Brooklyn Park mayoral candidates preparing for uncommon election day
Twelve candidates vying to be mayor of Brooklyn Park now have less than a week to make their case to voters.
Brooklyn Park is the sixth-largest city in the state, and the most diverse Twin Cities suburb. The north-west Twin Cities suburb plans to elect a new mayor to replace Steve Lampi. Lampi held the position for eight years and died in office in late February.
There are 12 candidates on the ballot for the part-time job that pays little more than $17,000 a year.
Brooklyn Park resident Tim Burt said he was shocked officials didn't find a way to narrow down the field of candidates. He said he was concerned that the vote would come down to popularity or whoever could muster up enough people to come out and vote.
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"This is probably one of those anomalies that hardly ever happens, but I still wish they'd reexamine how they're doing it," Burt said.
Under city laws, any Brooklyn Park resident who collects 25 signatures and pays a $25 filing fee can run for mayor.
Brooklyn Park officials scheduled the vote on Saturday in the hopes of increasing turnout and state officials say it may be the first Saturday election in Minnesota's history.
The next mayor must win with a margin of more than one-half of 1 percent, or a recount is automatic.