Channing Stoll, who identified himself as a member of the Anoka County Election Integrity Team, urged the East Bethel City Council on Aug. 25 to review a recent Anoka County board action that he said delegated decisions on election procedures to the county auditor.

"On July 22, the Anoka County board passed on a vote of 5 to 7, a motion to affirm that the unelected county auditor, Pam LeBlanc, gets to decide whether cities or townships use electronic pulp ads or paper rosters," Stoll said, adding that the group believes the action "usurp[s]" municipal authority. He asked the council to consider a lawyer’s review and to push back through municipal associations such as the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) or the Minnesota Association of Towns and Townships (MAT).

Stoll said the Anoka County Election Integrity Team (ACE IT) does not have legal standing and described the role of his group as informing cities. "We don't have any legal standing, but we're going around informing the cities of this situation," he said, and offered materials and videos he had provided to council members.

He framed the issue as one of local control and urged the council to review the county motion and consider the legal and procedural implications. He suggested the council consult the municipal associations he named for guidance.

Council took no action during the public forum. The speaker asked council members to review his materials and to contact him with questions.