In mid-September, we emailed all candidates running for countywide and local seats in the November elections in Lake and Cook counties. We asked them to answer four main questions we believe matter to voters. Many of these office seekers have no opponent on the ballot, but we still feel it’s important to inform voters who they are. Candidates who did not respond are not included here.
This is a 2 or possibly 3-part series, so if you’re not reading about a particular candidate this week, please check next week’s Northshore Journal for more local candidates’ answers.
The questions are: “Tell us who you are, the office you seek, your current occupation, relevant public service or community involvement, and educational background. What core values, leadership style, and personal character traits will guide your decision-making when representing the people of our community? What do you see as the top issues facing your community over the next term, and what concrete steps will you take to address them? Why are you running for this specific office now, and what sets your vision for our local community apart?”
LAKE COUNTY SHERIFF
Tim Luoma–Unopposed
Hello, my name is Tim Luoma, and I am seeking election for the position of Lake County Sheriff. I am currently the Chief Deputy but have held previous roles of sergeant, deputy sheriff, CSO, and 911 dispatcher/jailer. I have served as an FTO and assistant firearms instructor. I have previously volunteered on LCSO’s Search and Rescue Squad and the Lake County Ambulance Service (1998-2008). I am a 1997 graduate of Two Harbors High School. In 2009, I received my Associate of Science Degree in Law Enforcement and Law Enforcement Skills Certificate from Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College.
My core values are rooted in compassion, honesty, and transparency. I believe leadership begins with genuine understanding and valuing people, building trust through actions, open communication, and accountability. I embrace innovation and forward-thinking approaches, continually seeking new ideas, perspectives, and opportunities to improve. I believe strong teams and relationships are built through collaboration, mutual respect, and shared purpose. I believe Resiliency is a large part of my leadership philosophy; I want to encourage open thinking, adaptability, and the courage to learn from challenges and setbacks. As a leader, I want to inspire and encourage others to reach their potential.
One of the biggest challenges I see will be addressing the growing number of people experiencing mental health crises. First Responders are increasingly interacting with individuals facing mental health issues, and we see these same challenges within correctional settings. This creates additional responsibilities for first responders and correctional staff, who must balance safety, accountability, and appropriate care. Increased training requirements and expectations have also placed significant demands on rural communities, which often have limited resources. We need to find a practical balance between holding individuals accountable for their actions and ensuring they receive the appropriate mental health support without placing an excessive burden on first responders, correctional staff, health and human services, or county taxpayers. This issue requires a broader community conversation and collaboration among stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that protect public safety, support individuals in crisis, and promote the health and safety of everyone involved.
I have always been passionate about serving my community. Since starting my journey with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, my commitment has remained focused on doing what is best for those we serve. I am ready to continue serving as Sheriff and working to keep those who live, work, and visit Lake County safe while protecting the opportunities that make our community special. I look forward to continuing to work alongside the dedicated Sheriff’s Office team and strengthening our partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies and officials to effectively serve Lake County.
COOK COUNTY SHERIFF
Ben Hallberg
I am Ben Hallberg, and I’m running for Cook County Sheriff. I’m currently the interim Sheriff and have been with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for 21.5 years. I have been a dispatcher/jailer, deputy, jail administrator, chief deputy, and sheriff during that time. I have degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College in Elementary Education and Fond du Lac Community College in Law Enforcement. I also earned the Senior Leadership Certificate from the MN BCA. I am active in the community, volunteering with Empty Bowls, treasurer with the Cook County Curling Club, and former church board member at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Perseverance is a core value that reflects who I am. We have had a lot of changes in the Sheriff’s Office. I have been in three different leadership roles this year, and I have been able to adapt quickly into the new roles. I have a teaching/coaching leadership style. As a field training officer, my job was to teach new employees everything they needed to be successful. Leading by example – covering shifts when short-staffed, doing what needs to be done to keep the office successful. Composure – when in a stressful situation, staying calm allows for essential decision-making. Lastly, humility – I’m not perfect and will admit my mistakes and apologize when I am wrong; mistakes allow for learning and growth.
A top issue in our community is mental health crisis and response. Our calls for service with people having a mental health crisis continue to grow. Services in Cook County for mental health crises are extremely limited. I will continue to work with our partners in Public Health and Human Services, North Shore Health, and the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic to build processes and procedures to assist with response to a crisis. Also working with outside entities such as First Call for Help to build mobile crisis response in Cook County that may free up services such as deputies and emergency room staff to handle other calls for service and emergencies. Hiring new staff for the Sheriff’s Office has been a challenge for a few years now. I plan on sending staff to more college job fairs to sell what Cook County has to offer to recruit new employees. I am running for Sheriff now because it is the right time for me. After 21.5 years in the Sheriff’s Office, I have worked in almost every position, and I have moved into leadership roles that have set me up for success as Sheriff. That experience allows me to continue to teach and assist our staff with day-to-day duties in the office while also working on long-term goals for the future. My vision is part of our mission statement to serve our community with fairness and respect. I will always hold our staff to that high standard.
Ty Backlund
I am Ty Backlund, and I am running for Cook County Sheriff. I grew up in Cook County, and my professional background spans military service, municipal policing, corrections, and county law enforcement. I graduated from the JFK Special Warfare Center and School as a Civil Affairs Specialist and deployed to Afghanistan. I served as a Police Officer, Field Training Officer, and General Instructor with Mesa, Arizona. After returning to Cook County, I served as a Probation Officer and now serve as a Deputy Sheriff and Field Training Officer with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
I believe effective local law enforcement begins with compassion, respect, and a genuine connection to the people we serve. Being Sheriff is not simply a matter of management; it is about being present in our community, listening to residents, understanding their concerns, and building relationships before a crisis occurs. As Sheriff, I would expand community engagement from a personal priority to an office priority, ensuring the Sheriff’s Office, as a whole, is visible, accessible, and responsive. I believe the best law enforcement officers are not separated from the public they serve, but work alongside them to build a safer, stronger community.
One of the biggest challenges facing our community is Deputy staffing. It is not uncommon for a single Deputy to be responsible for providing law enforcement coverage across all of Cook County. I believe this can be addressed through a directed, sustained recruitment effort that actively seeks qualified candidates rather than relying on a perpetual job posting. Another important challenge is strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and the community. I routinely hear from residents that I am the only Deputy they know. As Sheriff, I will prioritize meaningful community engagement, increase the visibility of our Deputies, and create opportunities for residents and law enforcement to interact outside of calls for service in an effort to build trust. Trust makes our community safer.
I am ready to put my experience, energy, and leadership to work for the community I call home. This is the first election I am eligible to run, and I see no reason to wait to step forward and offer my service. The County deserves a choice. I have developed a clear vision centered on community engagement, accessibility, and strong relationships with the people we serve. I believe leadership is most effective when it happens alongside the public, not from behind a desk, and I am ready to lead by being present, listening, and working directly with our community.
COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1
Debra K. White, Incumbent
I am currently completing my first term as Cook County Commissioner for District One, the eastern end of the county, which includes the communities of Colvill, Hovland, and the sovereign nation of Grand Portage.
My family (husband and two kids) moved here 44 years ago, purchased property, and made Cook County our home. I volunteered at the school, Sawtooth Mountain Elementary. I worked for CC Community Education. I was Youth Development /Youth Service coordinator, assisted with community classes, and organized political forums. I also proctored the GED testing. I was the KIDS PLUS (a Northland Foundation initiative) coordinator, developing programming (conflict mediation, cross age mentoring, after school tutoring) and creating opportunities for youth to be more engaged in the greater community. I worked for Grand Portage Education at ISD #166, providing support, tutoring, and advocacy for their students. I was the liaison between ISD #166 and the LIEC (Local Indian Education Committee). I ended my school involvement with twelve years on the school board, representing District One.
I value honesty, communication (listening), kindness, and collaboration. I am an alumna of the Blandin Community Leadership Program. There I learned how my personality impacts others. I believe good leadership comes from the bottom up, not the top down. Top down directives often dismiss the perspective and experience of stakeholders. Identifying stakeholders to solve particular problems or to seek a creative solution works and gives the stakeholders ownership;
Affordability across the board. Prices are higher for everything. Cook County is at the end of the road. We have a small population and limited opportunity for population growth. Only about ten percent of the property is privately owned. The county’s economy depends on tourism. There are few living wage jobs in this community. The county government needs to scrutinize how taxpayer dollars are spent. County government can no longer pay for “wants”, but must focus on “needs”. Non-mandated services and programming must not be the responsibility of the taxpayers. There will be difficult conversations and decisions to make, but we can no longer afford everything.
Matt Kelm
My name is Matt Kelm and I’m running for County Commissioner in Cook County District 1. Currently, I help my wife Katie with her mobile veterinary business, Sawtooth Mountain Mobile Vet, and the Cook County Pet Food Pantry we founded. As she builds her business, I started working at the Hovland and Grand Portage Post Offices. My educational background is in Engineering, where I learned critical thinking skills and to always ask why. In the community, I have been involved in the Superior Cycling Association as a Board Member and volunteer for many events. I also help with trail maintenance.
I believe in honesty and integrity, and that strong communication and collaboration can bring success to any working environment. I prefer to study a topic until I know it in and out so that I can make informed decisions, and I’m not afraid to ask questions when I don’t know the answer. I prefer to listen to others’ perspectives and needs and believe that government is meant to benefit society for the greater good. In my past career as a warehouse manager for an at-home healthcare company, I had 23 employees who reported to me. My door was always open, and I tirelessly advocated for them regardless of what upper management expected.
Affordable housing, economic opportunity, and healthcare are the most important issues facing our community. I would look to communities doing things right in the state and around the US to find new solutions that maybe haven’t been looked at in our community before. The HRA has been doing great work finding funding and new opportunities for housing, but continuing what they’ve started and finding new avenues will be important. Working with organizations like Visit Cook County to find new ways of bringing economic opportunity to the area is important, as our economy is over 80% tourism dollars. With State and Federal cuts, healthcare is at an all-time high importance. We have one of the oldest median-aged counties in the state. Continuing to support a strong hospital and community programs to go with are important for the longevity and health of our community.
I’m not getting any younger; what better time than now? Becoming more involved locally by attending town halls and other events, paying closer attention to county meetings and the ongoings in the community, and understanding that local politics is a huge driver in the well-being and success of a community, I have been more and more driven to serve my community in a way that would make a difference and have an impact. Believing that the government is supposed to better our lives, I’d love to actively find solutions to do just that.
COOK COUNTY
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3
David Mills, Incumbent
My name is Dave Mills. I have a spouse, two kids, father, and sister living in the community. My daughter is a college junior, and son is an ISD166 junior. My mom passed from here in 2021. I grew up in Grand Rapids, MN, graduated high school in 1999, went to the UMN for computer science with minors in math, statistics, and IT management, but left in 2002 to work in the Bob Marshall in MT, the Superstitions and Four Peaks in AZ, then back home to MN in the BWCAW in 2004, and met my wife in Tofte. We bought a house in Creechville in 2005 and home-birthed our first child in 2006. I worked 10 years of nights and weekends bartending in the winter at Papa Charlie’s, waiting tables in the summer at the Angry Trout Cafe, and cleaned chimneys with Superior Sweep in shoulder seasons. I started working in construction in 2013 (currently a painting contractor), was selected for Blandin Leadership training in 2014, and was elected to Grand Marais City Council. We moved off-grid to Good Harbor Hill in 2017, was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 2018 and Board Chair in 2021, and have been Vice-chair since 2023. I have served on many community, regional, and statewide boards since 2014. In my first term, we navigated COVID, acted to meet mental health service gaps, created the HRA, and adopted a capital improvement plan and financial management plan to address the substantial deferred maintenance of our county buildings. In my second term, we navigated another change in administrators and retirements of long-serving department heads, made critical improvements to our law enforcement center, and partnered to construct a mandated waste management building. We have a strong, capable team that will serve our community well for decades to come. In my third term, I intend [to provide] tax relief through a county-administered income-based system for homesteaded properties, as well as more options and support for our seniors. I also intend to find relief for parents on the cost of childcare. I was born and raised to be a servant-leader. I value community, health, our environment, and equity. I am a good listener, creative thinker, caring individual, futurist, and collaborator. I aim to address the roots of problems and not pass them on to others down the road, look at things holistically while respecting us as individuals, and keep those most in need in front of mind. Our duty as a community is to help each other. Working together, supporting each other, and strengthening our community benefits us all. We can do all of this by identifying pinch and leverage points, collaborating, and bringing the gumption I have and encourage others to bring. I ask and thank you for your support! Onward!
Roger Westerlind
I’m a lifelong Cook County resident. I graduated from Cook County High School in 1994 and met my helpmate in life here. We are blessed with an energetic daughter.
I have been a carpenter for thirty-two years. Eleven years ago, I took over the four generation family farm where I spent my childhood.
I’ve been actively involved in coaching youth sports, as I enjoy mentoring young people.
Much of my real education has come from life lessons, especially growing up on the family farm. It continues to grow me as a person.
Core values are: Honesty – genuine and transparent; truthful. Authenticity – true to my own personality and character. Courage – possess the moral strength to do something difficult. Humility – serve for the good of others, not for accolades. Empathy – possess the ability to sense what someone else might be thinking or feeling; to see things from another person’s perspective. Servant leadership – possess a selfless attitude that prioritizes the needs of others; cares for and values people.
Lead by example: Open-minded: willing to consider the ideas and opinions of others.
Objective – base decisions on facts; strive not to be influenced by personal bias, assumptions, or feelings. Strong work ethic – learned on the family farm. Honest – modeled by my parents and grandparents. Reliable – what I say I’m going to do, I will do.
Commissioners need to find ways to conduct government business more efficiently so that tax dollars are spent wisely. Too often, in my opinion, commissioners need little encouragement to increase spending, and usually on things which serve no purpose other than to pad the county payroll.
I do not believe commissioners are elected to find ways to spend taxpayers’ money, rather to find ways to save taxpayers’ money.
When government entities with levy authority attempt to sell their levy proposals, they often compare the increase to the cost of a cup of coffee. The problem is, multiple levies add up to multiple cups of coffee. And a person-even a person of Swedish origin-can only drink so many cups of coffee.
Involve the public, not just special interest voices. It’s time to involve all whose lives are ultimately affected by decisions on how to spend their money.
It’s time to represent the people. Sounds cliché, doesn’t it? “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Someone like me who grew up on my family’s farm spoke those words at Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg following the Civil War.
It’s time common folk, generational families, and the growing aging folks in our community are allowed the opportunity to have their voices heard and respected.
Pure and simple: It’s bottom up. Not top down.
COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER
DISTRICT 5
Chris Homyak, Unopposed
Candidate for Cook County Commissioner District 5. Resident of Cook County since 2008. Owner of Clearview General Store in Lutsen, MN since 2020. Worked in both Lutsen and Grand Marais in a variety of Hospitality/Restaurant management roles. Current Lutsen Town Supervisor. Current board chair for the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. Board member for Visit Cook County, Lutsen Tofte Tourism Association, Gitchi Gami Trail Association, Cook County Food Access Council. Volunteer firefighter and EMT with Lutsen Fire and EMS. Casual EMT for North Shore Health Grand Marais.
I believe in leading from the front—never asking of my team or community what I am not willing to do myself. Rather than acting as a figurehead, I prefer to roll up my sleeves and do the hard work required to deliver real results. My leadership is grounded in respect, integrity, and transparency. True progress requires building bridges. We must work alongside neighboring communities, state legislative partners, and our business leaders to build practical solutions. To understand the issues we face, we need open, honest dialogue—one rooted in mutual understanding and the simple truth that we all do better when we all do better.
Key issues facing our community are increasing property taxes, affordable housing that is accessible to those in the community, trust issues with our county services, retention and recruitment needs of our local fire and EMS departments, as well as funding to help offset the need for property tax levies, fiscal disparity issues faced by business owners, and relief for wildfire-related closures. To address property taxes and funding for emergency services, the county will need to examine the budget and find ways to reduce unnecessary items while also looking at additional sources of funding through state grant and aid programs. It will take increased transparency to address the loss of trust in the county. Other issues will need to be addressed using a collaborative approach with the county board, HRA, EDA, the local business community, and state legislators.
With Ginny Storlie’s retirement, District 5 needed someone to step up. I have long believed that to create meaningful change, you have to be willing to do the work. Having served as a town supervisor for the past six years, running for county commissioner is a natural continuation of that service. While I certainly have my own vision for what our community could be, my primary goal is to listen and work with those in the community. I am not running to push a personal agenda; I am running to ensure every resident is heard so that we can build a shared vision we can all be proud of.
