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3A candidates’ forum on Tuesday
One of Minnesota’s most hotly-contested legislative races takes center stage Tuesday in Ely.
Incumbent Roger Skraba is set to square off with challenger Harley Droba in a candidates forum on the Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College.
The event is open to the public and takes place at 7 p.m., and will also include Independent candidate Rich True.
But Droba, who is mayor of International Falls, figures to be Skraba’s most prominent challenger for the seat to represent District 3A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
The forum comes in advance of the Nov. 5 general election and in the aftermath of an exceedingly-tight 2022 contest for the position.
Two years ago, Skraba unseated Democratic incumbent Rob Ecklund by a mere 15 votes.
Tuesday’s forum is being hosted by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Ely Branch and the Ely Rotary Club.
Organizers say that the questions that will be asked of the candidates have been solicited from voters in Minnesota House District 3A, which includes the Ely, Babbitt and Tower areas but extends east to the North Shore and north and west to International Falls and even portions of Itasca County.
A second candidates forum will take place on Sept. 24 for the Ely City Council election.
Five candidates are in the running for three city council positions, but only four are participating in the forum.
Those set to take part in the event are the two incumbents - Jerome Debeltz and Paul Kess - and challengers Frederica Musgrave and Emily Roose. A third challenger, John Lahtonen, declined to participate.
While election day is set for Nov. 5, absentee voting begins on Oct. 15. Anyone seeking an absentee ballot should go to https://mnvotes. gov.
In addition to the live forum, the event will be available to view later on YouTube and on Ely TV Midco Channel 11.
