Three Candidates Emerge for St. Cloud School Board Special Election

(KNSI) — The St. Cloud Area District 742 School Board will have three candidates for voters to choose from in a November 4th special election.

Following the primary on August 12th and the mandatory 48-hour withdrawal period, Gina Acevedo, Al Dahlgren, and Peter Hamerlinck have emerged as the contenders to fill the three-year vacancy for the at-large member on the board. The seat was left open after member Bruce Hentges stepped down due to health reasons in February. Dahlgren, who narrowly lost re-election to his seat last cycle, was appointed to fill in earlier this year.

Acevedo is a Cultural Sensitivity and Health Equity Supervisor for CentraCare, according to her LinkedIn page. She is “passionate about championing health equity and creating innovative solutions to support diverse and underserved communities.” She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of South Florida.

Dahlgren was first elected to the board in November 2012 and won another term in 2016 and 2020. He owns and operates Once Upon a Child in Waite Park, according to Ballotpedia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business Management from the University of Minnesota.

Hamerlinck is a local real estate agent who also served on the board from 2011 to 2014, losing to Hentges, who had dropped out of the race but was elected anyway and filled the seat. He also ran in 2016 and 2018. Hamerlinck has served the district in other ways, including the activities committee and legislative committee. He was also the athletic director but his contract was not renewed in 2021. Hamerlinck holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Cloud State University.

To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Polling Place Finder here.

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