ST.CHARLES, Minn. — A St. Charles farm supply dealer, Josh Elsing, filed candidacy papers for the vacant District 3 seat on the Winona County Board. This makes it a three-way race, which requires a run-off to narrow the field to two. The earlier candidates:
> Bill Spitzer, of St. Charles, a former St. Charles mayor. Age 58.
> Pat Heim, of St. Chaeles, a real estate agent. Age 49.
The election calendar puts the run-off primary on May 9. The two leaders will advance to an election August 8. This means that the 9,000 people who live in District 3 will have been without representation on the County Board eight months. The district’s primary population center is St. Charles. The district winds through eight townships north and west of Winona. Elsing is the favored candidate of Steve Jacob who vacated District 3 seat in January after being elected to the state Legislature. Jacob, a diehard believer in minimalist government, said he and Elsing think alike. Elsing and Jacob have been buddies through the Winona County Soil and Water Conservation District. Elsing, age 45, is the district’s current treasurer.
Elsing. Former mayor of Altura. Lost a 2016 re-election bid 126-40 to a write-in candidate. Later moved later to St. Charles.