WORTHINGTON – There will be some new faces on both the Worthington City Council and the ISD 518 School Board in the new year after several incumbents decided not to run for election and several political newcomers came forward to vie for the chance to represent the people of Worthington and District 518.

At the end of the two-week filing period on Tuesday, August 13, the school district and the city council each received six applications. Their names will now be placed on the ballot for the general election on November 5.

In District 518, six candidates are competing for four open seats on the seven-member body. In addition to incumbents Matt Widboom and Stephen Schnieder, Darla Agard, Kristin Walerius, Ann Mills and Eric Parrish are on the ballot.

Worthington City Council is running a race between three candidates for the District 2 seat, which was elected after a special election. Michelle Ebbers is running on Monday and Mike Kuhle and Eugenio Lopez are each running on Tuesday. In District 1, incumbent Chris Kielblock is running unopposed, while Amy Ernst is running unopposed for her seat in District 2. Dennis Weber, who was appointed to the District 2 seat after Alaina Kolpin resigned earlier this year, was the only candidate for the City Council seat not running.

Julie Buntjer became editor of The Globe in July 2021 after working as a local reporter at the Worthington newspaper since December 2003. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism from South Dakota State University.