LWV forum to feature area candidates

The League of Women Voters of the Brainerd Lakes Area has announced details of its Tuesday candidate forum at the Brainerd High School Little Theatre that will include Brainerd, Baxter and Crow Wing County.

The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Baxter City Council candidates Todd Holman, an incumbent; and Mark Cross, a former city council member. Incumbent council member Gary Muehlhausen has withdrawn his candidacy and will not participate.

The candidates for the Crow Wing County District 1 post, Frank Ball and Phil "P.J." Trusty will participate (estimated time 6:45 p.m.) in the forum. Candidates for the Crow Wing County District 5 post, incumbent Doug Houge and challenger Daniel Hamm have declined to participate according to league officials.

Brainerd City Council candidates (estimated start time 7 or 7:15 p.m.) include incumbent Lucy Nesheim and Ed Shaw, Ward 1; incumbent Kevin Goedker, Barbara Egan and Howard Brewer, Ward 3. League officials said Brewer had not responded as of last week. The at-large candidates for two four-year terms are incumbents Mark O'Day and Bob Olson and challengers Steven Wolff, Mary Koep, Wayne Durant and David Colvin. As of last week, Durant and Colvin had not responded to the league's invitation.