Baxter 2026 Election Guide

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

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Christina Johnson Photography

Incumbent

Age on Election Day: 40

Employment: Initiative Foundation- Vice President for Economic Opportunity

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

I've previously worked as a police officer and financial advisor. My time in these fields provided me insights into public safety needs and wise financial decision-making. I currently lead a team of professionals who deliver loans, training, and other resources to build strong small businesses in rural communities. I earned a bachelor's degree in criminology and in Spanish language and literature from UMD as well as a master's degree in negotiation and dispute resolution from Creighton University. I was a 2022-2023 Policy Fellow at the U of MN Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

Why are you running?

My eight years’ experience on the council has taught me a lot about the issues that affect the city of Baxter. I want to continue the work we have started to open more development opportunities for housing and businesses while streamlining infrastructure. I support smart, efficient growth that benefits the whole city. Baxter has an opportunity to make the right investments in our economy, in housing, and in public safety that will propel it into the future as the kind of city where people want to live, work, and play. I've also gained the experience needed to know how local government operates and where its limitations are. This helps me to bring solutions that are reasonable, affordable, and efficient.

Why should voters elect you?

I'm experienced, educated, and I work from a place of respect to accomplish goals. I have the best interests of the city of Baxter at heart when I am researching issues and bringing solutions to the table for discussion. I understand that, as an individual city council member, I need to work with the mayor and other council members to come to a majority agreement. Working together is necessary to get things done. I've done that by researching ideas and presenting them fairly and respectfully. Over the past eight years I have successfully advocated for the elimination of a redundant committee that slowed down development. I've helped improve zoning districts for efficient growth and helped guide the city to sell vacant lots that are now back on the tax rolls providing high-quality homes for new residents.

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

The role of the Baxter city council is to be the governing body for the city. We attend regular meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month and committee and special meetings as they come up throughout the year. As a body we set the budget, approve all legal agreements, create policy, influence and approve ordinances, and generally set the tone for the way the city operates, develops, and works with citizens and businesses.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Theodore Roosevelt: He accomplished many important things throughout his career. He helped improve the professionalism of the NYPD as police commissioner. He stood up for fairness and accountability in the business world by fighting monopolies and working towards a fair deal for everyone. Finally, his legacy of conservation is an incredible and permanent gift to the country.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

The cost of infrastructure. Creating growth that helps lower, not increase costs. Improving public safety facilities.

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

The cost of infrastructure. Construction costs are always increasing and State and Federal mandates keep coming without financial support to implement improvements. Projections are showing the city of Baxter is likely facing over $50MM in costs to help upgrade the Brainerd water treatment plant in the coming years. As a regional retail and service hub, our city serves many hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the state and beyond. This requires more infrastructure than an average rural town of 9,000 and these 9,000 residents shouldn't have to solely bear the costs. Currently, the State legislature is preventing the renewal of our local sales tax that helps share our infrastructure costs with more users of it. We need to convince the legislature to allow us to continue to have a sales tax to prevent massive property tax and water/sewer fee increases for property owners.

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

The city of Baxter doesn't have a location that appears desirable for a large-scale data center. I don't currently have a case example that applies to Baxter and the issue has not yet been discussed. I would approach data centers like other developments and would follow the structures we have in place for due process. I am opposed to city council members signing NDAs for developments and would not sign one if asked. Baxter has also not offered incentives for developments like data centers. I am not in favor of incentives for them.

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

I have advocated for and continue to believe efficiencies can be created through the wise use of technology. If cuts are needed, construction projects and aesthetic costs like roadside mowing are the first areas I would look to save on the budget.