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The filing deadline for anyone interested in running for city or county offices in 2020 is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2.

Interested candidates must fill out an Affidavit of Candidacy, which can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website at www.sos.state.mn.us/media/1027/affidavit-of-candidacy.pdf.

The city offices up for election this year are Mayor, three Austin City Council seats (one from each ward) and three Utility Board Commissioner seats. As of Friday, May 29, the following candidates have applied for office:

• Mayor – Jeff Austin, Brian Heimer and Steve King

• City Council (First Ward) – Helen Jahr and Oballa Oballa

• City Council (Second Ward) – Mike Postma

• City Council (Third Ward) – Paul Fischer (incumbent)

• Utility Board – Thomas Baudler (incumbent), Tyler Hulsebus (incumbent) and Kristin Johnson (incumbent)

To run for mayor, an eligible candidate must be 21, an Austin resident, and a registered voter in the City of Austin. To run for council, an eligible candidate must be 21, an Austin resident, and a registered voter in the ward in which they are running.

Those eligible to run for the Utility Board must be 21, a resident of the City of Austin who is not an employee of Austin Utilities, and a registered voter in the City of Austin.

The cost to file for a city office is $25. Affidavits must be signed in front of a notary or City Clerk staff at City Hall. Austin City Clerk Ann Kasel said candidates may email a completed affidavit that has been signed in front of a notary to AnnK@ci.austin.mn.us. Candidates that email affidavits are responsible for arranging payment of the $25 filing fee. Candidates may also make an appointment with Kasel by calling 507-437-9943 or emailing AnnK@ci.austin.mn.us.

County offices up for election this year are County Commissioners in Districts 1 and 2 and Soil and Water Supervisors in Districts 1, 2 and 5. As of Friday, May 29, the following candidates have filed for office:

• County Commissioner District 1 – Tim Gabrielson (incumbent)

• County Commissioner District 2 – Polly Glynn (incumbent)

• Soil and Water Supervisor District 1 – Rodney Moe

• Soil and Water Supervisor District 5 – Jon Erichson (incumbent)

No one has yet filed for Soil and Water Supervisor District 2.

All applicants must be residents of the districts in which they are running.

Mower County Deputy Auditor-Treasurer Amanda Kiefer said interested parties can file to run for county office by completing an affidavit of candidacy form and submitting it to the Mower County Auditor-Treasurer’s office during the filing period.  A $50 filing fee is also required for county office and $20 fee for soil and water conservation districts. Candidates can call the Auditor-Treasurer’s office at 507-437-9535 to set up an appointment to come in to file their affidavit and pay the filing fee. The notarized Affidavit of Candidacy can also be emailed (elections@co.mower.mn.us) or faxed (507-434-2646) to the Auditor-Treasurer’s office. The office will call you to collect the filing fee by electronic method.

Candidates for city and county offices may withdraw within the filing period or within two days of the end of the filing period.

More information about running for office can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website www.sos.state.mn.us/.