ST. CHARLES, Minn. – The former five-term mayor of St. Charles, Bill Spitzer, is running for the County Board. Spitzer filed candidacy documents in Winona on the first day of a two-week filing window. The Board seat, for District 3 from northern and western parts of the county, was vacated by Steve Jacob after he ran successfully for the state Legislature. Jacob had recommended St. Charles farm supplier Josh Elsing to succeed him, but Elsing hasn’t filed. County Board members are paid $24,300 plus insurance.
Spitzer. A community activist through many organizations. These include youth baseball, model railroading, the County Fair, and economic development.
Spitzer profile
Spitzer’s career has been mostly in law enforcement — 31 years in all, most as a Winona County sheriff’s deputy. Hr ran once for sheriff but lost. Spitzer was mayor of St. Charles from 2006 to 2016. He decided against seeking a sixth term. “It’s time for a change,” he said. “Every organization needs to evolve and this seemed like the appropriate time to move on to my next challenge.” He is a Rochester native and has moved back and forth between St. Charles and Rochester. In law enforcement he was a leader in the DARE project to discourage kids from drugs. In recent years he has been the substance misuse director in Austin schools.