and rescue services are important.

Treasurer
Carol Wegner, 72, has lived in Zion Township for 52 years. A farm wife/homemaker, she and her husband, Curt, have five grown children. She has been treasurer for the township for ten years.

Why are you running for the township board?
I have enjoyed being Zion Township treasurer for ten years. It has given me a chance to learn about grassroots government and to meet and learn to know township residents. Township government is important, and we must continue to keep local control.

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