As local legislators who sometimes have executive power, council members can propose ordinances, set administrative policy, and authorize the budget proposed by the mayor. They oversee all city activities, including city services, programs, licensing, and public safety. Mayoral appointments to city government typically require council approval.Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-city-councilUse the MN Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing page (https://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/) to find specific candidate contact information.Watch the candidate forum for this race, recorded on June 25, 2026.
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My budgeting process is straight forward: prioritize needed services and infrastructure first; evaluate and rank wanted projects based on value and community impact, and look for ways to minimize taxes by curbing spending and seeking alternative solutions and funding sources. Every project should show clear benefit to residents before moving forward.
Addressing housing affordability starts with increasing housing opportunities. I support revising policies that unnecessarily drive up costs, encouraging a variety of housing types especially for-purchase homes, attracting lower cost homebuilders, and minimizing city taxes and fees that also impact affordability. My goal is to help ensure families, workers, and seniors can find housing options in Northfield while protecting the qualities that make our community a great place to live.
I will engage with residents by being accessible, seeking input from those currently under-represented, actively listening, and communicate openly. That means responding to residents’ concerns, pursuing input much earlier in the decision process, and providing clear and timely information regarding council actions. Good representation starts with building trust through honest communication and transparency.
As a Charter City, Northfield’s City Charter defines the roles of the City Administrator and the Mayor and City Council. The Admin is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the city, while the Mayor and City Council are responsible for clearly setting policy direction, establishing priorities, and approving the city’s budget and major expenditures. To be effective, they must work collaboratively, communicate openly, and maintain mutual respect for their respective roles.
I would like to see taxes remain near inflation rates, with an ask to city staff to keep the annual tax levy increase recommendations below 5% year-over-year. At this stage in Northfield's development, capital projects that support infrastructure needed for homes and businesses would be my main priorities. I would seek deliberation from the City Council members and community engagement and feedback on new capital projects. Debt (bonds) for capital projects should be voted on as a ballot measure.
Northfield city staff has been mobilized for years for the development of mixed housing developments that increase housing type diversity and mandate a certain percentage of affordable housing units. I support continuing these initiatives. I would support expanding first-time home buyer and low income incentives, such as increasing the first-time home buyer 0% loan program and income-based tax credits.
My engagement with constituents would be a mix of in-person and virtual. I would use social media, Zoom/MS Teams, emails, text messages, and my campaign website can transform into a site that features information, updates, my own independent analysis, polls, etc. I would like to meet in-person a couple times a year in a town hall setting.
I view the balance of power between the city staff and the council to operate effectively, collaboratively, and for the proper functioning of city affairs most of the time. I would support policy changes that shifted city council meeting agendas and strategic and comprehensive planning more to the City Council as a top-down approach vs. the current bottom-up approach. It appears most of the strategic planning comes from the city staff, which seems to be in conflict with democracy and elections.
