By Rich Larson
The race for three seats on the Northfield School Board has taken an unexpected turn, leaving one seat effectively vacant unless a successful write-in campaign emerges before the November election.
Two days after the candidate filing period closed, challenger Tristan Cox and incumbent Jenny Nelson both withdrew from the race, reducing the field from four candidates to two.
That leaves incumbents Ben Miller and Jeff Quinnell as the only candidates whose names will appear on the ballot this November. With three seats available, both Miller and Quinnell are expected to win re-election, while the third seat will remain unfilled unless a write-in candidate receives enough votes to be elected.
Under Minnesota law, school board members are elected at large, meaning voters throughout the Northfield School District may cast ballots for up to three candidates. While voters will still have the opportunity to write in a candidate’s name, mounting a successful write-in campaign presents a significant challenge because candidates must actively encourage voters to write in their names correctly and generate enough support to finish among the top three vote-getters.
Miller is seeking a second four-year term on the board, while Quinnell is running for his fifth consecutive term. If re-elected, both would continue serving on the seven-member board responsible for setting district policy, adopting the annual budget, and hiring and evaluating the superintendent.
Nelson, who is also serving her first term, has not publicly announced the reason for her decision to withdraw from the election. Cox, who was making his second bid for a seat on the board after running in 2024, offered a statement saying, “I just came to the realization that I do not have time at this stage of life to make it to 24 school board meetings per year plus extra events on occasion.“
The unexpected withdrawals transform what had been shaping up as a competitive election into one focused on whether a write-in candidate can organize a viable campaign over the next three months.
If no write-in candidate is elected, the school board would be responsible for filling the vacant seat through the appointment process outlined in Minnesota law. The appointed member would serve until a successor is elected at the next regular school board election.
A primary for various offices, but not including the Northfield School Board, will be held next Tuesday, August 11th. The General Election will be held on November 3rd.
Rich Larson is the owner and General Manager of KYMN Radio. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net.
