Bemidji 2026 Primary Election Guide

Contributed

Incumbent: No

Age on Election Day: 76

Community: I was employed by Lakeland Public Television as their Design/Promotion Manager for 43 years. Retire in 2023.for 43 (Design/ProI was employed by Lakeland Public Television as their motion Manager) for 43 years. Retired in 2023

Employment: The City of Bemidji

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

Education:
I am a graduate of Bemidji State University, Alexandria Technical College and Brown Institute of Minneapolis. I am a former adjunct faculty member in the Visual Arts Department at Bemidji State University. I was named a Bemidji State University Outstanding Alumni in 2010
Leadership Experience:
I have 24 years experience serving on the Bemidji City Council representing Ward 3 from 2001 to 2024
I was a member of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Board of Directors for 20 years and served as President in 2018-2019
I was a member of the League of Minnesota Cities Board of Directors for 8.5 years and served as President in 2022-2023
Graduate of the Blandin Community Leadership Program - 2003, 2004
Graduate of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation Community Leadership Program - 1994

Why are you running?

My time on the city council ended in 2024. Do to redistricting, I was not eligible to run for my my Ward 3 seat that I had represented since 2001.
After two years out of city government, I am energized and looking forward to the opportunity to represent all five Bemidji Wards on the city council. I had a great run and played an important role in many significant accomplishments for Bemidji during my first stint on the council. However, there is important work yet to be done as we continue building a better Bemidji and I would appreciate an opportunity to once again be part of it.

Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?

I am a lifelong resident of Bemidji. I was born and raised in Bemidji and I'm a graduate of Bemidji High School. Over my lifetime, my immediate family has lived in all five Bemidji wards so I know Bemidji very well. I feel my statewide leadership experience combined with 24 years of city council experience makes me well qualified to be the next At-Large Council Mamber for the great city of Bemidji.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

The basic role of the At-Large City council position is to represent the entire community of Bemidji to ensure municipal accountability. The At-Large position is an equal part of a seven member city council (Mayor and six council members) working together to pass local laws and ordinances, to approve the annual city budget and to determine the city tax levy. Since Bemidji operates under a Council-Manager form of government, the council's only direct employee is the City Manager.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

My 24 years on the city council and particularly my statewide leadership experience has afforded me the opportunity to meet many extraordinary public leaders. One leader, however, that stands out for me is current Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince. I served with Mayor Prince for four years including as his Mayor Pro Tem. Jorge has many attributes that make him a strong mayor but the things I admire most is that he's an articulate, transparent mayor who prioritizes community well being. He actively listens to his constituents ensuring they feel heard and understood. Jorge was recently name the 2026 recipient of the Tommy Longo Disaster Leadership Award (a national honor) for his leadership during Bemidji's 2025 devastating Derecho. Jorge is truly great Mayor and I'm proud to call him my friend.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

Public Safety
Affordable Housing
Living Wage Jobs

Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?

All three are inter-related... but I believe solving the housing issue will attract economic growth and better paying jobs. When businesses look to expand or relocate to a community, the first thing they look at is available housing. A strong housing market is key to a strong job market. Good jobs and affordable housing is key to reducing crime and improving public safety. So affordable housing is most important. There are many state and federal grants available to cities for various types of housing. Also, the city could take steps to revise it's strict local ordinances, eliminate zoning bottlenecks and create a more developer friendly environment.

What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers, if elected?

Data centers are certainly a hot topic nationwide but (so far) they have not been an issue for the Bemidji area. I don't currently have a strong opinion either for or against them. Data centers are not going away but I do believe they will continue to become more efficient over time which could lessen environmental concerns. Data centers have many pros and cons.. The pros include economic growth, job creation and infrastructure upgrades while the cons include massive energy draw, high water consumption and community/environmental disruption. I was recently discussing data centers with some friends who live in the Washington DC area and it was interesting that they did not have the same concerns that people here in Minnesota have. Most folks seem to understand the need for data centers... they just don't want them in their "backyard".

Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?

During my 24 years on the Bemidji City Council I have been involved with developing 24 annual budgets for the city. It is rare to find a department budget that didn't have line items that couldn't be reduced (or in some instances eliminated) without significant negative impact to service delivery. One specific area I would like to address is the operation of the the Sanford Center. I think the city would see a significant savings by managing the Sanford Center in-house (like the City of Mankato) and eliminate the need and expense of a management company.

Contributed

Incumbent: Yes

Age on Election Day: 75

Community: I have been a Higher Education Instructor for over 13 years at Leech Lake Tribal College

Employment: Bemidji, MN for 37 years

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

Served in for over 5 years serving the City of Bemidji. ABD Doctorate in Organizational Leadership - University of St. Thomas. Instructor for 13 years at Leech Lake Tribal College. Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College. Adjunct Faculty 15 years for Bemidji State University - Social Work 10 years in U.S. Constitutional Community Educator for American Civil Liberties Union in Northern Minnesota, 11 years with U.S. Indian Health Service, in financial contracting in a three-state area, marketing work for small local nonprofit radio. Five years I have been actively organizing in our city of Bemidji in the areas of the unhoused, infrastructure for the city, led the Sustainability Commission since elected. Invested in transportation issues that continue, further housing that benefits the most in need, providing and testifying consistently on state house/senate on childcare, wild rice, boundary waters issues. Currently serve on the Council of Greater MN Cities.

Why are you running?

There are unfinished issues with the on-going financial burdens of the Sanford Event Center, expanding transportation for 24-hour services, economic development, housing and supporting local businesses. Most importantly, I am in community consistently listening and bringing the messages to our city council moving the city issues forward.

Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?

I have served the citizens, as an elected official for over five years. My consist views on keeping taxes low to protect the 51% of those that do not own property, young families and our retirees is important for our city. Livable employment opportunities must be continued to be promoted. My family are working class and understand marginalization. I am an active visible council member that listens, cares and believes that the people voice matter. The decisions made were the peoples. Some disagree others understand how decisions must be made that best serves ALL the people not just some. My personal and elected office position on public safety, sustainability, support of young families in our city is evident. My voting platform provides the proof. Our family, this is our ancestral home. This means protecting the land base, the air we breathe and the water we drink.

Editor’s note: Bemidji’s homeownership rate is 43.8%, and Beltrami County’s is 68.3%, according to a housing study by the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and Sanford Health published in October 2025.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

I am respectfully requesting to be re-elected as the City of Bemidji - Councilor at Large. This position serves all the five wards within the city. You represent every citizen. The position considers all of the interests of the citizens. It requires not a single or two issue affecting the city, but what is the best for the people in every issue. Counselors at Large serve on multiple city commissions and boards, has one vote on the city council. It is to be considered a nonpartisan, issue-based position. Volunteering for state organizations helps the city as a whole which I do. Providing testimony on issues for the city is also volunteer but benefits our community. Counselor at Large is in community.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I was raised around with the efforts of Martin Luther King and Dalia Lama. I appreciate Senator Kunish for her efforts with MMIW and many other issues she stands for.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

Housing (lack of and care of current housing)
Transportation (availability for 24-hour service is needed)
Economic Development

Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?

Selecting just one of the issues is complex as are all interrelated in some way. Our city is economically challenged.
Continued using our tax dollars wisely with all the necessary infrastructure the City of Bemidji is responsible for maintaining. That includes housing.
Continuing the environmental and sustainability focus for transportation - there are options to promote.
Find creative ways to attract developers for housing and businesses
Moving legislation that goes directly to our City of Bemidji. The county has responsibility for our public and human services such as childcare, housing, dollars distributed on specific areas of need. I feel the balance is not equally given.
Public safety continues to challenge our city and is still important for our citizens.
To find a workable, creative, cost-effective plan for our unhoused community
Most importantly, to engage community nonprofits for all their important work that supports our city in so many ways.

What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers, if elected?

As an Indigenous woman, enrolled member of the White Earth Nation, I do not support data centers in any part of our natural beauty of northern Minnesota.

Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?

Tax levies must be kept low for the benefit of those unheard. Sanford Event Center to manage parts of this expensive endeavor by the city directly and not by expensive, outside management companies. To continue the work of people being educated just exactly how all of us together can take care of our city. Community engagement is critical.

Contributed

Website: wilderforbemidji.com

Incumbent: No

Age on Election Day: 38

Community: Bemidji

Employment: Currently employed as Digital Organizing Manager at HeadCount

Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.

Experience
- First started in political organizing in 2008 (for Obama campaign) as a precinct captain in Minneapolis
- Have since volunteered in various capacities for partisan and nonpartisan campaigns
- Since 2018, have worked full-time in voter engagement, including my current role as Digital Organizing Manager with HeadCount (https://www.headcount.org/)

Education
- Graduated from TrekNorth High School in 2007; took PSEO classes at BSU my senior year, then went to BSU for general education classes through December 2008
- Transferred to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in January 2009 and completed by BA in English in December 2011
- Completed a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership and management at Arizona State University in 2020, earning the Woodside Community Changemaker Award for work to support voters with disabilities participate in elections

Why are you running?

I decided to run after seeing little progress made in the past several years on numerous issues that significantly impact the quality of life of our family as well as many other residents of Bemidji. I want to do everything I possibly can to make this a place where people not just grow up or go to school and then leave, but a place where people stay because they love being here.

The confluence of experiences as a new mother, a long-time resident of Bemidji, and as a professional working in the nonpartisan civic engagement space also compelled me to run for this seat this year. Upon seeing the other candidates for the At-Large position, and the makeup of our city council as it exists today, I felt it was extremely important to try to bring a new perspective and energy to our local government.

Why should voters choose you to advance to the general election?

I have been a volunteer community organizer and mobilizer since 2008 and in professional civic engagement positions since 2015, and am deeply motivated to strengthen our community bonds through various projects within the council.

I am eager to meet with constituents where they're at, literally and as it pertains to their concerns at the city level. I have but one perspective on our city, and aim to learn as much as possible from other residents about how we can make Bemidji an incredible place to visit and live. I also intend to continuously educate myself about the communities and history of Bemidji to have a richer context for any policy proposals or decisions I make.

Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.

As a councilmember, my role would be to support in the setting of municipal policy; constructing, reviewing, and approving the annual city budget; crafting and enacting local ordinances; and providing oversight of the city manager. My most essential responsibility as an At-Large Councilmember would be to act as a representative of Bemidji constituents in city-wide matters.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I respect and admire Paul Wellstone. He was a rural Minnesota activist and organizer, a grassroots campaigner, and championed environmental protection, labor groups, and health care reform.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

1. Recovery from the June 2025 derecho storms, particularly the needed repairs to housing, 2. A dearth of childcare options,
3. A lack of coordination/action regarding much-needed parking and transportation improvements.

Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?

The improvement of our city housing stock is my number-one priority. To tackle these improvements, I recommend tapping into city funds dating back to 1987 that could be used by landlords/renters as well as homeowners. I also think there are ways of adjusting requirements of landlords to make repairs to properties that have been left severely damaged in the wake of last year's derecho storm, and to ensure that renters have safe, quality housing moving forward.

What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers, if elected?

I think it would be important to fully understand the impact a data center would have on our city, if one were to be proposed to be built within city limits. There are pros and cons to this type of development, but I would want to have crystal-clear transparency from any data center developer of the environmental impacts, in particular. We are the first city on the Mississippi, in a state known for its lakes and natural beauty. It would be difficult to support a project that would detract in any way from these assets of our city.

Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?

I would like to cut projects akin to the creation of the "Downtown Bemidji" sign and other vanity projects that do not directly support the residents of our city. While tourism is important, it is even more important to serve and retain those who choose to live here, and to make our city a place where people can find quality work, childcare, housing, transportation, and other foundational resources.