By Joseph Marks, staff writer

Residents of Albert Lea and Freeborn County with patriotism to spare after Independence Day is over can give something back to the community Wednesday by filing for public office.

Albert Lea City Council seats up for grabs are:

– Mayor. Mayor Aaron Summers has announced he won’t run for re-election leaving Albert Lea’s first seat entirely up for grabs.

– Second ward. Councilor Randy Erdman has not announced whether he will run for re-election to his council seat.

– Fourth ward. Councilor Jeff Fjelstad has announced he will not run for re-election.

– Sixth ward. Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Al Brooks has not announced whether he will run for

re-election.

Anyone interested in running for an open seat can file in the city clerk’s office in City Hall. The office is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. every weekday. Candidates must pay a $5 filing fee and fill out a short affidavit of candidacy.

If more than two people file for any office a primary will take place Sept. 12. The general election is scheduled Nov. 7.

Open seats in Freeborn County are:

– District 2 Commissioner. Commissioner Dan Belshan has not publicly announced whether he will run for re-election.

– District 4 Commissioner. Commissioner Dave Mullenbach has not publicly announced whether he will run for re-election.

– All four elected Freeborn County department heads. Those seats are currently occupied by Auditor/Treasurer Dennis Distad, Recorder Kelly Callahan, County Attorney Craig Nelson and Sheriff Mark Harig.

Distad and Harig have both announced they will run for re-election. Retired Albert Lea police officer Bill Villarreal also announced he will run for Freeborn County sheriff.

It costs $50 to file for county offices. Filing deadlines are the same as city offices.

Three seats are open on the District 241 school board, which will be elected at large. School Board members Tom Eaton and Marjorie Thorn announced they will not be running for re-election.

Board Member Jolinda Schreiber will run for re-election.

Filing for school board costs $2 in the district superintendent’s office at the Brookside Education Center.