Traverse County, MN elected officials: county commissioners, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Traverse County: 9 seats on 5 elected bodies. 6 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County Board of Commissioners

Traverse County Board of Commissioners

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County Commissioner, District 1Chad Metz source
County Commissioner, District 2Kayla R. Schmidt sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Commissioner, District 3Scott Schultz source
County Commissioner, District 4Jerrel Olson sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County Commissioner, District 5Dwight Nelson source

Official website

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County AttorneyMatthew Franzese sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County AuditorKit Johnson sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County RecorderLeAnn Peyton sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
SheriffTrevor J. Wright sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet

How many local governments Traverse County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 25 local governments in Traverse County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships (4 municipal, 15 township)190
School districts (school boards)20
Special districts (elected boards)30

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Traverse County

3,243people
46.1median ageU.S.: 38.9
$62,989 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
11.3%below the U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$114,100median home valueU.S.: $332,700
4.5%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
2.4%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
8%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
1.9%U.S.: 8.4%
65.5%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
28.6%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 6.1% · White 84.2% · Black 0.6% · Asian 0.1% · Other or more than one race 9% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Traverse County

3.2%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 2.6%. Minnesota: 4.4%.
54people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
1,652people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
1,706in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Traverse County 0.0%1.1%2.2%3.2%4.3% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)3.2%541,6521,706
August 20264.0%701,6711,741
July 20264.1%721,6801,752
June 20263.9%671,6721,739
May 20262.9%491,6461,695
April 20263.1%531,6681,721
March 20264.4%731,5791,652
February 20265.2%871,5921,679
January 20265.2%861,5731,659
December 20253.9%651,6091,674
November 20253.3%581,6841,742
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20252.6%461,7481,794
August 20253.3%591,7391,798
July 20253.8%661,6791,745
June 20253.6%621,6671,729
May 20252.9%491,6401,689
April 20253.1%541,6711,725
March 20253.6%621,6511,713
February 20253.6%621,6521,714
January 20253.6%621,6591,721
December 20242.8%491,6951,744
November 20242.3%421,7921,834
October 20241.8%331,8011,834
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)3.4%591,6731,732
20242.8%491,7281,777
20232.7%471,6921,739
20222.1%371,7071,744
20213.0%541,7221,776
20204.1%791,8381,917
20193.5%671,8661,933
20183.0%581,8711,929
20173.3%631,8681,931
20163.6%661,7811,847

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Minnesota's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 4.5% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Traverse County

40.9 per 100,0002025. Minnesota: 223.5.
81.8 per 100,0002025. Minnesota: 1,411.5.
0murders2025, 2 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
2025240.9481.8
2024481.87143.1
20228212.322583.9
202110269.5381,024.0
20205133.726695.2
20197184.038998.9
2018252.4521,361.6
20174103.1431,108.0
20166153.0581,479.2
By police agency (1)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Traverse County Sheriff's Office2025243,088

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Minnesota · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.94 per 1,000 residents2025, 1 agency serving 3,088 people.
6sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
9civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (1), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Traverse County Sheriff's Office693,088
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
202561.9491
202461.9491
202361.85101
202282.4882
202192.8292
202092.8082
201992.7582
201892.7482
201792.7082
201692.6782

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Traverse County County Attorney?
Matthew Franzese is the County Attorney of Traverse County, Minnesota. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Traverse County County Auditor?
Kit Johnson is the County Auditor of Traverse County, Minnesota. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Traverse County County Recorder?
LeAnn Peyton is the County Recorder of Traverse County, Minnesota. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Traverse County Sheriff?
Trevor J. Wright is the Sheriff of Traverse County, Minnesota. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who are the Traverse County commissioners?
Chad Metz (District 1); Kayla R. Schmidt (District 2); Scott Schultz (District 3); Jerrel Olson (District 4); Dwight Nelson (District 5).
What is the population of Traverse County?
About 3,243 people, with a median age of 46.1; the median household income is $62,989 and 11.3% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Traverse County?
3.2% in September 2026 (preliminary): 54 people unemployed in a labor force of 1,706, against 2.6% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Traverse County?
25 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 4 municipal, 15 township, 2 school district and 3 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 21, 2025, from the Minnesota Legislative Manual (Blue Book) published by the Secretary of State; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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