KAXE contacted each candidate at least twice to invite them to participate in our Election Guide, using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published exactly as submitted, including typos and formatting.
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KAXE's Election Guide includes contested races in communities with at least 100 people. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else will be on the ballot in November.
About this race
The city council is responsible for governing the city, including overseeing administrators, approving a budget and passing city ordinances. Councilors do not have any individual authority and can only exercise power as part of the council.
Rob Freelove and Leroy Smith are the current council members occupying the seats up for election. Both are running for reelection.
The winners of the election will begin their four-year terms in January.
Click the tabs below to learn more about the candidates
Incumbent
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Age on Election Day: 33
Employment: Amazon
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
Military leadership
Why are you running?
To better my community as a whole and to also make life in pillager more enjoyable for it’s residents.
Why should voters elect you?
I believe voters should vote for me because I am transparent and I push for information of all subjects to be given to all of its residents no matter how small. I would like to bring more stuff to our community to bring us together such as a community center for the kids a dock to be able to access the river to fish without standing on the bridge close to traffic. Lastly being able to find grant money to better our community as a whole for projects.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
City council seat
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Any political leader that brings for information and and wants stuff passed with truth and transparency put behind it.
What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?
1. Things to do for the community.
2. Information being passed on to residents.
3. No gym to better ourselves in our community.
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
Information being passed to all of us.
What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers?
I would need to see all the information about these data centers before I could make a reasonable decision on this topic about our environment
Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?
To be able to make cuts first I would need to have the budget given to our city of pillager before I could give a reasonable decision.
Age on Election Day: 40
Employment: Stay at home parent
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
BA in Sociology, worked in human services for 10+ years, have an understanding on what the community needs and grants available to make that happen.
Why are you running?
Pillager needs fresh minds in office to give insight on what matters for the community and more activities for children.
Why should voters elect you?
I have first hand experience being a mother and finding things to do in the area, which is slim to none unless you drive to Staples or Brainerd. Updates on sewer and water issues, bringing more businesses in the area, activities for kids to do, community access to the river.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
City Council Seat
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Elinor Ostrom. Her beliefs in evidence-based practices, minimal compromise regulations that help to reshape how the community responds, without placing hard core rules and regulations. Elinor’s beliefs are in line with my own as a sociologist and a mother.
What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?
Sewer and water issues, lack of community activities, too many regulations for a small town.
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
Community activities: finding grants to fund development and having a survey so everyone feels they have a voice/input.
What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers?
Would need a lot of information, pros/cons on the environment/community and transparency to make an educated decision.
Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?
Would need to see the budget and gather evidence-based information to make an educated decision.
Incumbent
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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