Otter Tail County races draw multiple challengers

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Several candidates have officially launched their campaigns for Otter Tail County sheriff and commissioner seats ahead of the 2026 elections.

The race to become the county's top law enforcement official is an open-seat contest following the retirement announcement of incumbent Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons. The field currently features Chief Deputy Reed Reinbold and Terry Frost.

Reinbold, who announced his candidacy in February, is looking to step up from his current command position. A long-time veteran of the department, he has previously served as a Detective Sergeant and is a member of the SWAT and public safety dive teams. He has been a prominent advocate for school safety and active shooter training throughout the region.

Frost is a veteran law enforcement officer with 16 years of experience in west-central Minnesota, including tenures with the New York Mills, Perham, and Wadena police departments. Since 2015, he has served as a full-time Deputy Sheriff for Wadena County, where he is currently a K9 handler and the department’s firearms and taser instructor. His background includes 14 years of military service as a combat veteran in the U.S. Marine Corps and Minnesota Army National Guard.

In District 2, which serves the Pelican Rapids, Elizabeth, Erhard, and Vergas areas, incumbent Commissioner Wayne Johnson is seeking reelection. Johnson has served on the board since 2010, focusing on economic development, housing expansion, and lake protection.

He faces two challengers: Jeff Gontarek and Kyle Lehmann. Gontarek is a 23-year veteran of the Otter Tail County Probation Department who narrowly lost to Johnson in the 2022 election. Lehmann, a Pelican Rapids area resident, has been an active observer of county governance and will join the field on the August primary ballot.

The District 4 race features a four-person field. Incumbent Bob Lahman, who is serving as the 2026 county board chairperson, filed for reelection on May 19. Lahman first won the seat in 2022 by a narrow margin, defeating Betty Murphy 51 percent to 48 percent.

He is joined in the race by three challengers: Stephen Springer, Jim Stewart, and Roger Walvatne. Stewart is a retired law enforcement officer who served the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office for 25 years, retiring as a lieutenant in early 2024. Walvatne, who resides on a family farm, is a former candidate for the District 3 seat. Springer is campaigning on a platform of common-sense leadership.

The field for these offices will be narrowed during the primary election on August 11, 2026, ahead of the general election in November.

Otter Tail County voters will have a chance to hear from local sheriff and county commissioner candidates following a documentary film screening on Tuesday, June 30.

The Caravan of Patriots is hosting a free “Know Your Otter Tail County Candidate” event from 6 to 9 p.m. at Thumper Pond Resort, located at 300 Thumper Lodge Road in Ottertail.

The evening will begin with a showing of “Noncompliant 2: The Sheriff,” a 2023 documentary featuring constitutional attorney KrisAnne Hall. According to promotional materials, the film examines the historical role, powers, and responsibilities of county sheriffs, exploring the concept of the “constitutional sheriff” as the supreme law enforcement authority within a county. The documentary contrasts the responses of two sheriffs and two pastors during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Following the presentation, several local candidates who were invited to the event will address the community and answer questions.

Invited candidates include sheriff hopefuls Terry Frost and Reed Reinbold; District 2 commissioner candidates Jeff Gontarek, Wayne Johnson, and Kyle Lehmann; and District 4 commissioner candidates Bob Lahman, Stephen Springer, Jim Stewart, and Roger Walvatne.

Residents seeking more information can contact event organizer Carol Hexum at 218-849-2393.