DETROIT LAKES – Tuesday, August 13, is primary election day, and there will be a tight fight for all three Becker County Board seats up for election this year.

Candidates were emailed a questionnaire and profiles of respondents were posted on the Detroit Lakes Tribune website today, Friday, August 9.

The candidates in District 3 are Phil Hansen, Hank Ludtke and Terry L. Mackner. Ludtke is not campaigning and is supporting Hansen.

There is no incumbent running in District 3 this year as Commissioner John Okeson is retiring from the County Council.

Candidates in the 4th District are Jason Dale Bristlin, Donald Skarie and incumbent Richard Vareberg.

Candidates in the 5th District are Jack Heisler, incumbent Barry Nelson and Dave E. Shaw.

Shaw and Mackner did not return the questionnaires sent to them.

The two candidates with the most votes from each constituency qualify for the parliamentary elections on November 5. All seats are for four-year terms.

The Becker County District Court is open for in-person absentee voting on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Monday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

You can find polling stations here.

The primaries are taking place nationwide as the 7th Congressional District hosts a Republican primary between incumbent U.S. Representative Michelle Fischbach and her challenger Steve Boyd.

The 8th Congressional District, which now includes most of the northern third of Becker County, is also holding a primary election between Republicans and Democrats. Republican incumbent Pete Stauber is being challenged by Harry Welty, and John Munter and Jennifer Schultz are running on the Democratic side.

There is also a primary for the US Senate between Republicans and Democrats.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar is endorsed but is challenged by Steve Carlson, Ahmad Hassan, George Kalberer and Ole Savior.

On the Republican side, endorsed candidate Royce White is being challenged by John Berman, Loner Blue, Joe Fraser, Alycia Gruenhagen, Raymond Petersen and Christopher Seymore.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and remain open until 8 p.m. on primary day, with the following exceptions:

Polls in Audubon Township, Wolf Lake Township and Spruce Grove Township will open at 8 a.m.

Polls in the communities of Green Valley, Maple Grove, Savannah, Silver Leaf, Sugar Bush, Carsonville, Holmesville, Runeberg, Shell Lake and Two Inlets will open at 10 a.m.

The Becker County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office will be the polling place for the following absentee ballot precincts from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on election day:

The communities of Atlanta, Callaway, Eagle View, Forest, Lake Park, Riceville, Spring Creek, White Earth, Cuba, Evergreen, Hamden, Round Lake and Walworth and the cities of Callaway, Ogema and Wolf Lake.

If you have questions about the primary election, call the Auditor-Treasurer’s office at 218-846-7311 or visit www.co.becker.mn.us and click on “Primary Election” under “News & Announcements.”

Bowe covers the Becker County Board and the court system for the Tribune and oversees the opinion pages for the Tribune and Focus. As news editor for both newspapers, he is the go-to guy for readers and the general public: breaking news or critical news tips, article ideas, questions and general feedback should be directed to him.