Bill to Change Rochester School Elections Introduced in State Senate

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- A state lawmaker who represents Rochester in the Minnesota Senate has introduced a bill that would change the election format for the Rochester Public School District (RPS). 

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Last month, the RPS Board voted 6-1 to scrap primary elections that were held to narrow the field of candidates running for a school board seat for the general election ballot. 

RPS was one of seven districts across the State of Minnesota still holding primaries. 

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Earlier this month, the RPS Board unanimously approved a resolution to seek legislative approval to do away with the alley system for school district elections. 

Read More: Rochester School Board Eliminates Primary Elections 

Candidates running in elections under the alley system are allowed to challenge a single board member.

About 95% of Minnesota school districts have candidates campaigning against each other, with the top vote-getters selected to fill the seats up for election, according to documents from the meeting. 

The RPS Board moved forward on the resolution after soliciting feedback from members of the public. 

Sen. Liz Boldon Introduces Bill to End "Alley System" for RPS Elections

On Tuesday, DFL Sen. Liz Boldon introduced a bill that would grant RPS permission to get rid of the alley system by repealing the 1974 law that put it in place for RPS. 

Rochester GOP Sen. Carla Nelson was added as a co-author to the bill on Monday.

A statement issued by Sen. Boldon’s office says the bill transitions RPS from the “archaic ‘alley system’ to the standard at-large system used by nearly all other school districts in Minnesota.” 

Bill Awaiting Floor Vote in State Senate

The Senate Elections Committee heard the bill on Tuesday and was put into the Senate Elections Omnibus Bill on Wednesday. Its now awaiting a floor vote by the whole Senate. 

Four RPS Board seats on the ballot this year. The seats are currently held by Cathy Nathan, Justin Cook, Jean Marvin, and Julie Workman. The filing period for those positions opens in May.