By Maya Betti
As the 2026 election cycle approaches, the Northfield City Council is focusing not just on voters, but the candidate themselves.
With the candidate filing period set for May 19th through June 2nd, City Administrator Ben Martig said at the council’s April 14th work session that the city is already ramping up efforts to provide clear information to prospective candidates, aiming to better educate those who are unfamiliar with local government.
In November, three seats will be on the ballot. Council Member at Large, currently held by Davin Soukup, Council Member for Ward 1, currently held by Kathleen Holmes, Council Member for Ward 4, currently held by Jessica Peterson White. A map of Northfield’s ward boundaries is available on the city’s website. As of April, council members have not formally announced whether they are running for re-election. Martig said the city’s goal is to ensure candidates understand the structure and the general responsibilities of local government before it campaigns intensify, having encountered some issues in the past candidates’ gaps in knowledge.
In order to file, a candidate must be qualified to vote at least 21 years old when they assume office and be a resident of the city or the ward they wish to represent, according to the city’s website. Under the proposal discussed, the city would expand its candidate outreach beyond basic filing materials, which are typically made available the week before May 19th. This could include one or two in-person informational sessions, printed guides, and online resources explaining city inner workings, relevant projects, of which the city currently has 27, and council responsibilities.
While the city first offered an in-person informational session after the 2024 primaries, council members had mixed reactions to its effectiveness. Councilmember Chad Beumer said the meeting felt primarily focused on sharing information and outlining processes, adding that the questions raised could have been handled over e-mail. Beumer, as well as the other members, expressed that a video format could be more effective for reaching a wider pool of candidates. As Councilmember Jessica Peterson-White noted, some potential candidates might feel more comfortable reaching out to city staff with questions than others. Peterson-White said some candidates have already had relationships, community standings, or other advantages that make them more comfortable reaching out to city staff with these questions. In contrast, she notes that less traditional candidates, including those from marginalized groups or without the same connections or privileges, are often far less likely to do so.
After the candidate filing period closes, absentee voting for the August 11th primary begins June 26th and runs through August 10th. The state general election is scheduled for November 3rd with absentee voting beginning September 18th and continuing through November 2nd.
Maya Betti is a KYMN news intern and an Executive Editor at the St. Olaf Messenger. Contact her at news@kymnradio.net
