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BEMIDJI 鈥� Joe Gould seemingly has been preparing to serve in elected office for quite some time. On Tuesday, Nov. 8, the 35-year-old high school teacher won a seat on the Beltrami County Board.

Gould received 64.35% of the votes, defeating Don Heinonen for the District 2 seat by a margin of 1,693 to 923. He will begin serving his two-year term in January.

鈥淚鈥檓 definitely feeling grateful and humble,鈥� Gould said about his win on Wednesday morning. 鈥淚 appreciate everybody鈥檚 support. I鈥檓 looking forward to the new position. Now the real work begins.鈥�

After graduating from Greenway High 歪歪漫画 in Coleraine, Gould completed an education degree at Bemidji State University. He moved to the Twin Cities and worked for the Education Committee at the State Legislature. He also worked for education nonprofits before moving back to Bemidji and getting into teaching full-time.

鈥淚鈥檝e always had an interest in local government service,鈥� said Gould, who narrowly lost a Bemidji City Council race to Audrey Thayer in 2020. 鈥淢y grandpas on both sides served on the city council and school boards. I鈥檝e been working in state and local government for about 15 years now.鈥�

Gould also has a master鈥檚 degree in public administration.

His initial plan as a commission-elect is to meet key people in the county.

鈥淩ight off the bat I鈥檒l just be getting to know the new sheriff, (commissioner-elect) John Carlson and the returning board members,鈥� Gould said. 鈥淚 am looking forward to meeting all the department heads and the county workers.鈥�

He also will be following the current board鈥檚 decision on a new county jail and its location.

鈥淚鈥檝e been a supporter of a new jail project,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t seems like the best option.鈥�

As for his own election, Gould said he was confident about winning, but did not take that for granted.

鈥淚 was finding a lot of support throughout the summer and this fall,鈥� he said, 鈥渏ust going to community events and meeting with friends and neighbors. I still felt like I needed to meet with as many people as possible, door knocking and going to candidate events.鈥�

Gould and Heinonen, 58, were two of five candidates who emerged from an August primary, Gould with 456 votes and Heinonen with 173.