Primary Election Day in Minnesota is August 14, 2018. At this election, voters will determine which candidates will move on to the November General Election for federal, state and local races. This year, an extraordinary number of candidates are running in the Primary Election for open seats for the City of Mankato Mayor and City Council as well as Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners. To ensure that the public has an opportunity to engage with these candidates and evaluate their qualifications prior to casting their vote, Greater Mankato Growth will host candidate forums for those running in the August 14 Primary Election for City of Mankato Mayor & City Council and Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners. The public is invited to attend all of these free events. No registration needed.

The schedule of Greater Mankato Growth’s pre-primary forums include:

Blue Earth County | County Commissioner

• WHEN: Tuesday, July 31 | 6:30 – 8:30 pm
• FORMAT:
  • 6:30 – 7:00 pm | open house style meet & greet with the candidates
  • 7:00 – 8:30 pm | moderated candidate forum
• WHERE: Minnesota State University, Mankato, Centennial Student Union – rooms 253/254/255 (620 S Rd, Mankato, MN) – map. Free parking is available in the sunken visitor lot directly across the street from the Centennial Student Union Building.
• WHO: All candidates for Blue Earth County Commissioner Districts 1 & 2 invited to participate
  • District 1: Katie Boone, Tamera Marie Hansen, Colleen Landkamer
  • District 2: Vance Stuehrenberg

City of Mankato | Mayor & City Council

• WHEN: Wednesday, August 8 | 6:30 – 8:30 pm
• FORMAT:
  • 6:30 – 7:00 pm | open house style meet & greet with the candidates
  • 7:00 – 8:30 pm | moderated candidate forum
• WHERE: Minnesota State University, Mankato, Centennial Student Union – rooms 253/254/255 (620 S Rd, Mankato, MN) – map. Free parking is available in the sunken visitor lot directly across the street from the Centennial Student Union Building.
• WHO: All candidates for City of Mankato Mayor and City Council Wards 1, 3 & 5 invited to participate
  • Mayor: Najwa Massad, Bukata Hayes, Honey Burg, Toby Leonard, Nick Tracy
  • Ward 1: Karen Foreman
  • Ward 3: Mark Frost, Fardousa Jama, Aronn Oakland
  • Ward 5: Jessica Hatanpa, Tyler Meihak-True, Taryn Surdy