A farmer, a real estate broker and a former county public health director are all running for the same spot on the McLeod County Board.

Grant Knutson, who currently represents District 3 (Lynn, Collins, Round Grove and Penn townships, Stewart and the southwest quarter of Hutchinson), last month announced he won’t seek re-election, resulting in a wide open race.

Knutson’s would-be successors include Douglas Kenning, owner of a Hutchinson farm and a member of the Hutchinson Co-op board; Oather “Marty” Martin, a Hutchinson real estate broker and owner of America’s Best Realty; and retired public health director Becky Felling of Hutchinson.

County Commissioner Bev Wangerin, who serves District 5, has filed for re-election, as has Ray Bayerl, who serves District 1. The filing period for the four-year terms began July 1 and is open until July 15. So far, no candidates have filed to run for the three spots on the McLeod County Soil and Water Conservation District up for re-election this year.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com [2])