Virginia 2026 Election Guide

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 26

Employment: Essentia Health - Program Manager of Workforce Development; Current City Councilor

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

Virginia has always been home to me, and my experiences here have shaped why I want to serve. My time on the City Council has given me firsthand experience with city finances, public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and the difficult decisions local government requires. Professionally, I work in healthcare workforce development, where I bring people and organizations together to solve challenges, build partnerships, and create opportunities. That work has reinforced how important collaboration and long-term planning are to a community’s success. Together, these experiences have taught me to ask questions, listen to different perspectives, and focus on practical solutions, and they’ve made me want to take the next step in serving Virginia.

Why are you running?

I’m running for Mayor because I care deeply about Virginia and believe our community has so much potential. As a lifelong resident and current City Councilor, I’ve seen both the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead of us. I want residents to feel confident that their city government is transparent, accountable, and making decisions with their best interests in mind. I also want Virginia to be a community where people choose to stay, raise their families, invest, and build their futures. I’m running because I believe we can address our challenges while bringing a fresh perspective, stronger collaboration, and a renewed sense of pride in our community.

Why should voters elect you?

Voters should elect me because I care deeply about the future of Virginia and am committed to making our city a place people are proud to call home. I believe residents deserve a city government that is transparent, accountable, financially responsible, and willing to address challenges directly rather than continuing with the status quo. I want to focus on strengthening the value residents receive for their tax dollars, protecting the services our community depends on, growing our tax base, and making decisions with Virginia’s long-term future in mind. Most importantly, I will listen, ask questions, communicate openly, and always put the best interests of our community first.

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

The Mayor serves as a leader and representative of the City of Virginia while working alongside the City Council to set priorities and make decisions for the community. The Mayor presides over City Council meetings, helps guide discussion and collaboration, and participates in decisions involving city finances, public services, infrastructure, economic development, and long-term planning. The Mayor also serves as an important connection between residents, city staff, community organizations, businesses, and other levels of government. While the Mayor does not make decisions independently, the position has an important role in setting the tone for city leadership, encouraging collaboration, communicating with residents, and representing Virginia throughout the region and beyond.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

One public leader I admire is former Duluth Mayor Don Ness. He took office during a very challenging period for Duluth, when the city was facing significant financial difficulties and difficult decisions about its future. I admire his ability to confront those challenges while helping restore financial stability, build confidence in city government, and create a renewed sense of optimism about Duluth’s future. I had the opportunity to meet Don a few times while completing my MBA, and I appreciated hearing his perspective on leadership and community. His time as mayor is a great example of how strong local leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to make difficult decisions can help change the trajectory of a community.

What are the three biggest issues your city is facing?

The three biggest issues I believe Virginia is facing are high taxes, sustainable support for public safety, and a lack of community trust.

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

All three issues are equally important to me.

Our residents carry a significant tax burden, and we need to focus on responsible spending, long-term financial planning, and growing our tax base to help ease that burden.

Virginia provides critical public safety services to our residents and surrounding communities. We need sustainable solutions to ensure these essential services remain without Virginia taxpayers carrying a disproportionate share of the cost.

We need to rebuild trust between residents and city government. That requires greater transparency, accountability, communication, and giving residents confidence that decisions are being made with the best interest of our community in mind.

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

Data centers are not currently an issue being considered in Virginia, and given our limited availability to land and water resources, I do not anticipate Virginia being a likely location for a large-scale data center. However, if a proposal were brought forward in the future, I would evaluate it based on its long-term benefit to our community. I would consider its impact on infrastructure, utilities, natural resources, city finances, and taxpayers, as well as potential jobs and tax-base growth. I would support responsible development where the benefits clearly outweigh the costs and risks, while ensuring transparency and opportunities for public input throughout the process.

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

As a City Councilor, I have already taken action to address Virginia’s financial challenges. I brought forward measures to implement a citywide spending freeze, overtime freeze, and hiring freeze to immediately limit nonessential expenses while we evaluate our financial position.

Going forward, I believe we need to continue carefully reviewing spending, staffing, contracts, and opportunities to operate more efficiently before making cuts that directly impact residents. My priority is to protect essential services while ensuring we are living within our means. Addressing a tight budget requires difficult decisions, but those decisions should be thoughtful, transparent, and focused on creating long-term financial stability rather than relying on short-term fixes.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.