Turnout for political caucus meetings Feb. 2 in the Staples area were very light for both Republican and DFL meetings.

Republicans at five Staples area precincts chose Marty Seifert over Tom Emmer as their top choices for the gubernatorial race,

Meanwhile, a few blocks south, Todd County Democrats favored DFL State Sen. Tom Bakk, who received backing from six of the 11 people who showed up. The tally there showed Bakk 6, Steve Kelley 2, Margaret Anderson Kelliher 1, Paul Thissen 1 and Matt Entenza 1.

A little to the north, Wadena County DFL’er’s from the Staples area met at the Staples campus of Central Lakes College. Bakk also won the straw poll at the Wadena County DFL caucus of five precincts, which was not heavily attended.

Todd County Republicans, who met at the Staples Elementary School, showed a preference for State. Sen. Marty Seifert with eight of their ten votes.

Tom Emmer, another state legislator, received the backing from the other two people at this Todd County Republican session.

The “straw ballot” results for the entire Todd County DFL showed State Sen. Tom Rukavina leading with 13 votes, Anderson- Kelliher followed with 10,

Total Todd DFL Results: Tom Rukavina - 12; Margaret

Anderson Kelliher - 10; Tom Bakk - 8; R.T. Rybak - 8; Uncommitted - 8; Matt

Entenza - 3; Steve Kelley - 3; John Marty - 2; Paul Thissen - 1 ; and zero votes for Susan Gaertner,Felix Montez or Ole Savior.

Precinct caucus meetings also select delegates to county conventions and conduct other business, such as discuss and act on resolutions that come from the floor.

Upcoming county conventions include:

The Todd County DFL county convention will be Sunday, Feb. 21 at the Browerville Community Center, starting at 1 p.m.

The Wadena County DFL convention is at 9 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 20, at Minnesota State College-Wadena

Morrison County Democrats will gather at Little Falls Middle School at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 for their county party convention.

Delegates at county conventions will normally elect their party’s county officers and board members. The county convention also elects delegates for the state and Congressional District conventions. Delegates also act on resolutions to be forwarded to their party’s state conventions.