Randolph residents file for election

RANDOLPH — Lucas Miller wants to get involved and make a difference on the Randolph Public School Board.

He filed for an open seat last week left vacant by Loren Haselhorst who decided not to run for another term.

“I just think it’s good to have people on the board with kids in school and to just have different opinions and different views,” he said.

Miller and his wife, Becky, have four children: twins Adam and Eli in third grade; Lauren in first grade and 3-year-old Lila.

He’s involved in farming at his property two miles south of town and also sits on the board of the Cardinal Kids Learning Center.

“Education overall is very important. It’s the most important thing we can do in our town and for our kids,” he said.

Miller runs unopposed and the race will appear on the general ballot this fall.

In other local races, four former city employees will face off for two spots on the Randolph City Council. Roxanne Hanel, Donna Mae Schutt, Aaron Nielsen and Daniel Korth have filed for the spots vacated by Dennis Bazata and Brandon Backhaus who did not seek another term.

Schutt is a Randolph native who has lived in her hometown all of her life.

She has never run for an elected public office before and wants to serve on the council to help with economic development.

“I want to bring in more businesses to keep young people here,” Schutt said. “That’s my main objective.”

She manages the Thriftway Market in Tilden.

Hanel is a Randolph native who moved back to her hometown in September 2020 after living in

Ralston for nearly 30 years. 

She said she wants to serve on the city council to help improve the town.

“I’m running for the council to change a few things,” Hanel said. “I want to clean up the town and try to get some new businesses here.” 

Hanel said she’s especially concerned by seeing junk vehicles and dilapidated properties around town.

She currently works at the Logan Creek Inn and Randolph Family Practice. 

Nielsen and Korth were included in the Randolph Times story last week.

The city council race will appear on the general ballot in the fall.

In general, Randolph voters will see several statewide candidates filling the primary ballot on May 10 including the primary race for governor, U.S. House, and attorney general among others.

Mark Patefield of Laurel will face off against Keith Kube of Crofton, Robert Johnston of Clearwater and Barry DeKay of Niobrara vying for the District 40 state senate seat vacated by Sen. Tim Gragert.

All county officials filed to retain their seats and are running unopposed except for County Assessor Jeff Curry who did not file for election. Becky Dresden has filed for that position and is running unopposed.

The only county contested race for the primary is two county commissioner seats that don’t affect voters in the immediate Randolph area.