Barry J. Simonson is retiring.

Ruth Harris is planning to retire … at this time.

Len Miller wants to run for higher office, but is keeping his "day job" as Mower County commissioner for the present.

Terese Amazi wants her boss' job and her boss, Simonson, says he wants her to have it.

Meanwhile, some citizens have encouraged John Lorenz and Curt Rude, members of the Austin Police Department, to run for county sheriff. However, residents in eastern Mower County say it is time for a lawman from their part of the county to hold the sheriff's office.

There are also three seats on the Mower County Board of Commissioners up for grabs.

The filing period for the 2002 election period begins July 2 and ends July 16. The Primary Election will be held Sept. 10 and the General Election will be held Nov. 5.

Minnesotans will elect U.S. Senators, Congressmen, Governor and Lt. Governor, four other state offices and

as well as Minnesota House and Senate legislative seats and judicial office-holders.

In addition, there will be county, city and township offices to fill as well as school district offices.

An early look at the possibilities reveals the possibility of wide-scale changes in local government.

At the county government level, the terms of 3 county commissioners, Dave Hillier, District No. 3, Len Miller, District No. 4, and Garry Ellingson, District No. 5, expire this year.

Miller, who lost the Mower County DFL endorsement for State Representative District 27B to Jeanne E. Poppe, is expected to run for another term on the County Board.

Mower County Attorney Patrick A. Oman is expected to seek another term in office.

So are Mower County Auditor Woody Vereide, and Mower County Recorder Susan Davis.

Mower County Treasurer Ruth Harris is contemplating retirement. However, Harris is leaving her options open. "I'm thinking about retirement at this time, bit who knows what might happen," she said.

The one office prompting the most discussion is that of county sheriff.

Simonson has indicated he will retire after his second term concludes at year's end.

He has already endorsed Amazi, his chief deputy, as his choice to replace the sheriff and Amazi has indicated she will run for the office.

The list of other possible candidates grows daily: Gordon Briggs, Adams police chief, Barry Reburn, Mower County Sheriff's Deputy, Jim Richardson, Grand Meadow police chief, and even Rocky Schammel, the former sheriff's deputy, whom Simonson defeated four years ago.

Briggs, Reburn and Schammel told the Austin Daily Herald they are not interested in running for county sheriff and Richardson declined comment.

Does that suggest the path is clear for Amazi? Not exactly.

Two members of the Austin Police Department are frequently mentioned as possible candidates. Lorenzen, a veteran police officer and the departments Drug Abuse Resistance Education educator, is one of them. Rude is the other.

Leave Austin and travel east and the original list of candidates is mentioned most often, but in Austin, the names of Lorenzen and Rude are most frequently bandied about this spring.

Lorenzen said, "It's flattering to be mentioned, but I'm not interested. I like my work." He also praised Amazi's qualifications for the job of county sheriff and admitted he, too, had heard the police captain's name mentioned s a possible candidate.

"It's certainly an honor to be mentioned," said Rude, adding the people who come to him to inquire of his availability are talking about a "wonderful challenge" that appeals to the police captain.

While he is "examining his options right now," Rude said he feels "committed to the Austin police officers" and "there is so much to be accomplished in this community."

Also at the county level, Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors,

Steve Sorenson, Ostrander, District No. 3, and William Lonergan, Jr., Austin, District No. 4, must decide if they will seek reelection this fall.

Mower County Third Judicial District Judges Donald E. Rysavy and Fred W. Wellmann will see their terms in office expire.

Among Austin races will be possible contests for mayor, four council posts and seats on the Austin Utilities Board of Commissioners.

The terms of Mayor Bonnie Rietz, First Ward Council Member Mickey Jorgenson, Second Ward Council Member Jeanne E. Poppe, Third Ward Council Member Gloria Nordin and At Large Council Member Dick Chaffee all expire at the end of the year

Poppe snared the Mower County DFL endorsement to run for the House seat being vacated by State Rep. Rob Leighton (DFL-Austin).

Mower County Commissioner Miller, the 4th District incumbent on the county board, is expected to seek re-election. Also expected to run for the 4th District county board seat is Chaffee, who lost the DFL endorsement to Poppe and Third Ward council member Lang.

Two incumbent Austin Utilities commissioners, Jack Dunlop and Frank Lorenzen, also expire this year.

Virginia Janson of the Mower County Auditor's office reminds all candidates, city office hopefuls file with their respective city clerks and county candidates, including Soil and Water Conservation district hopefuls, file with the auditor's office.

All candidates for judgeships and state representative and senate seats, file with the Minnesota Secretary of State in St. Paul.