A contested race for Lutsen township supervisor

The official filing period to run for office on the local township boards closed in mid-January and township elections are coming up next week, March 12.

Lutsen is the only township that has a contested race for a supervisor seat. Incumbent Rae Piepho has filed for reelection and she is challenged by Carl Friesner.

Lutsen does not have a candidate for the treasurer seat, which has been filled by John Groth for over 14 years. WTIP reached out to Groth to ask if he would do an interview about his time on the town board and he said he would like to respectfully decline.

Groth said he was not running again for personal reasons and he added, “I hope my work and what I accomplished in service to Lutsen will speak for itself.”

Indeed, town clerk Sharon Hexum-Platzer tells WTIP that John will be “terribly missed.”

All of the West End townships are holding elections and annual meetings on Tuesday, March 12. Polls are open from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lutsen and Schroeder townhalls and at Birch Grove Community Center in Tofte.

The annual meetings follow poll closure and all citizens are encouraged to attend.

Although there are no other contested town board races, WTIP reached out to all of the folks who will be on the township ballot. Click here to hear from the Tofte township.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with both of the Lutsen supervisor candidates. Click on their name below to hear those interviews.