Local elections taking shape in 2026

County offices which will be on area ballots Nov. 3 include the sheriff, county attorney, and three of the five commissioners. With filing for the offices closed on June 2, Waseca County voters now know that county sheriff Jay Dulas and county attorney Rachel Cornelius are running unopposed.

 

Current board chair De Malterer has been challenged by Reeds Lake area resident Curt Keyes in representing district 4, which includes the northern tier of county townships: Blooming Grove, Iosco and Janesville.

 

District 3 commissioner Brad Milbrath, a former county sheriff whose constituency includes the city of Waseca, is the only one to file for his seat. The same is true of district 5 commissioner Brad Krause, whose constituency includes St. Mary and Wilton townships.

 

District 3 soil and water supervisor Larry Muff has been challenged by New Richland area resident Casey Roeker; district 3 includes Byron, New Richland and Otisco townships. Running unopposed are soil and water supervisor Matthew Sommers of district 2, which covers Freedom, Vivian and Wilton townships; and Scott Singlestad of district 4, which includes St. Mary and Woodville townships. 

 

Regarding city elections, persons interested in running for mayor or city council– including incumbents–have until the July 14 to 28 filing window to make their decisions. 

 

In the city of Waseca, Mayor Randy Zimmerman and council members Daren Arndt, Jeremy Conrath and James Ebertowski have terms ending in 2026.

 

In Janesville, the terms of Interim Mayor Andy Ahlman and city council member Ivan Maas come to a close in 2026.

 

In New Richland, the terms of Mayor Janda Ferguson and city council members Jody Wynnemer and Jason Casey end this year.

 

In Waldorf, the terms of Mayor Rob Wilkening and council member Missy Sorbo end in 2026.  The council will also need someone to fill the seat of member Carrie Ferch, who died while in office.