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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Maplewood 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-mayorIf your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info (https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/). If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from the LWVMN!

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    Marylee Abrams
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Chonburi Lee
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Diana Longrie
    (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)

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Campaign Website http://dianalongrie.com
telephone 6512140859
Campaign Email mayorlongrie@yahoo.com
First, to clarify, LWV states the "mayor is ... head of the city...They ...appoint city workers...& can veto ordinances proposed by the city council." These statements are not accurate. Maplewood is a statutory plan B city: the City Manager is head of & runs the city. The Council hires the city manager. The Mayor appoints no one & has no veto power. The mayor's vote is equal to any councilperson. To answer the question: I'm a recognized advocate, attorney, community organizer - most recently Chairperson of the No Rush Line Coalition (successfully fighting on the side of residents to save the Bruce Vento Nature Trail) and, long ago, the first woman mayor of Maplewood. Residents find me authentic, interested in incorporating their viewpoint.
1. Reopen Public comment at council meetings - it was banned in 2017. Residents should be able to address the council publicly at the the meetings. 2. Permanently protect our Maplewood owned nature preserves & parks from being sold to developers. 3. Maintain annual property tax increases consistent with CPI instead of the current rates which are Maplewood's highest ever. Watch council meeting of June 15, 2026. Additionally, I do not support the proposal to pursue a .5% local Maplewood sales tax.
1. Reopen Public comment at council meetings - it was banned in 2017. Residents should be able to address the council publicly at the the council meetings. 2. Use Maplewood Living monthly publication to residents to include details of actions taken at the months' meeting & the votes. 3. Re-established the monthly Mayor-Resident forum (eliminated 2 mayors ago) where the residents can meet with the Mayor & city manager 1 Saturday per month to present questions and concerns.
1. Form resident focus groups on the current issues under consideration & announce openings to the broader Maplewood population (through Maplewood Living, announcement at council meeting, postcards, website) rather than hand picked recruitment. 2. See answers to question above.
I support our police, fire & medical response staff. However, I challenge City Hall’s ambitions for regional applause to build an addition to the fully functioning EMPS Training Center for county social workers’ instructional space. City Hall needs focus-to improve its emergency response time & allocate needed resources to first responders. JAMA research shows urban communities’ emergency response is 6-7 minutes. Maplewood's current emergency response time is 8 minutes. See c meeting of 5/26/26
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