With the midterm elections scheduled for exactly four weeks from today, KYMN has published the latest edition 
of our Election Guide to our website, in order to bring the voters of the area the information they need to make informed decisions over whom they cast their vote.
KYMN contributor Logan Wells put the guide together and said the idea is to be a resource for the local and municipal elections.
“A lot of media attention goes to the statewide elections,” said Wells, “but there isn’t always a lot of information on the local county and municipal elections. This will help people stay informed.”
The guide goes through all of the important races that Northfielders will be asked to decide, including three city council seats and three school board seats. Requests have been made to every candidate to provide information on their campaign and their candidacy. All the information we have received can be found in the guide.
And as a result of the 2020 census, Northfield now sits in State Senate District 58 and State House District 58A. Visitors to the guide will find links to maps of the newly drawn districts so they can see what changes have been made.
Aside from information about each candidate, the guide is a voting resource as well. The top of the page offers links to the Secretary of State’s website that includes a voter registration page, a sample ballot and a guide to find the right polling place.
A functioning democracy is dependent on a well-informed electorate. Wells’ guide is available to anyone wishing to inform themselves. And as more information is made available, it will be posted to the guide as well.
Wells said this type of information is especially important for elections at the local level.
“These local elections, your vote has a lot of power because – in some of these elections – only a couple thousand people are voting. So, really getting involved can help change a lot of things at the local level. If you if you don’t like how things are going, learn about the candidates and vote the current ones out. If you like how things are going, learn about the you know candidates that support those policies and and re-elect them.”
Election day is November 8th.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with KYMN Election Guide creator Logan Wells can be heard here
NAHA busy week includes royal visit, biennial meeting
The City of Northfield will receive a royal visitor on Friday when Queen Sonja of Norway makes a stop at St. Olaf College.
The main point of her trip will be to meet with members of the Norwegian American Historical Association and take part in a ribbon cutting that will celebrate the NAHA’s new headquarters.
The Norwegian-American Historical Association will have quite a busy week. After the Queen has departed, the organization, which is located on the St. Olaf Campus, will hardly have time to settle into their new facility before hosting their biennial meeting on Saturday October 22nd.
The NAHA is a member-supported international center for collecting, preserving, and interpreting the Norwegian-American experience through its archives, publications, and events
Featuring four presentations, the meeting will explore the history of Norwegian Americans in the Twin Cities. David C. Mauk, professor emeritus of American Studies at the University of Oslo will give the keynote address. Mauk has written a book entitled Heart of the Heartland: Norwegian American Community in the Twin Cities.
The other presenters are Daron W. Olson, an Associate Professor of History at Indiana University East, who will talk about Norwegian Americans of the Twin Cities in World War II, Anna M. Peterson, an Associate Professor of History at Luther College, will tell the story of the Scandinavian Woman Suffrage Association in the Twin Cities, and Mona Holm, the Curator of Norway’s Women’s Museum and a Ph.D. Fellow at the University of Oslo will discuss Norwegian Suffragist pioneer Aasta Hansteen’s visit to Minneapolis in 1882.
Additionally, attendees of the meeting will enjoy a Nordic-themed lunch and hear updates from NAHA leadership. A pop-up exhibit of materials from the NAHA Archives and student research posters will also be on display.
The meeting is set for October 22nd, from 9am-3pm at Buntrock Commons on the St. Olaf Campus. Those interested in attending should register by October 17. The cost for the event is $45 for members, $49 for non-members. Contact the NAHA office with questions by emailing naha@stolaf.edu or by calling 507-786-3221. For more information visit naha.stolaf.edu.
Council to discuss long term financial planning
And the Northfield City Council will meet for a work session tonight in the Council Chambers at City Hall. 
The city’s long term financial planning is the sole item on the agenda tonight. As the 2023 budgeting process continues, the council will hear a presentation on the directions that could be taken to maintain and enhance the overall financial health of the city, as well as strategies that could be used to grow city revenue without considerable property tax increases on homeowners.
As always, the City Council and the Northfield City Staff are eager to hear the opinions of the public on any matter, whether the subject is on the Council agenda or not. The tonight’s meeting is a work session, so the Council will not hear from the public. However, those who do wish to make a point, air an opinion or ask a question can email their councilor directly or make use of the eComment function which can be found in the “Agendas” section of the city website.
The meeting will begin tonight at 6pm.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
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