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.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics. We will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
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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.
Michael Jeka and Darrel Johnson are the current council members occupying the seats up for election this year. 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
Age on Election Day: 59
Employment: I recently retired from Duluth Public schools.
Please share any prior experience and education that you believe qualifies you for office.
I taught for thirty years and served on many committees during that time.
Why are you running?
I want to serve my community.
Why should voters elect you?
I believe people should elect me because I would do my best to be represent them and would do so with open communication, and transparency.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The roles and responsibilities of city councilor are to work with other councilors and the mayor to insure that city laws and ordinances are being followed correctly. It is also the role of councilors to represent the people who elected them.
Name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I admire Natalie Zelezniikar because she is working for rural/small town communities. She goes out into those communities to listen to what matters most to them. That is something I would like to do.
What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?
Common sense growth that grows the tax base without compromising the small community feeling.
Which of those three issues is most important to you, and how would you address it if elected?
What I said above is what I believe to be the most important and I would address it by listening to the people I represent and working with the the other councilors and mayor.
What steps, if any, would you take to support or oppose data centers?
I believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I believe a policy should be in place before someone approaches the city looking to build. Community input would be essential.in creating that policy as well as honest up front communication.
Many Northern Minnesota cities are experiencing tightening budgets. Where would you propose making cuts, if needed?
Cuts should be made where the least damage and the most benefit economically can be made for the greater good of the community.
Incumbent
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.
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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