Tomorrow is what is commonly known in an election year as Super Tuesday. Sixteen states will hold party primaries in the Presidential Election tomorrow, the results of which will allocate delegates to candidates from the major political parties.
The State of Minnesota will participate with a presidential primary for the second time. Northfield City Clerk Lynnette Peterson said the process is quite similar to any other election. Voters locate their polling place, and if they are registered to vote, they check in with an election judge. Those who are not registered may register on-site on election day with the proper forms of identification.
The difference between voting in a primary and in a general election is the ballot. Voters will be asked to select a ballot of the Republican, Democrat, or Legalize Marijuana Now party. They will then take the ballot to the voting booth, mark their selections, and then put the ballot in a tabulation machine.
The ballot for this primary will only contain the names of presidential candidates. Peterson said a second primary will be held August 13th to determine candidates for National and Statewide offices. She said the primary could determine municipal candidate names as well. In 2024, the mayor’s seat is up, as are the City Council seats in Wards 2 and 3, as well as one At-Large seat. There are also four seats up for election on the Northfield School Board. If enough people file as candidates for any of those offices, she said, they will be on the primary ballot in August.
“On August 13th we have the primary election and that may have some city races on it. If we have more than two candidates file for one of our openings at City Hall, then there will be a primary in Northfield for Northfield Residents. There will be a primary no matter what, but that will determine if a primary is necessary for city races.”
The filing period for local offices runs between May 21st and June 4th.
Peterson said the city’s website has all the information local voters need including a poll finding function and sample ballots for all three parties. The polls will be open tomorrow from 7am until 8pm.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield City Clerk Lynnette Peterson can be heard here
Lieske warns against spending, Pursell says deficit is unlikely
Late last week, the State of Minnesota released the latest budget forecast. The report said that the state does indeed continue to run a budget surplus. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the 2024-25 biennium is now projected to end with a surplus of $3.7 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion over the previous forecast in November. The report went on to say that spending, however, is projected to exceed revenue through the following 2026-2027 biennium.
Northfield’s State Legislators are taking different viewpoints on the projection. Senator Bill Lieske (R-Lonsdale) released a statement on Thursday blasting DFL economic policies.
“A surplus built on $10 billion in tax increases shouldn’t distract us from the very real warnings in this forecast,” Lieske said in the statement. “Now we have to be cautious and get this unsustainable spending under control., or the future is going to be really painful.”
Other members of Lieske’s party warned that the state was headed for a deficit, after years of budget surpluses, if the legislature chooses to spend the extra projected money.
The DFL leadership, however, focused on the good news in the forecast. Governor Tim Walz touted the health of the state’s economy, House Majority Leader Jaimie Long saw the forecast as “another opportunity for Minnesota’s middle class to grow and thrive,” and House Speaker Melissa Hortman said the DFL will continue to prioritize cutting costs for Minnesotans in the areas of childcare, housing, and health care. Her party will continue to support workers, she said, because “that is the best way to build an economy that works better for everyone.”
Representative Kristi Pursell (D-Northfield) said the idea that the state is headed for a deficit in 2026 or 2027 doesn’t make sense, because the budgeting for that period hasn’t started yet.
“Well, we haven’t made that budget yet, but we now have parameters, and we now have more information. Also, this is the projection. So, no one has a crystal ball to be able to see the future. But I think this gives us some breathing room to say, ‘Hey, we’re okay. We’re going to manage this. We’re living within our means.’”
Legislators continue to work on a bonding bill for this session. Though the DFL holds a majority in both the House and the Senate, a bonding bill requires two-thirds of the legislators to vote for it in favor in order to pass, meaning members of both parties will have to come to some sort of agreement.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Representative Kristi Pursell can be heard here
Skluzacek to direct ‘The Children’s Hour’
And the Northfield Arts Guild has announced auditions for its production of The Children’s Hour.
Written by Lillian Hellman and inspired by a true story, the play is set in a fictional New England town in the 1930’s. It tells the story of two female teachers who run an all-girls boarding school and are accused of engaging in a romantic relationship.
The cast includes roles for 6 women, 1 man, 6 girls and 1 boy. It will be directed by legendary Southern Minnesota theater director Julianna Skluzacek.
Auditions are set for March 17th and 18th from 6:30-8:30pm at the Northfield Arts Guild. For more information, visit the Guild’s website at northfieldartsguild.org.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
