Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier Retiring

ST. CLOUD (WJON News) -- Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier is stepping down from his position on the Board of Commissioners.

Lenzmeier submitted a letter of retirement Wednesday afternoon.

Lenzmeier's wife has been seeking a permanent guardianship regarding his health and mental capacity. He has been living in a memory care facility in Buffalo since last April.

In his letter, Lenzmeier states, "This is my official notice that effective immediately, I am retiring as Stearns County District 4 Commissioner. I am proud of my service as a Stearns County Commissioner for over 34 years. No one wants to quickly step away from anything that is special to them. This was not an easy decision, or a quick one for me to make. But, I realize today, it is the right thing to do for me, my Family, the Board, and the residents of my District and Stearns County as a whole".

The county will need to formally accept Lenzmeier's retirement at their next meeting.

The county will hold a special election to fill his seat on November 4th.

Stearns County Administrator Mike Williams says the filing period will be from May 20th to June 3rd. A primary election would be held on August 12th, if necessary.

Lenzmeier's term expires January 1st, 2027.

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Source: Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier Retiring

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