Longtime Meeker County Commissioner Ron Kutzke will have a challenger for his County Board seat and Dr. Dave Detert will again challenge Rep. Dean Urdahl for the House District 18B seat in the November election.

After Kutzke filed for re-election on the first day of the filing period, it appeared he would run unopposed for the County Board of Commissioners Fifth District seat, when after two weeks no one else expressed interest to run.

Turns out that won’t be the case.

Russ Peterson of Grove City filed his affidavit of candidacy Tuesday, the last day filings were open. Peterson challenged Kutzke in 2004, falling short 1,328 to 909 votes.

Kutzke has served 20 years on the Meeker County Board.

The District 5 seat on the Meeker County Board of Commissioners is the only one up for re-election this year. The district represents the city of Cosmos and surrounding area, including the townships of Union Grove, Swede Grove, Acton, Danielson, Cosmos, Greenleaf and Cedar Mills.

Detert has run against Urdahl, R-Grove City, three times previously, once as a Republican in a primary and twice as a Democrat. District 18B includes Meeker County, except two townships, and part of western Wright County. Urdahl is seeking his fourth term.

The following people have filed for local office: Steven Drange of Litchfield for judge in 8th District Court 2; Thomas Burr of Paynesville for soil and water supervisor District 1; Robert Schiefelbein of Kimball for soil and water supervisor District 2; and Fred Behnke of Grove City for soil and water conservation District 4.