By Bruce Karnick

2020, as if there is not enough crazy stuff going on for this year, we get to add elections. All the advertising on TV, radio and online, the yard signs and everything else that comes with it. Regardless of what side you are on, election years can be exciting or annoying. The important piece of elections is to be informed and involved. One way to be involved is to vote in the primary election. An election where you get to help shape the final ballot for November.

The primary ballot for Hastings was rather small. The majority of Hastings had one vote to cast, that was for the national level for US Senator. These are unofficial, Dakota County level results as of 8/13/2020. Voters were allowed to vote in only one party’s primary. The results are not between parties, only between members in their party. On the Republican side of the ticket, Jason Lewis ran away from pack with 13,683 votes with his nearest competitor garnering only 599 votes, or nearly 23 to 1. On the DFL side, Tina Smith notched 31,779 votes outpacing her nearest competitor 16 to 1 who only had 1,940 votes.

Ward 2 had the only non-nationwide selection on the ballot. This particular primary did give us ward level results. 789 votes were cast in total between three candidates on the ballot for Ward 2’s City Council seat. Per a social media post, one candidate, Philip Biermaier dropped out of the race at an earlier date, but due to a missed communication, the withdrawal was received too late to have the official ballot changed. Had the withdrawal been received, there would be no need for this vote in the primary. Primaries for city council in Hastings are used to narrow the final ballot down to two candidates. Of the 789 votes Biermaier received 55 votes even with his bowing out of the race and endorsing Jen Fox. Incumbent Joe Balsanek has been a council member since being elected in 2008. He received 239 and newcomer Jen Fox had 465. It appears 30 voters did not make a selection on the city council portion of the Ward 2 ballots.

Tuesday , November 3rd will certainly be an important election day. The national media is already expecting record turnouts at the polls. Regardless of where you stand, remember to do your own research, and have open discussions with people, even those you do not agree with. Actually listen to each other. You will be surprised at how much you can agree on if you take out the angry talking points on each side and listen to each other. Once we stop listening to argue, and start listening to come together, stop listening simply to reply and instead listen to understand, then we can see important changes take place, and the challenge? The challenge to everyone is to start that now.

Election officials pass the primary ballot to a voter while giving them instructions of how many choices they can make. Pens and sleeves are disinfected between voters for everyone’s protection. Photo by Bruce Karnick

Construction on 15th Street affected both polling locations, Calvary Christian Church at 15th and Pine and Resurrection United Methodist Church of Hastings at 15th and Maple.

Photo by Bruce Karnick