Four candidates file for District 22 Senate seat

When the filing period closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, four candidates had announced their candidacy for the District 22 Minnesota Senate.
That position is currently held by Luverne Republican Bill Weber, who is seeking election to his third term in office.
Shawna Marshall, rural Luverne, and Roger Elgersma, Pipestone, both filed for that Senate seat as DFL candidates and Brian Abrahamson, Luverne, filed with the Grassroots — Legalize Cannabis Party.
Marshall, the DFL-endorsed candidate, has lived and worked in the Luverne area for seven years. It’s her first time running for office, but she was the 2019 precinct chair in the Rock County DFL caucus, a Rock County delegate and state delegate.
“Experience can be gained, knowledge of the details of working in state government can be learned, but having the heart and soul to want to serve the people is something you either have, or you don’t,” she said. “I believe I have it.”
Abrahamson previously ran for election in 2016 for state Senate and in 2018 for state House.
“I wasn’t involved with politics until Bernie [Sanders] ran for president in 2016 and called for ‘everyday, working class people to run for office,” Abrahamson said.
“Now that the Grassroots party emerged as a major party, I have decided to run with that party. I believe that there should be more parties in Minnesota, because the DFL (and Republican Party) do not have my best interests in mind.”
Joe Schomacker is seeking a third term in the District 22A seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Chris Baumberger, Slayton, is challenging him on the DFL party ticket.
DFL Sen. Tina Smith is seeking re-election to her office representing Minnesota in Washington, D.C., along with nearly a dozen others who filed for that seat.
Republican congressman Jim Hagedorn filed for re-election to his District 1 seat, as did DFL candidate Dan Feehan, Mankato, and Grassroots party candidate Bill Rood, Rochester.
 
No local races so far
Voters won’t have many options at the polls this fall among city and county candidates, according to filing information June 2.
Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian filed for re-election to the seat, which will now be a four-year term, rather than two years.
Dan Nath filed for re-election to the Ward 1 seat on the city council and newcomer Scott Viessman filed for the open seat in Ward 2, currently represented by Lori Hallstrom.
Viessman, a Luverne High School graduate, said he’s wading into city leadership simply to be more involved.
“I’ve been interested in government for 30 years,” he said. “I saw this as a local opportunity to contribute to the community I’m from.”
Rock County commissioners Gary Overgaard in District 1, Greg Burger in District 3 and Jody Reisch in District 5 all filed for re-election to the County Board with no additional challengers.
Eugene Cragoe, Roger Hoff and Dave Esselink filed for Soil and Water supervisors in Districts 1, 3 and 4 respectively, also without challengers.
The filing period for school districts offices in smaller cities and townships will be July 28 through Aug. 11.
Rock County Auditor Treasurer Ashley Kurtz can be reached at 507-238-5040.