The number of candidates on the ballot will be at its largest come Tuesday, when voters winnow the number of prospective elected officials down in the statewide primary election.
The primary, which happens Tuesday evening, is the first one to come in August. The legislature moved the primary up to allow for more time for absentee ballots to return.
Locally, voters will be selecting candidates in three fields. They will pick from three candidates in the races for Mower County District 3 and Austin City Council Ward 3 and will pick from four candidates in the race for Austin mayor.
Many other seats are open, but only the races that have more than two candidates are subject to a primary. The other races will be decided in the general election in November.
The Mower County District 3 race puts incumbent Dave Hillier, who is in his fourth term on the county board, against challengers Jerry Reinartz and Loren Bellrichard.
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The race for Austin City Council Ward 3 has first-term incumbent council member John P. Martin vying against challengers Judy Enright and Jeff Bednar.
The Austin mayoral race has council member Marian Clennon, security guard Zeke Dahl and retired printing plant manager and negotiator Gordon W. Anderson challenging incumbent mayor Tom Stiehm, who is serving his second term as mayor.
Polling places for the primary can be found online at: http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/
