No Ulmer?

Or Jensen?

C'mon. Really?

And what about Tabor and LaMont? This is spring in Bismarck-Mandan, right?

This year's June primary might be most notable for the absence of some big names on the ballot. Friday was the deadline for candidates to file for all the local races. The day came and went with no petitions from Dan Ulmer or Ken LaMont in Mandan, and none from Dave Jensen or Sandi Tabor in Bismarck. Each of the long-time commissioners (well, LaMont is mayor) said they were not going to seek re-election this year.

That created a wide-open race in both cities, with plenty of runners.

There are 59 days to go until the June 10 primary, so there's still plenty of time to familiarize yourself with every candidate. Here's a glimpse at the names you'll see on your ballot (with the number of open seats in parentheses; I=incumbent):

Bismarck City Commission (2)

Cheryl Fenster

Parrell Grossman

Keith Holzer

Jon Hunke

Kurt Schmidt

Mike Seminary

Vinod Seth

Mandan City Commission (2)

Thomas M. Jackson

Gerald "Jerry" Serhienko

Steve Thilmony

Sandra Tibke (I)

Mandan Mayor

Timothy A. Helbling

Rick L. Parkes

Burleigh County Commission (2) (all three move on to Nov. ballot)

Brian Bitner

Marlan "Hawk" Haakenson (I)

Jerry Woodcox (I)

Morton County Commission (3) (top six move on to Nov. ballot)

Ron Balkowitsch

Randy Baumgartner

Susan Beehler

Tim Berhow

Mark Bitz (I)

Matt Erhardt (I)

Terry Schantz

Bruce Strinden

Richard Tokach (I)

Bismarck School Board (2)

Paul Govig (I)

Lawrence King

Donavan Klein

Cheryl Long Feather

Mandan School Board (3)

Robert "Bob" Christensen

Donna Fishbeck (I)

Lee Fleischer

Jill (LaMont) Goetz

LuAnn Nider (I)

Bismarck Park Board (2)

Brian Beattie

Lawrence Nieters

Mike O'Brian

Shawn Weekes

August "Augie" Werner

Mark Zimmerman (I)

Mandan Park Board (2)

Kevin "Herb"Allan

Bruce Brucker (I)

Kevin Kautzmann

Wanda Knoll (I)

Bismarck Municipal Judge

William Severin

Mandan Municipal Judge

DeNae Kautzmann

District 8 Senate (1)

Layton Freborg, Republican (I)

Westley Weible, Democrat

District 8 House (2)

Kenneth Baker, Democrat

Audrey Boe Olsen, Democrat

Jeff Delzer, Republican (I)

Dwight Wrangham, Republican (I)

District 14 Senate (1)

Jerry Klein, Republican (I)

Jim Long, Democrat

District 14 House (2)

Duane DeKrey, Republican (I)

Mark Knudtson, Republican

Robert Stringer, Democrat

Karen Volk, Democrat

Robin Weisz, Republican (I)

District 30 Senate (1)

Chris Ebertz, Democrat

Bob Stenehjem, Republican (I)

District 30 House (2)

Carol Christianson, Democrat

Mike Nathe, Republican

Casey Skovran, Democrat

Dave Weiler, Republican (I)

District 32 Senate (1)

Tom Asbridge, Democrat

Dick Dever, Republican (I)

District 32 House (2)

Mark Dosch, Republican (I)

Cheryl Long Feather, Democrat

Lisa Meier, Republican (I)

Jim Unkenholz, Democrat

District 34 Senate (1)

Dwight Cook, Republican (I)

Arnold Zins, Democrat

District 34 House (2)

Rae Ann Kelsch, Republican (I)

Todd Porter, Republican (I)

Rob Tausend, Democrat

Brent Veil, Democrat