Man who once helped run soccer's World Cup now wants to help run a local food co-op

For the first time in some 20 years, the Harvest Co-op Markets, which has stores in Central Square and Forest Hills, is having a contested election for its board of directors - 12 candidates running for 5 open seats - which might have something to do with the co-op's currently precarious financial condition.

Among the candidates: Alexander Klosterkemper, who, before moving to Boston six months ago, spent several years in Switzerland working for FIFA, nearly seven of them as Head of the FIFA World Cup Office, helping oversee day-to-day operations of the global event and working on planning future World Cups. He currently runs a Switzerland-based events-management consulting firm.

You can read statements and bios of all 12 candidates.