Anoka mayor sets sights on county board; other races set

The city of Anoka will have a new mayor and the dean of Anoka County commissioners has some new competition.

Bjorn Skogquist -- the four-term Anoka mayor who was 22 years old when he first filed for candidacy eight years ago -- filed Tuesday for the county commissioner's seat that Dan Erhart has held since 1982.

Eugene Rogers, a longtime Coon Rapids resident, is also running.

Four candidates filed to run for mayor of Anoka, prompting a primary. Erik Skogquist, 24, filed for his brother's seat.

He will be opposed by 22-year-old Andrew Heidemann, son of Anoka-Hennepin School Board Vice Chairman Tom Heidemann, 70-year-old Frank Bodine, and current Council Member Phil Rice, 48.

The two other county commissioners' races are also primary-bound. In the fifth district, incumbent Scott LeDoux, of Andover, is being challenged by Becky Fink and Daniel A. Nelson, both of Coon Rapids. In the sixth district, incumbent Rhonda Sivarajah, of Lino Lakes, will face Kevin Ryan, of Stacy, and Patrick Davern, of Lino Lakes.

While County Board candidates are expected to emphasize their different styles and accomplishments, the contrasts between Erhart, 67, and Bjorn Skogquist, 30, are noteworthy.

Skogquist, who said he has pushed historic preservation in the city of Anoka and helped establish housing standards, was just 4 years old when Erhart became a commissioner.

Primaries, which are held on Sept. 9, will need to be held for several city council seats across the north metro.

Anoka: Barbara Deeds Baldwin, Aaron Barr, Steve Schmidt and incumbent Mark Freeburg filed for the other two seats up for reelection on the City Council.

Crystal: Mayor ReNae Bowman will run against current Council Member Laurie Ann Moore, Michael Harasyn and Alice Spadgenske. If Moore is elected, the council will appoint someone to fill the vacancy. The Crystal City Council could see a large turnover: Council Member David Anderson is facing Terry Baresh for the Section 1 seat; Elmer Carlson, John Budziszewski, Janet Moore and Gregory Gappa are all running for the Ward 3 seat currently held by Ed Lenoch; and Council Member Garry Grimes is being challenged by Bob Brenton for the Ward 4 seat.

New Hope: Mayor Martin Opem will run against Kathi Hemken for his second term. Christopher Smith, Bill Smith, Stephen Look, Eric Lammle, James Iversen and Council Member Andy Hoffe will run for two open council positions. Three candidates will run for a two-year council member seat, vacated by Steve Sommer this spring. John Elder, who was appointed by the council to fill Sommer's seat until this election could be held, will face challengers Lance Loveland and James Dillenburg.

Fridley: Mayor Scott Lund will face challenger Pam Reynolds, who ran unsuccessfully in 2004 and 2006 for mayor and city council. Incumbent Bob Barnette is running against Rick Wolfe for an at-large council member seat.

Columbia Heights: Mayor Gary Peterson will run against Bob Odden. Incumbent council members Bobby Williams and Bruce Nawrocki will face challengers Brian "Beany" Drews, Sue Proft Campbell, Thomas Crotty, Adrian Durand and Donna Schmitt for the two open council seats.

Brooklyn Center: Council members Kay Lasman and Mary O'Connor have competition for their seats as well. Walt "Phil" Filson, Heidi Huckleberry, Steve Landis, Ed Nelson, Mike Auld and Tim Roche are all running for the two open council member positions, which will force a primary.

Brooklyn Park: Council Members Terry Gearin and Mike Trepanier are uncontested. Patrick Marshalek and Peter Crema will run against incumbent Mark Mata to represent the east district.

Elk River: Council Member Jerry Gumphrey will face challenger Louise Kuester. Wallace Fox, Troy Ives, Matthew Westgaard will battle for Larry Farber's seat.

Coon Rapids: Ward 1 Council Member Denise Klint is running unopposed since Steve Czichray withdrew from the race Tuesday. Ward 2 Council Member Ron Manning will contend with challengers June A. Evens, Melissa Larson and Terry Janes. Ward 4 Council Member Joe Sidoti will face challengers Richard Bloodgood and Nicole M. Infinity. At-large Council Member Scott Schulte will run against John Losinski and Clint Hartwig.