As filing deadline passes: Bochenski uncontested, four running for two Grand Forks council seats

Apr. 9—GRAND FORKS — Brandon Bochenski will be uncontested in the upcoming Grand Forks mayoral race after the only other declared candidate failed to officially file before Monday's deadline.

Quen Wilkie

had announced to the Herald a run for mayor, but did not file the requisite paperwork. Barring a successful write-in campaign against him,

Bochenski

appears set for a second term.

The municipal election will be June 11.

This year, Grand Forks residents in Wards 1, 3, 5 and 7 will vote for their council representation and the entire city will vote for mayor. Additionally, two seats on the Grand Forks Park Board are up for election, which are at-large seats upon which the entire city votes.

There are two contested City Council seats, in Ward 3 and Ward 5. Both are open as current council incumbents for those wards — Bret Weber (Ward 3) and

Kyle Kvamme

(Ward 5) — are not seeking reelection.

Ward 3 will be a race between:

*

Marie Stewart

, a lifelong Grand Forks resident. She is a graduate of Northland Community and Technical College's licensed practical nursing program and a mother of four.

*

Tricia Berg

, a licensed master social worker who works at Grand Forks County Human Service Zone and has worked for several area nonprofit organizations.

Ward 5 will be a race between:

*

Mike Fridolfs

, site director for Northrop Grumman's Grand Sky location. Fridolfs is also on the Grand Forks Economic Development Corporation's Advisory Board and the Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee.

* Jodi Carlson, who was an opponent to the Fufeng agribusiness development. Carlson has been a critic of Bochenski, some members of City Council and city staff.

Wards 1 and 7 are uncontested races. Ward 1 council member

Danny Weigel

is seeking a third term and Ward 7 council member

Ken Vein

is seeking a fourth term.

The Grand Forks Park Board has two seats open. Incumbents

Russell Kraft

and Cody Bartholomew are both seeking reelection. Both are seeking a second term on the board, which oversees operations for Grand Forks parks and recreation.