Cook County 2026 Primary Election Guide

Contributed

Incumbent: No

Age on Election Day: 43

Community: Grand Portage

Employment: I’m a certified firefighter for the Grand Portage Fire Department.

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

I’ve been involved with Native American activism for my entire life. I have attended both Hibbing Community College and Mesabi Range Technical and Community College (now known as Minnesota North). While attending I took many business classes including 2 years of accounting and 1 in business law.

While living on the Iron Range, I worked in healthcare and emergency services. I was an EMT for multiple agencies. I helped to set up the EMS care room at Fortune Bay Resort and Casino. I’ve worked closely with different law enforcement agencies both at the federal and domestic levels.

I took a break from working and began my family. I returned work as a PCA/HHA. Which I continued until moving back to Grand Portage in 2013.

Why are you running?

I’m running for Cook County Board of Commissioners - District 1 representative because I’d like to become more directly involved in the decisions and actions that govern our daily lives. I am a good listener and critical thinker.

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

Voter’s should choose me for advancement in the general election because I strongly support expanding access and availability of mental health and human services by securing long-term state funding and other such resources.

I would also push for the protection and preservation of our area’s bountiful natural resources.

The sense of community in this area is unlike anywhere else. I would push for more inclusivity of each and every town in my district and throughout Cook County.

I believe every person should feel comfortable and truly heard when they have a concern or recommendation regarding the greater Cook County community. Any shared with me will be heard without judgement and I promise to address them during meetings.

I’m open-minded, honest, and heavily invested in the betterment of all. I’m willing and would be honored to be a voice representing District 1.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Sharice Davids and Peggy Flanagan

What are the three biggest issues your county is facing?

Housing affordability and availability, mental health and Human Services, and preservation of our natural resources.

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

Mental health and Human Services is the area I would choose because I have personally witnessed how vital such services are for a community to thrive. I support Mental Health Awareness and #endthestigma. We need to secure long-term state funding and utilize other resources to ensure that mental health and Human Services programs continue.

Treatment of many mental health conditions can involve medical intervention and cognitive therapy. Neither of which should be discontinued without warning. Doing so can often cause many setbacks for the patient. Securing long-term funding would allow a sense of security which in turn lowers stress helping an individual’s mental health.

#endthestigma #mentalhealthawareness

What would be your top spending priorities and savings priorities in the county budget?

I’m still learning but I plan to study the current budget so when I’m elected I’ll have a firm grasp on both spending priorities and savings priorities.

How should counties best use limited resources to root out potential fraud?

Counties should use established screening tools such as risk assessments, leveraging the public and should utilize the “fraud triangle” risk assessment tool.

Contributed

Incumbent: No

Age on Election Day: 40

Community: Hovland

Employment: Sawtooth Mountain Mobile Vet- Scheduling, Purchasing, Jack of all trades

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

15 years in healthcare, warehouse Manager at an at-home health care company, and a small business owner. I'd hope to utilize the skills I have learned in life to be a strong advocate for my local community and look out for the needs of my constituents in a positive and collaborative way.

Why are you running?

To be the change I want to see. I have always tried to stay politically engaged in my life. In recent years I have felt it more important to be involved locally and as I have seen the importance of the County Board's work- I want to bring a younger eye, more positive and engaged energy, and collaborative spirit to the seat in District 1.

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

I am someone who cares deeply about our community. Something you’ll find out about me is I choose to be positive and collaborative in all that I do. I’m willing to listen to everyone’s questions, concerns, and ideas. I hope to bring constructive solutions to the table by not being afraid to research topics, ask hard questions, and think outside the box. If you’re looking for a set of fresh eyes and ideas, and someone who believes wholeheartedly that “we all do better when we all do better”, I’m your guy!

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Local to Cook County, Frank Moe and State/National politics, Paul Wellstone. Both were fierce fighters for the environment, social justice causes, and the importance of education. Paul Wellstone was the first national political figure I remember following in my younger years and hearing "we all do better when we all do better" is something that's stuck with me for my whole life.

What are the three biggest issues your county is facing?

Affordability such as cost of living and access to affordable housing, economic opportunity, and healthcare.

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

Affordability effects everyone in our little community and ultimately touches or is caused by everything else on my list. I would work collaboratively with those on the board of commissioners, with business and community leaders around the county, and by reaching outside of the community to other leaders who are doing great work. Leaving no stone unturned in the search for making life more affordable for all residents of Cook County

What would be your top spending priorities and savings priorities in the county budget?

My spending priorities would be around healthcare, education, and economic opportunity for the community. My savings priorities would be in finding more efficient ways of doing things. Working with departments to find ways of tackling problems in constructive ways, in ways maybe they haven't done things before, thinking outside the box

How should counties best use limited resources to root out potential fraud?

I think a team committed to the public good will set up ways of vetting and checking throughout the process of things like contracts. Understanding guidance from the State and Federal Government for problem areas and using that to work in collaboration with department heads to follow through on that guidance is important.

Contributed

Incumbent: Yes

Age on Election Day: 75

Community: Hovland, MN

Employment: county commissioner, district 1

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

My leadership skills have been honed over decades of community involvement and service. As a Blandin Community Leadership alumna, I learned the necessity of leading from the bottom, weighing input from stakeholders to find workable solutions.

BA English degree from University of Wisconsin, Madison

Co-owner of sled dog outfitting business, Arktikos Kennels, working with Wilderness Inquiry, providing winter programming for combined groups of disabled and able-bodied participants in a wilderness setting.

Co-owner of construction business, Arktikos Custom Builders, building custom homes throughout the Arrowhead region.

Cook County Community Education, 5 years -- created and coordinated youth, adult, and community programming.

Cook County KIDS PLUS, (a Northland Foundation initiative), 5 years -- created and coordinated opportunities and programing to engage youth in community

Grand Portage Education, 8 years -- advocated for and provided academic support for students from the sovereign nation of Grand Portage.

ISD #166 School Board representative, 12 years

Cook County Board of Commissioners, 4 years

Why are you running?

My family (my husband and our two children) moved to Cook County in 1992. We purchased land and built our home. I know what it takes to live here. I have history with this community of individuals.

I now have four years of experience as county commissioner and know I can make a difference, helping to increase transparency and creating opportunities for more community input. I want voters to know they are being heard, that their opinions matter. I want input from voters .

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

I care about those who call Cook County their home, really care. I am committed to this county, to my home. With the continued pressures of rising property values, county spending must be thoughtful and deliberate. I have the energy to try to make life affordable for our residents.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Franklin Rosevelt was president during the Great Depression and World War II. He used the resources and the power of the government to initiate and implement programs to alleviate the suffering of the US citizens and offeriring dignity and hope to the country.

He established the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Public Works Administration, the Emergency Relief Administration, and the Rural Electrification Program (which brought power to towns and households across the country). These programs built roads, bridges, schools, and libraries. Banks were reopened. The economy began to recover.

What are the three biggest issues your county is facing?

An aging population, shortage of affordable housing, and high property taxes.

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

These issues are intertwined. The cost of living in this end-of-the-road county is high. There is little land available for development and there’s a shortage of existing houses for purchase. Land values continue to increase. With outside buyers wanting to call Cook County home, and with the ability to buy, property values are inflated. Those who work in the service industry or for businesses that support our residents (grocery,retail), wages are not high enough to save for real estate purchase or to pay the rent.

Long time residents, seniors, struggle to pay their ever increasing property taxes; some have sold out and moved to more affordable communities. A county program to help new buyers with a down payment, a loan to be repaid over time could be established with funding coming perhaps from PILT revenues. This might be a viable option.

What would be your top spending priorities and savings priorities in the county budget?

The county board relies on the expertise of the auditor and the county administrator. The county board also needs to work with department supervisors to review their budgets, looking for ways to streamline operations and reduce redundancy. Efficiency in operations will reduce costs. Continual assessment of departments will be needed.

To further save money, we need to continue the courthouse renovation which will improve heating and electrical efficiencies. Reconfiguration of interior spaces will improve security and allow for all employees to work comfortably in one building. However, this is a big spending item.

I would also like to revisit the short term rental program. What are the true costs and benefits of this program? Would the county benefit from having the rentals return to the marketplace as long term housing units? Not only would there be more homes for sale, but neighborhood cultures could stabilize.

How should counties best use limited resources to root out potential fraud?

Good leadership and oversight will be the best deterrents. Regular evaluation of department activities and finances by department supervisors who then report to the county administrator would be a process to ensure better understanding of department functions.

The county provides services to the community. Policies to promote individual improvements show the employees that they are valuable contributors to the organization that is paid for by county taxpayers. They are important, needed and respected; part of a team.