Bovey 2026 Election Guide

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Age on Election Day: 37

Employment: Manager at Hollywood Bait

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

I have an AS degree from ICC. I've been on city council for the past two years. I've been doing the ordinance enforcement for three years. I am on Itasca County's Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments. I am also on Bovey's Planning and Zoning Commission and Bovey's Park Committee.

Why are you running?

I am running for mayor because I love this town and the people in it. Bovey has such a unique potential and I want to see it thrive again.

Why should voters elect you?

I should be elected because I have vast knowledge and hands on experience with all the current projects in Bovey. I've helped lay the ground work for future projects in Bovey. I've worked side by side with the Itasca County Sheriff Department to clean up the town. I've created new revenue streams for the city. To maintain transparency and accountability amongst the council I pushed for all the meetings to be live broadcasted and recorded.

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

If I was elected as Mayor I would keep the same responsibilities as I have on city council plus more professionalism and decorum.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I admire all public leaders because they display the tenacity and courage that it takes to make a change.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

Housing/Rental properties, increasing our tax base and ordinance enforcement

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

All three of them can be fixed by updating our cities ordinances, which is what I'm currently working on with a few others. Our ordinances are out of date. By updating things we've been able to create new revenue streams and clean up the city in the process.

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

That has not been a topic our city has come across yet.

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

Preferably nowhere, by creating new revenue streams and increasing the tax base it should ultimately help keep the budget strong.

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 71

Employment: Retired

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

After more than five decades in the automotive industry, I recently retired from my role as Regional Operations Manager for Honest-1 Auto Care MN, where I helped oversee 16 locations and played a key role in opening and developing new locations.
My career taught me the importance of responsibility, teamwork, leadership, and listening...
qualities I will bring to Bovey City Council.

COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS MATTERED TO ME.
HERE TO LISTEN. READY TO SERVE.
I’ve spent much of my life volunteering and giving back, including:

WHITTIER ALLIANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION
YOUTH WRESTLING COACH
USA WOMEN’S FREESTYLE WRESTLING COACH
MN/USA WRESTLING LEADERSHIP AND BOARD SERVICE
AUTOMOTIVE EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARDS
GOODWILL-EASTER SEALS AUTO ADVISORY BOARD

Why are you running?

I want to give back to the community I live in. I would like to help bring businesses to our town which will help it grow and bring in tax money to support ideas & programs to make Bovey a better place to live.

Why should voters elect you?

I’m running for Bovey City Council because I believe my 50+
years of professional experience and lifelong commitment to
volunteering will help make our community stronger. I’m ready
to listen to our residents, bring a fresh perspective, and help
move Bovey forward.

*Bovey resident & homeowner since 2024.
*Member of St. Augustine Catholic Church.
*50+ years in the automotive industry.
*Experience in operations, business development, hiring, training, and marketing.
*22+ years supporting youth and amateur wrestling.
*Lifelong volunteer and community advocate.

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

Attend two meetings per month and work on projects assigned by the council & mayor. Listen to the people who live in Bovey and help them with any issues they have with our community. Be open to concerns & ideas of all Bovey residents.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Charlie Kirk because he was God fearing man that was trying to bring Americans together. Charlie was not afraid to listen to difficult issues and speak the truth to try and attain an answer for love & peace in the USA. He gave his life to better our country.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

Lack of small business, appearance of some properties, and home ownership.

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

I think we should focus bringing business to Bovey to help create a tax base to help pay for the needs of the community. I would try to assess what the community needs are, what properties are available for business to consider, and research what programs are available to help a new business startup. More business drives visitors which will make things more affordable for our community members. It would be nice to have a place to go to breakfast in Bovey.

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

I would need to research the pros and cons of data centers. At this point if it is environmentally friendly and would add a benefit to the Bovey community for jobs and tax base, I would be in support. Ultimately it would be up to the Bovey community to address their concerns to help make a decision to move forward.

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

I would have to consider if there is any wasted spending and look at what we need to do to increase revenue to cover needs and concerns of the Bovey community or to cut any unnecessary spending. At this point I'm not sure we have any budget issues.

Age on Election Day: 48

Employment: Grand Rapids Area Library, Children's Librarian

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

My entire career is built around serving the public, managing resources responsibly, and connecting people with the services they need. Professionally, I have worked 3 years as a Reading Tutor for AmeriCorps, 5 years as an elementary school paraeducator, and 9 years as a children’s librarian. As a volunteer, I have served on the Bovey City Park Committee, the Greenway Joint Recreation Association, and the Western Mesabi Mine Planning Board with that same purpose. Working directly on local land use, regional recreation, and community park development gives me a deep, practical understanding of how local government works and how to get things done for Bovey.

Why are you running?

As a 15-year Bovey resident, I’m invested in the everyday life of our town. Having served on our local boards and park committees, I’ve seen firsthand what hands-on community care can accomplish. I’m running for council to make sure our neighborhoods and local services continue to get the dedicated advocacy they deserve.

Why should voters elect you?

I’m running because Bovey is my home, and I care deeply about the everyday quality of life here. Through my work as a librarian and my service on our park committee, rec association, and planning board, I’ve spent years listening to neighbors and working on local projects. I want to bring that energetic, community-first leadership to City Council.

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

City council members are elected to serve our community—setting local policies, managing municipal budgets responsibly, and making sure our neighborhoods have a strong voice at the table.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I deeply admire Paul Wellstone because his leadership was grounded in community care and the principle that "we all do better when we all do better." He showed that real public service isn't about orders from above—it's about showing up, listening to everyday people, and bringing neighbors together to make things better.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

Our top priorities are keeping up with street and water repairs, supporting local businesses to keep downtown thriving, making our parks vibrant spaces for families, and watching every city dollar.

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

Seeking regional recreation grants and working with neighboring communities to fund street and water project helps us take care of our city without putting extra financial strain on residents.

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

I want to preserve Bovey’s water, land, and local character. Data centers demand millions of gallons of water and immense power without offering proportional long-term local benefits. I oppose industrial developments that threaten our groundwater, strain local utilities, or alter the rural feel of our community.

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

When money is tight, we have to spend smarter, not just cut faster. Before touching the services that keep Bovey liveable, I want to look at how we pay for them. By going after state and regional grants for our parks, roads, and environmental projects, we can bring outside dollars in to ease the pressure on local property taxes.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Contributed

Incumbent

Age on Election Day: 55

Employment: I am a Registered Nurse at Fairview Range Hospital. I'm also a small business owner.

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

I have been a councilperson for Bovey for 8 years now. Prior to that, I was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. So, I have about 10 years experience with local government. Currently, I voluteer on a few committees. I am the Chairperson of Beautiful Bovey which is a committe of people who work to make our community a better place. I continue to be a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, The Western Mesabi Mine Planning Board, and the Enstrom-Wilden Memorial Park Committee. Most of my education is in healthcare and sciences. I attended the University of Minnesota with a major in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and then decided to make a life change and become a nurse. I attended ICC and Mankato State University. I've been an RN for about 15 years and prior to that worked for the DNR.

Why are you running?

I am passionate about Bovey! We have some big goals we're working toward and I'd like to continue the progress we've made. The projects I've been putting my time into are: updating the blight/parking ordinances, housing and fundraising projects(can someone say Splash Pad?!). I created the rental moratorium which has been a bit controversial but I think our town and renters deserve better quality housing. We are working towards new ordinances with the help of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund and this will be a historic change for the city. These projects are very dear to my heart and I'd like to make sure they get finished. It is hard to imagine handing these projects over to someone newly elected who doesn't have the knowledge of these complex issues. I also have a vision of financial expansion for Bovey that includes economic development and increasing our housing capacity.

Why should voters elect you?

I believe there are two types of people who run for office: those who think they can do it better than others, and those who love their community enough to serve it. I am the second.

I didn't grow up in Bovey, but I found my home here. After losing my parents at a young age, I spent my entire adult life searching for a place where I truly belonged. I unexpectedly rented a place in Bovey with no intentions of staying. Twelve years later, I'm a homeowner.

I love Bovey's rich history and all its future potential. I spend countless hours volunteering and educating myself as a councilperson which has allowed me to make connections that will continue to benefit Bovey.

My greatest strength is listening. When issues arise, I research them, seek input from residents, and make thoughtful decisions based on what is best for our community.

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

First and foremost, a City Councilor's job is to be a leader and a role model. The best councilors listen and work to involve residents in the decison making. A councilor reviews policies and creates new ones. Hard decisions have to be made for the betterment of the entire city, not just one person or one interest group. City Councilors have to attend meetings and spend time preping for meetings by doing research. A councilperson must plan for the future and make decisions to balance the budget each year.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Alexander Hamilton because he was a great thinker and wrote with eloquence. He made mistakes but he overcame. Other leaders looked to him for innovative solutions. He was not afraid to speak his mind and he made waves! He was confident. Besides all this, he made some great music!!

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

1) Finding ways to expand the tax base or bring in additional revenue.
2) The ordinances are incomplete and out of date.
3) Lack of affordable, quality housing.

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

I think all three are interwoven. I would continue working on the ordinances which is the foundation the other two will work from.

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

This is a difficult question because the issue changes daily. I would need to do more research before I took a stand. I believe this issue will not come to Bovey because we do not have the available land and we lack enough energy resources. However, some of the biggest problems data centers come with are being solved.

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

We can't cut much more. We were lucky enough to find a way to lower taxes last year. I'd like to focus on how the town can make money.

Incumbent

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.