Cloquet 2026 Primary Election Guide

Incumbent: No

Age on Election Day: 44

Community: Cloquet

Employment: Real Estate Agent

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

As a veteran, former firefighter/paramedic, and local business owner operating Cogwheel Properties, I have dedicated my life to public service and fiscal responsibility. My background has equipped me with the leadership skills necessary to make critical decisions under pressure, manage complex budgets, and prioritize the safety and well-being of our residents.

Through my experiences in the military and fire service, I learned the importance of teamwork, accountability, and community service. As a business owner, I possess a practical, hands-on understanding of Cloquet’s local economy, housing needs, and the everyday challenges faced by our families and small businesses.

My wife and I are deeply committed to Cloquet's future. I am running for Mayor to provide structured, strategic leadership at City Hall and to ensure that our local government remains open, transparent, and dedicated to serving all residents.

Why are you running?

I am running for Mayor because Cloquet deserves accountable leadership that prioritizes our community. As a veteran, former firefighter, and local business owner, I am dedicated to serving and protecting our residents.

Local government must be transparent and responsive. Through my work with Cogwheel Properties, I understand the economic and housing challenges we face. I will bring practical business principles to City Hall—managing our tax dollars effectively, supporting local businesses, and fostering responsible growth.

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

My extensive experience in public service and business has equipped me with the leadership skills necessary to make a positive impact. As a veteran and former firefighter/paramedic, I have developed the ability to make critical decisions under pressure while consistently prioritizing public safety and effective resource management.

As the owner of Cogwheel Properties, I bring a constructive, solutions-oriented mindset to City Hall. I have a keen understanding of budget management and the economic and housing issues our neighborhoods face, and I am committed to finding effective solutions to these challenges. My campaign is focused on fostering accountability, transparency, and unity within our community. I am not a career politician; I am a passionate community member dedicated to the prosperity of Cloquet.

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

In a weak-mayor system, such as the one used in Cloquet, the Mayor serves as the leader of the council rather than as a single executive with unchecked power.

Equal Legislative Vote: The Mayor serves as the presiding officer during meetings but holds an equal vote to other council members and has no unilateral veto authority.

Shared Executive Authority: The Mayor does not have the authority to hire, fire, or dictate departmental policies. Administrative and operational decisions are made collectively by the City Council or managed through an appointed City Administrator

Collaborative Budgeting: City finances and long-term strategic goals are drafted and approved collectively by the council, ensuring strong checks and balances. This structure emphasizes teamwork, transparency, and collaboration over centralized executive control.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I admire all peoples. Living life is not easy and we all need compassionate mindset.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

The lack of transparency, unchecked spending, affordability.

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

Lack of Transparency - weekly open addresses to the citizens via print, radio, video paltforms

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

I oppose traditional, above-ground data centers because their massive "warehouse blight" drains valuable community resources. Surface facilities destroy agricultural land, generate constant noise pollution, and waste millions of gallons of local drinking water on evaporative cooling. As an elected official, my platform is simple: a strict zoning mandate against new surface facilities

Instead, I support moving this infrastructure underground through the adaptive reuse of historical mines and subterranean assets. By leveraging the earth’s natural cooling, we eliminate surface footprints, preserve local water supplies, and completely isolate industrial noise. We do not need to choose between technological progress and our environment—we can force the tech industry to innovate sustainably from the ground down.

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

We must first look at spending as a whole. Cut all projects that do not bring the city revenue and focus on what produces, which are our personnel. While layoffs are going to happen in the next couple years we must view every person as a source of good for our community foundation.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.