There are three races already among city of Austin and Mower County elective officials.

Terese Amazi and Michael Cherney filed for the office of Mower County Sheriff Tuesday.

Doug Groh and Lynn Koch filed for the county treasurer's office.

On the city side, Dick Chaffee and Wayne P. Goodnature filed for the Austin City Council member At-Large post.

The filing period began Tuesday morning and concludes July 16. City office candidates file at the Austin Municipal Building. Mower County candidates file at the county auditor's office. All others file with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Amazi, current chief deputy in the Mower County Sheriff's Department, is incumbent Sheriff Barry J. Simonson's choice to succeed him. Simonson has announced he will not seek another four-year term and retire after two terms in December.

Cherney is an Adams City Council member, who announced his candidacy a week ago.

Groh is chief deputy county auditor. Koch comes from the private sector, where he operates Austin Mortgage Company.

The county treasurer's position is being vacated at the end of the year, when long-time incumbent Ruth Harris retires.

The two fillings for the Austin At-Large council post raised eyebrows. Chaffee, the incumbent, unsuccessfully sought the DFL Party's nomination to run for state representative. The popular council member had been expected to file for a seat on the Mower County Board of Commissioners. Instead, he will seek a third term as the Austin council's most powerful member. The At Large post represents all of the city.

Meanwhile, Goodnature has two years to go on his 1st Ward council term, but is already making a move to win a seat that would give him more influence on the council.

Goodnature is the former long-time Mower County sheriff, who was upset by Simonson in the 1994 elections.

Other Tuesday filings for Austin city offices included:

Mickey Jorgenson, 1st Ward Gloria Nordin, 3rd Ward; Jeff Kritzer, 2nd Ward (Kritzer is a newcomer to city elections); and Vincent Lynch, Austin Utilities Board of Commissioners.

Nordin said of her decision to seek a second four-year term representing the 3rd Ward, "My first

concern has always been to serve my constituents in the 3rd Ward and beyond. We have worked together, regarding individual concerns and challenges as well as with public projects that will benefit our community."

Among Mower County filings Tuesday, the candidates include: Sherwood "Woody" Vereide, Mower County Auditor; Patrick A. Oman, Mower County Attorney; Susan Davis, Mower County Recorder; Amazi and Cherney, Mower County Sheriff; Groh and Koch, Mower County Treasurer; David Hillier, 3rd District Mower County Commissioner; Len Miller, 4th District Mower County Commissioner; Garry E. Ellingson, 4th District Mower County Commissioner.

Oman, Vereide, Davis, Hillier, Miller and Ellingson are all incumbents.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com