Candidacy and Campaign Information

In Minnesota, candidates are placed on a ballot after they file for office. The most common way to file for office is to complete an affidavit of candidacy and pay a filing fee to the appropriate filing officer during the two-week filing period. 

In conjunction with the State General Election, East Bethel will hold its municipal election on November 5, 2024. East Bethel voters will elect the Mayor and two Council Members at Large at the November General Election. 

The term for the mayoral office is two years beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2026. Terms for the Council positions are four years beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2028.

Candidate names will be added below (in alphabetical order) as Affidavits of Candidacy are completed, and links to biographies will be added as they are received.

2024 Candidates

Mayor

Council Member (at large)

Filing for Local Races

Candidate filing for city offices will be open on Tuesday, July 30 through August 13, 2024, between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. All candidate filings must be received by Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM. The filing fee is $5 and is non-refundable.

Candidates must be:

  • At least 21 years of age upon assuming office;
  • a resident of the district for at least 30 days before the General Election;
  • eligible to vote; and
  • not filed for any other office at the upcoming General Election.

Filings for the following City offices will be on the ballot:

  • Mayor (two-year term)
  • and two Council Members at Large (four-year term)

All candidates must file an Affidavit of Candidacy for office. Candidates must state that the name listed on their affidavit is their true name by which they are commonly known in the community. A candidate phone number is required. Affidavits must be signed in the presence of a notary or an individual authorized to administer oaths. Staff of the East Bethel City Hall can perform this function free of charge.

Filing by mail or delivery/drop box (to the right of the front doors):
East Bethel City Hall
Attn: Election Coordinator
2241 221st Avenue NE
East Bethel, MN  55011

Filing in person:
Please stop in at City Hall during regular business hours.

Filing electronically:
The changes to candidate filing in 2020 allowing for electronic candidate filings applied only for the 2020 election cycle. Electronic submission is not permitted for 2024.

Withdrawal

If after filing you decide you no longer wish to run for office, you must file an Affidavit of Withdrawal no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 15, 2024. The names of all candidates who do not file an Affidavit of Withdrawal before the deadline will appear on the ballot – no exceptions. The filing fee is non-refundable.

Write-In Candidates

On general election ballots, voters always have the option of writing in a name instead of voting for one of the candidates named on the ballot. In East Bethel, all write-in candidates are required to file a written request for their votes to be individually tallied. This request must be filed with the Elections Coordinator no later than the 7th day before the general election.

Candidate Filing Materials

Campaign Finance Reports

Per the requirements in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 211A, any Campaign Finance Reports filed by Mayoral or Council Member candidates are available for public review. These reports are retained for 5 years after the filing date if a candidate is not elected, or 5 years after leaving office if a candidate is elected.  Campaign financial reports are available in PDF format. The years listed below represent when a report was submitted.