The lawn of Blue Earth’s Al Thielfoldt became the resting place of numerous political campaign signs this week, roughly a week after Thielfoldt’s letter to the editor regarding theft of his own signs was published.

While national attention has been focused on the presidential race in the Tuesday, Nov. 8, General Election ballot, there will be a whole lot more than just that contested race for Faribault County voters to decide upon.

The local ballot will include state, county and local races, many of which are contested. In fact, six of the county’s cities have contested mayor and/or council races, and one County Board and one School Board race are also contested.

Here is a preview a look at what local candidates voters can decide on when they enter the voting booth on Nov. 8.

Faribault County

There are three seats open on the five-member County Board of Commissioners.

Incumbents John Roper (District 1) and Bill Groskreutz Jr. (District 3) are running for re-election unopposed.

But, in District 5, incumbent commissioner Tom Warmka is facing challenger Paul Bach for the seat. The two also ran against each other the last time the seat was open.

City of Blue Earth

The office of mayor and four of the six council seats are up for election.

Incumbent mayor Rick Scholtes is running unopposed.

Three incumbent councilmen are running for three of the open seats, all unopposed. They are John Huisman, Glenn Gaylord and Daniel Warner.

Incumbent councilman Dan Brod is running for a special two-year council seat and faces competition for the position from Wendy Cole and Gregory Scheid.

Both Cole and Scheid applied to fill this seat when it was vacated due to the death of John Gartzke, but Daniel Warner was chosen by the council to fill the seat then. Warner did not file to fill this seat, instead opting for the four-year position, with Dan Brod filing for this two-year seat.

City of Wells

Both the office of mayor and the councilmen positions are contested in the city of Wells.

Current councilman David Braun is facing off against Lyle Doerr Jr. for the office of mayor. Current mayor Ron Gaines did not file for re-election.

There are also two open council seats, with three persons running to fill them: Crystal Dulas, Jeremie Seedorf and Brenda Weber. None are incumbents, as incumbent Braun and Steve Burns did not file.

City of Elmore

Meanwhile, two people want to be mayor in Elmore Incumbent Carla Prokop is facing a challenge for the position from Bjorn Olson.

Only one person wants to be on the council, with two seats available.

Only Sue Dickson filed for election to one of the two seats.

City of Delavan

Kevin Walker filed for the position of mayor and is running unopposed.

However, three persons filed to run for two open council seats. The three are Lowell John Borgos, Brian Townsend and Merlyn “Butch” Ottesen.

City of Kiester

The current mayor and the former mayor will again face off in the election.

Incumbent mayor Douglas Trytten is running against past mayor Jeanne Brooks.

There are also four open council seats, with four persons listed on the ballot to fill them. Richard Jensen and Rick Stoneman are running for the two regular four-year seats, while Larry Dahleen and Jason Kluender are running for the two special two-year term council positions.

City of Winnebago

There is one contested race in Winnebago.

Both Paul Eisenmenger and Nick Schwager are running to fill a special two-year term that is currently held by Dean Johnson, who did not file.

Two other council seats have just the two incumbents, Jean Anderson and Rick Johnson, running.

Mayor Jeremiah Schutt is also running unopposed for re-election.

City of Bricelyn

There are no contested races in Bricelyn this election, in fact there are not enough names on the ballot to fill the open spots.

Dan Klingbeil filed for re-election as mayor, along with council members Terri Douglas and John Goette for two open seats. Incumbent Harold “Skip” Grimes did not file.

William Hagen was the only person to file for the two special council seats (two-year terms).

City of Easton

Mayor Bryant Stiernagle is running unopposed, and councilman Jon Rath and newcomer Andrea Neubauer are also unopposed for the two open seats.

City of Frost

The same is true in Frost, where mayor Brian Loge filed for re-election along with council members Lee Lincoln and Jared Bruellman.

City of Minnesota Lake

Again, there is no contest in Minnesota Lake. Incumbent mayor Jeff Ramsley and incumbent council members Edith “Edie” More and Lonnie Stenzel are all running unopposed

City of Walters

In Walters, Stacy Krohnberg is running for the office of mayor, while Steve Brenke and Nonna Goin are running for two of the open council seats.

Brent Stencel is running to fill the one special two-year position.

BEA School Board

There is one race for a special two-year position on the Blue Earth Area School Board, although there are a total of four (out of six) seats open.

The contested race pits incumbent Jesse Haugh against challenger Randall Anderson.

The School Board will have a couple of new faces on the board, as Susan Bentz, Frankie Bly and Jeremy Coxworth are all running for the other three open seats. Bly is the incumbent.

Incumbents Mark Maher and Dawn Fellows did not file for re-election to the board.

USC School Board

The United South Central School Board will also have some new faces on it, but there is no contested race as four persons are running for four open spots.

Diana Brooks, Brad Heggen and Michael Schrader are running for the three open four-year term seats. Schrader is the only incumbent.

Incumbent Thomas Legred, who had been appointed to serve two years of a four-year term, now is running unopposed to fill out the remaining two years Incumbents Kathy Krebsbach and Steve Navarra did not file for re-election.

Verona Township

Township elections are traditionally not contested, but such is not the case in Verona Township.

Incumbent town supervisor in seat B, Darwin Olson, is seeking re-election but is facing challenger Nancy Peterson for the seat.

And, incumbent town clerk Nina Patten is running for re-election but is being challenged for the position by Laura Borris.