Three candidates file for two Beltrami County Board seats

Beltrami County residents will decide next year who helps steer local spending on roads, public health, land use and other county services, and the shape of that board is already coming into focus with three filings for two open seats.

Ann Skoe filed to challenge incumbent Craig Gaasvig in District 1, while incumbent Scott Winger filed for District 3 and is running unopposed. District 1 and District 3 are both on the ballot in 2026, giving voters in those parts of the county a direct say in who will sit on the Beltrami County Board as major decisions come before it over the next term.

The filings were reported June 5, 2026, after Beltrami County’s candidate filing period closed at 5 p.m. on June 2. The county had opened filing Tuesday, May 19, at 8 a.m., with candidates submitting paperwork at the Beltrami County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office in Bemidji, at 701 Minnesota Ave. NW, Suite 220.

Beltrami County’s board roster currently lists Gaasvig as the District 1 commissioner and Winger as the District 3 commissioner, each with 2024-2026 terms. That means both seats are part of the regular turnover that will help determine the board’s direction on the county budget, infrastructure priorities and the pace of spending on facilities and services that affect daily life across Bemidji and the rest of the county.

The 2026 election calendar also includes an Aug. 11 primary election if needed, followed by the Nov. 3 general election. For District 1 voters, the contest is now set between Gaasvig and Skoe. For District 3, Winger’s filing leaves no challenger so far, putting that seat on track to be decided without a primary unless the field changes before the election cycle moves forward.