Moose Lake 2026 Election Guide

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 59

Employment: Currently, I am employed by the city of Moose and St. Cloud State University. As city councilor for the city of Moose Lake since 2014, I have served as mayor pro tem, city economic development chair, water and light commissioner, and on the following boards: municipal liquor oversight, planning commission and administrative/personnel. For St. Cloud State University I instruct a safe driving program for people 55 and over, designed to educate participants on new driving laws and technologies.

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

As former vice president of Juntunen Oil Company, with 75 employees and several convenience stores, I managed the daily operations with a fleet of semi trucks traveling throughout the United States and Canada.

I received my criminal justice degree and served for over 20 years as a Saint Paul police officer as well as a sheriff’s deputy (including patrol sergeant and field training officer).

Additionally, my experience for this position includes: mayor of Barnum 2000-2005, assistant fire chief, League of Minnesota Cities- Advanced Leadership Institute Certifications, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Leadership Certified, FBI Leadership Certifications, Carlton County economic development chair, Sonshine Community Services board chair, and leadership roles past and present at the city of Moose Lake.

Why are you running?

I have been actively involved in every community I have lived in. From serving on local boards, volunteering as a medical first responder, fire fighter, training officer, cross country coach and elementary basketball coach. Being active in the community is a passion of mine. By serving as mayor for the city of Moose Lake I will be able to better serve the community by advocating for city projects which will have positive impacts for the citizens. By utilizing over a decade of economic development experience there will be a better opportunity to jumpstart workforce housing opportunities, which will keep local residents in the area where they choose to live.

Why should voters elect you?

I bring proven leadership, decades of public service, and a track record of turning challenges into solutions. I’ve been actively involved in every community I have lived in and have dedicated my career to serving others.

My law enforcement career taught me to think critically, remain calm under pressure, make sound decisions, and find solutions in difficult situations. As a former mayor of Barnum for five years and a Moose Lake city councilor for 12 years, I understand what it takes to lead, collaborate, navigate challenges, and move projects from ideas to completion.

As chair of the Carlton County and Moose Lake Economic Development Authorities, I gained valuable experience creating opportunities for businesses, residents, and our community.
I am currently working with a developer committed to bringing workforce housing to Moose Lake, an important investment in our future. My experience, judgment, and commitment will lead Moose Lake forward.

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

The role of this office is to work collaboratively with residents, city staff, and the council to make informed decisions that move Moose Lake forward. A key responsibility is ensuring residents’ voices are heard, while keeping the public informed and engaged in their local government.

Building strong relationships with local, county, and state officials is also important to identifying and pursuing funding opportunities for projects that will have a meaningful and lasting impact on our community. Responsible planning and stewardship of city resources are essential to accomplishing these goals.

Supporting local businesses and promoting economic growth are additional responsibilities. By actively participating in Chamber of Commerce events and collaborating with local business owners, we can promote Moose Lake as a place to shop, dine, invest, and do business. Supporting our local businesses helps keep customers and dollars in our community while strengthening Moose Lake’s economy and quality of life.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Abraham Lincoln is someone I have admired for his perseverance in the face of adversity. The lens through which he viewed life was centered on treating people with respect and dignity while remaining true to himself. I have had his quote, “Half finished work generally proves to be labor lost,” as a screensaver on my phone. Simple reminders to stay the course allow us to maintain focus on a desired outcome.

His failures, as some may call them, became lessons and motivation to do more, and his life was full of learning. Through losing elections, failed businesses, and the loss of loved ones, Lincoln continued to persevere, learn, and move forward. His ability to turn adversity into opportunity and setbacks into motivation is something I greatly admire and try to carry with me in both my personal life and public service.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

Housing is a top priority, with workforce, single-family, and multifamily housing needed for our future. Safe, well-maintained streets are also essential. Finally, expanding our tax base through responsible economic development is critical. Supporting existing businesses and attracting new investments can strengthen Moose Lake while reducing the property-tax burden.

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

We now have incentives available for those looking to build, invest, and establish roots in Moose Lake. These incentives can help expand our tax base while welcoming new residents to enjoy the lifestyle the rest of us have come to know, love, and cherish.
If elected, I will continue collaborating with developers and business owners to expand opportunities for workforce housing and help small businesses grow. By encouraging responsible development and supporting local businesses, we can attract new investment, strengthen our tax base, and reduce the burden on those who currently pay property taxes.

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

On August 24, 2026, Carlton County approved a one-year moratorium on new data center developments. This gives the county time to hear from residents and better understand how data centers may impact our communities.

Moose Lake has also engaged with the community regarding a potential cryptocurrency company. While it was not a data center, the proposal was thoroughly vetted before the company ultimately withdrew its request.

I do not believe a data center is a good fit for Moose Lake, nor do I believe it would be welcomed by our residents. I will not support bringing businesses to our community that could negatively impact our quality of life or the character of our city.

Our focus should remain on responsible growth, creating housing opportunities, and supporting small businesses that fit the spirit of Moose Lake and strengthen the community we know and value.

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

Our city has a long history of working with limited funding. I have continued to encourage city staff and the council to plan diligently for future projects, with some projects planned as far as 25 years in advance. This approach allows us to allocate limited funds in smaller amounts while maintaining consistent progress.

I believe each city department should have a long-term strategic plan for capital improvements. Having these plans in place allows us to review priorities as annual budgets are developed and determine which projects should move forward and which can reasonably be deferred until funding becomes available. This type of long-term planning helps us make responsible decisions with limited resources while building a stronger future for Moose Lake.

Contributed

 Incumbent

Age on Election Day: 57

Employment: Current Mayor or Moose Lake

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

I am a former city council member and I am the current Mayor. I was the fire chief for over 25 years.

Why are you running?

As I am just finishing my first term as mayor there is still more that I would like to try to get accomplished,such as getting the whole city sewer lining finished, continue to pursue options to get the housing development to the finish line, and many other projects to numerous to mention. While trying to tax the residents out of their homes.

Why should voters elect you?

I feel in the 2 years I have been mayor, I have listened to the concerns of the residents, have taken an active role in community events, managed to keep the city's levy at status quo and have played a major role in the city receiving nearly $4 million in grants and bonding money.

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

As mayor, I feel my duties are to care about the concerns of the citizens that I represent.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Paul Wellstone. Paul Wellstone loved working for common people in the area he served. He wasn't afraid to work on issues from both sides of the political spectrum.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

Street and infrastructure repair and replacement.
Work force housing in the general area.
Growing the population and tax base of the community.

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

Street and infrastructure repair and replacement. I will continue to support staff in applying for grants, bonding bills, and lobby the legislature to allow cities with populations to use sales tax money approved by the community to be used fore street projects.

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

I would need to educate myself and encourage the community to do the same with any proposed project and be as transparent as possible, ultimately it should be a project supported by the community.

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

I would research whether our city needs to contract for 24 hour coverage for police protection with the county. we already pay for coverage thru our county taxes so would be covered with out the additional contract. I think a contract with less dedicated officers would be a workable situation.

Contributed

Age on Election Day: I will be 68 years old

Employment: I am a retired Social Worker. I worked as a Case Manager in Children's Mental Health and additionally in Adult Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders.

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

I hold a Bachelor Degree in Social Work. I was a Director of Community Education, Licensed by the State of Minnesota, and held a Substitute Teaching License. I served as Carlton County Restorative Justice Coordinator, and recently as an Interim Executive Director for Pine County Historical Society.

I am currently a member of the City of Moose Lake Planning Commission and serve as Commission Chair. I have served on several boards and committees including; the Carlton County Housing Coalition, United Way of Carlton & Pine County, Carlton County Housing Trust Fund, City of Duluth Human Rights Commission, Pine County Historical Society Board of Directors, Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission/AAAA IIIB ARPA Funds Review Task Force Committee, MN Department of Health & Human Services Case Management Redesign Focus Group and many other relevant groups and community organizations.

Why are you running?

I care about my community and the people who reside here. I believe I have the skills and abilities to improve outreach and community engagement between the City of Moose Lake and the citizens that reside here.

Effective outreach, responsiveness and engagement is crucial to positive growth for the City of Moose Lake. We need to work together to sustain and improve services and experiences. We have so many intelligent and gifted individuals in our community, we need to actively seek their input and expertise in matters that involve all of us.

The City of Moose Lake is not unlike many other Greater Minnesota Cities. We need to improve collaboration in our community and the region, work together, and find solutions.

It is not enough to just voice opinions, I want to be a contributor to the hard work that needs to be done.

Why should voters elect you?

The City of Moose Lake and residents deserve representation that is authentic and hardworking, those are traits I strive for in everything I do. I am not afraid to advocate strongly for what is needed, while being fair and understanding. I will work very hard for the City of Moose Lake and the folks who reside here. I will be available and responsive to concerns and try my best to find positive resolutions to those concerns.

I think it is important to have a City Council member who is proactive and determined in seeking and securing the resources we need to thrive and grow. If elected, you can count on me to roll up my sleeves and do the hard work.

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

The role and responsibility of a City Councilor is to actively and positively contribute to the development of policies, while providing fiscally sound direction to the governing of the city. Another important role of a City Councilor is to act as a liaison between City Staff and the community. Community outreach and engagement should be a major focus as a City Council Member, assuring all voices feel heard.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Jimmy Carter is a public leader I admired. His humanitarian actions, that continued practically up to his last days on Earth, and long after he served office, shows his authentic desire and commitment to community service.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

1) Inadequate funding to cities, which exists throughout Greater Minnesota
2) Lack of tax base due to limited ability and space for local expansion
3) The need for additional efforts to engage community in resolving these and other issues we face

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

There are many important and pressing issues facing Moose Lake. Of course the financial needs are of the utmost importance for our continued growth and addressing the needs of our residents. But I see the need for engaging community in these and many other issues as a priority. We can't effectively address all the needs of our city without true engagement between council members, city staff, businesses, and residents. I would like to establish guidelines to initiate and enhance collaboration, community outreach and engagement and find ways we can improve communication so that we may be a cohesive community working together, solving problems, move forward and thrive.

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

It is very clear to me with recent discussions locally, county & regionally that data centers are not supported in this region. I will do whatever necessary to make sure the desire of no new data centers, which the majority of our community members have expressed, is fully presented and advocated for.

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

Until I am able to fully review the current budget of the City of Moose Lake, as it relates to necessary delivery of services, I would not feel comfortable making suggestions on how the budget could be cut. I do however, plan to take great strides in examining ways in which cuts could be made when necessary without sacrificing crucial services and the delivery of those services.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Incumbent

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.