Three more join District 88 race

Thompson may be disqualified by sex offender law

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Three more candidates filed for the District 88 School Board Tuesday, bringing the total to 12 candidates. But one candidate, Ben Thompson, could be ineligible because of a state law banning convicted sex offenders from serving on school boards.

The last-day filers included Ben Thompson, a candidate in the 1998 school board election. He was defeated after it was revealed days before the election that he had been convicted in St. Cloud in 1984 and had served time in prison for sex offenses involving members of his family.

After Thompson's candidacy two years ago, Sen Dennis Frederickson introduced legislation to bar sex offenders from filing as candidates for school board elections. The bill passed and was signed into law.

Thompson's candidacy was filing was accepted by the school office, however, when he produced his certificate of discharge from the state corrections system. The document states Thompson had served his term and his civil rights had been restored, including his right to vote and hold office.

Thompson filed late in the afternoon, leaving the district officials no time to contact the Attorney General's office for a ruling, according to District Superintendent Harold Remme. The district will be seeking clarification of the legality of Thompson's candidacy today.

Frederickson said Tuesday night that the law bans from school boards those who are required to register as sex offenders, and those convicted of sex offenses in the past -- before the sexual predator registration law -- who would have been required to register if the law had been in effect at the time of their conviction. Frederickson said Thompson's conviction in 1984 would have undoubtedly required him to register if he were convicted of the same offense today.

In addition to Thompson, Duane Hauser and Bruce Schreckenberg filed for office on Tuesday, the last day candidates could declare their intent. The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Hauser, 37, is a native of California. He moved to New Ulm in 1987 and has three children, all preschool-aged, who will enter District 88 schools within the next few years. He is a production cutter at Advertising Unlimited Inc. in Sleepy Eye. He is running for the school board because he is concerned with the way the schools are going and he wants to be more active in the community. This is his first attempt at public office.

Thompson, 55, is a native of Austin, Minn. He has lived in New Ulm since 1994 and has one stepchild enrolled in District 88 schools. He has six grown children, and two grown-up step-children who attended school in District 88. He is self-employed and owns New Ulm Neat 'N' Clean. He has previously run for the school board and made an attempt at running as an independent for the Second Congressional seat currently held by Democrat David Minge. He is running for the school board because he believes the parents in the district deserve someone who "understands how the federal and state governments are taking over schools, has the courage to stand up to them, and and knows HOW to do it. I'm that person."

Schreckenberg, 44, is a native of Faribault. He moved to New Ulm in 1990. He is a self-employed cabinet maker who does contract work with Covington Cabinets and Design Directions. He has a six-year-old attending District 88 schools and a 14-year-old son. This is his first attempt at public office. He is running for the school board because he believes it is an important thing to do for the community. He believes schools should have local control, which should come from the parents.

Of the incumbents whose terms expire in December, only David Leuthe has not filed for re-election, stating that he has other obligations and made the commitment to his family that he would only serve one term.

The other three incumbents, Don Potter, Brian Wieland and Gene Forstner, have all filed for office, desiring to maintain their commitment to serve the constituents in the district.

Others who have filed for the school board are former school board member Renee Otis; Rick Berg, a marketing advisor with Farmers Cooperative of Hanska, headquartered at Burdick Elevator in New Ulm; Barbara Becker, a group home supervisor with Rehabilitative Services Inc.; bookstore owner Sheldon Rieke; Deborah Hertling, who works in the Human Resources and Education Department at New Ulm Medical Center; and Assistant City Attorney Susan Nierengarten.

No information was received Tuesday afternoon from GFW, Cedar Mountain, Madelia, Red Rock Central, Springfield, Sleepy Eye, or Sibley East Schools.

Those filing in other districts are:

* Comfrey, Loren Schumacher, Steve Brown and Christina Quarnstrom for the four-year terms. The two-year term remains open and will be filled by a write-in candidate who accepts the appointment, Superintendent Robert Meyer said.

* Belview, incumbents David Anderson and Kay Grannes for the two-year term; and incumbents Paul Milbrandt, Brad Zimmer, and Pam Adams, for the four-year terms.

* Redwood Area Schools, incumbents Mary Jo Boots, Dick Gewerth and Jim Buckley, and Geri Dahmes and Bette Jo Arnett for the four-year terms, and Kevin Passe for the two-year term.