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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Lino Lakes City Mayor

The mayor is usually the head of the city and may represent the city in front of other government bodies. They also can preside at council meetings and appoint city workers. A mayor usually has a role in proposing a city budget which influences services provided to residents and can veto ordinances proposed by the city council.Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-you-should-vote-mayorSubmit questions for the candidate forum here (forum recording will be posted here as soon as it is available). Deadline for question submission is September 14, 2025.If your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info. If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from the LWVMN!

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  • Candidate picture

    Catherine Decker
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Rob Rafferty
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Luke Walter
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If elected, what strategies will you use to ensure transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in city government under your leadership? (500 characters)

How will you engage with residents to solicit feedback, involve them in decision-making processes, and ensure their voices are heard? (500 characters)

How will you approach public safety and community policing to ensure the well-being of all residents? (500 characters)

telephone 7632006362
I am the best candidate for Mayor because I combine professional leadership with deep local commitment. I hold an MBA, served as Vice President of HR, and now run a local mortgage business that helps families achieve homeownership. Since 2007, I’ve called Lino Lakes home, attending City Council meetings to listen, learn, and speak up for residents. I understand the pressures of rapid development, rising taxes, and inconsistent governance. My priorities are preserving our rural character and natural spaces, ensuring transparency and accountability, and practicing fiscal responsibility. I will provide thoughtful, independent leadership focused on fairness, honesty, and protecting what makes Lino Lakes unique.
My top three priorities are preserving Lino Lakes’ small-town character and natural spaces, ensuring transparency and accountability in city government, and promoting fiscal responsibility. Growth should improve quality of life, not diminish it. Residents deserve honest information and fair application of rules. And taxpayers should not face duplicative or unnecessary taxes. These priorities will protect what makes Lino Lakes unique while keeping it a desirable, affordable place to live.
I will ensure transparency and accountability by requiring clear, plain-language communication on major issues, holding open forums and town halls for resident input, and making information easy to access online. I will set the expectation that city leaders admit mistakes and correct them. Ethical conduct means applying rules consistently to residents and city government alike, so trust is earned and maintained.
I will engage residents through town halls, listening sessions, surveys, and expanded opportunities to comment beyond the standard three minutes at Council meetings. I will make proposals easy to understand by sharing clear, accessible information online and in print. By involving residents early, answering questions honestly, and creating two-way dialogue, I will ensure every voice has a chance to be heard before major decisions are made.
I will support public safety that protects both security and constitutional rights. Police should focus on real threats to safety, not burden residents with excessive enforcement of minor issues. Community policing must emphasize fairness, accountability, and respect for due process and equal protection. I will ensure officers are well-trained and equipped to build trust through visibility and collaboration, so every resident feels safe, respected, and confident in their rights.
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