Superior's mayoral race is heating up.
During a cool competition Saturday in Billings Park, the four candidates showed off their sledding style.
Plan Commissioner Kalee Hermanson slid to victory seated on a multi-colored sled. City Councilors Brent Fennessey and Mike Herrick smacked saucers before reaching the flare-marked finish line, taking second and third place. Douglas County Board vice chairman Jim Paine pushed himself down part of the slope to take last place.
"This is a great turnout and it's such a fun event for families," Hermanson said. "I was glad to see all the candidates were up for a little slide down this crazy hill."
Herrick returned his borrowed sled with a smile as dozens of children and adults returned to the slopes.
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It was certainly something different, said Fennessey, whose supporters blanketed the area with signs during the race.
All four praised the Billings Park Business Association for putting on the free family sledding event at the boat landing. The slopes were flooded with people enjoying the snowy pastime.
"This is the hill I grew up sliding down," said Paine. "I haven't gone sledding in several years. I had a lot more fun than I thought I was going to."
Sliding was just the start.
Thursday, the candidates will gather again, this time to answer questions. Explore Superior hosts a mayoral forum beginning at 6 p.m. in the Superior Public Library, and everyone is invited to attend.
"I'm there to let people talk to the candidates," said facilitator Doug Dalager. "This is an important election. This is a generational change."
In addition to discussing the Better City Superior initiative, city budget, taxes and how to work with state government, community members will get a chance to submit questions.
"This isn't about Explore Superior, it's about Superior," Dalager said.
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The forum will be broadcast on the Explore Superior Facebook page and taped for rebroadcast on public access TV.
Volunteers are needed to operate a video camera, monitor sound levels, monitor the live Facebook feed and collect questions from the crowd. No special skills are necessary, but they must be there half an hour earlier to set up. Those interested can email exploresuperior@gmail.com .
