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Minnesota’s State Canvassing Board met last week to 

 this year’s election, a final step in what was perhaps one of the most unpredictable election cycles in recent history. 

But while the election may be over, the work to strengthen “rural democracy” continues for Celeste Koppe, who is the rural strategist at West Central Initiative. She said her region continues to face a shortfall of people wanting to run for local offices.

“We have observed that still plenty of seats went uncontested during these local elections,” said Koppe. “So, we’re continuing in this cultural shift.”

Top of mind for her as she carries on this work: the greater influence of partisan politics on local elections.

“We’re seeing this lens of conflict be applied to local issues, races like wards of small cities, certainly at the county level,” she said.”

It’s a concern Koppe and her team hope they can address in the future through creating more opportunities where community members can convene to solve hyperlocal issues together.

“As we’re out here looking to bring folks together to look at things like adding another stoplight or looking at how to bring another amenity to town — I think it lies in what’s in front of us, what we can do together and pushing back on some of this divisiveness that is coming from a federal level.”

To hear the full interview with Celeste Koppe, click play on the audio player above. 

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While the election may be over, the work to strengthen “rural democracy” continues for Celeste Koppe, who is the rural strategist at West Central Initiative in Minnesota.

It looks like Minnesota continued its streak of leading the nation in voter turnout this past election with 76% of Minnesotans voting. But one organization says this year's election showed there's still more work to be done beyond turning people out to vote in rural Minnesota.Celeste Koppe leads the Rural Democracy program at West Central Initiative. She joined MPR News host Tom Crann for a post-election reflection. 

As partisan politics reaches into local races, one organization looks to strengthen ‘rural democracy’

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