Littlefork-Big Falls School District 2026 Election Guide

Incumbent

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Age on Election Day: 49

Community: Littlefork, MN

Employment: Shift4 / Technical Support Supervisor

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

I previously served on the Littlefork City Council, where I gained firsthand experience working with local government and representing the community. During my time on the council, I made it a priority to stand up for what I believed was right, even when it meant voting differently from the mayor or other members. My job eventually required me to relocate to Fargo, North Dakota, which led to my term ending earlier than planned, but the experience strengthened my commitment to public service and to Littlefork.

Why are you running?

I am running because I want to stand up for children who feel like they do not have a voice. My biggest focus is addressing bullying and making sure every student feels safe, supported, and valued. I also want parents to know they have someone on the board who will listen to their concerns and speak up for them. My door will always be open. I want to be a voice for teachers as well. They do so much for our students and deserve recognition, support, and someone they can come to when challenges arise. I am running to help build a school environment where students, parents, and staff all feel heard.

Why should voters elect you?

What I bring to the table is a deep commitment to kindness, inclusion, and making sure every child feels seen. Many people know me as one of the founders of The Viking Heart Alliance and Wonderfully Well Kids, a nonprofit focused on promoting kindness and creating positive community events. I love bringing people together through things like Free Kids Bingo, the 1950s Easter Sock Hop, drive in movie nights, and our annual community Christmas party.

My biggest goal is to stand against bullying in every form. I also want to make sure students who are not involved in sports feel just as valued as those who are. Our school has a strong sports culture, but not every child is an athlete, and every student deserves to feel important and supported. I want to help create a school environment where every child has a place to belong.

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

The school board is responsible for making decisions that guide the direction of the district. Board members listen to parents, staff, and students, review policies, and work with the superintendent to make sure the school is providing a safe and supportive environment. The board helps set goals for the district, approves budgets, and makes sure resources are being used in ways that benefit students. Most of all, the role is to represent the community and make decisions that support every child’s education.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I do not follow politics very closely, but there are two fictional characters I really admire. Ted Lasso and Chicken Joe from Surf’s Up both show a level of kindness that I try to model in my own life. They treat people with respect, lift others up, and focus on bringing out the best in everyone. That is the kind of attitude I believe makes a strong leader, and it is the approach I try to bring into our community and into everything I do.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

My priorities are to make our school a place where every student feels safe, supported, and included. I want to focus on anti‑bullying and make sure concerns are taken seriously. I would like to bring back more field trips and give students more chances to learn outside the classroom. I want to support the arts, including choir, band, and art programs, because not every child connects through sports. I also want to be an advocate for teachers and students. One idea I have is to create student committees that can share what is happening in the school so the board stays informed. I also want to encourage parents to attend board meetings and feel comfortable speaking up.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?

I think the biggest challenge in our district is helping students become more accepting of others, no matter their background, nationality, color, or religion. I have seen situations where students were bullied so badly that they left the school, and they did not feel like they had a voice. If elected, I would like to create student committees that can report concerns directly to the board so issues are not overlooked. I will also make sure parents feel comfortable coming forward with concerns, and I will bring those concerns to the board so they are heard and addressed.

What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?

One success in our district is how well the sports programs are managed. The coaches and staff put in a lot of work, and the students who participate really benefit from it. I would absolutely continue to support the sports program. My goal is not to take anything away from it. My goal is to make sure students who are not involved in sports also feel heard and valued, and to give them a stronger voice in our school community.

Incumbent

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 40

Community: Littlefork

Employment: James Kennedy Trucking, Owner

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

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Manangement & Finance and I was employed at Littlefork-Big Falls School District for over ten years in various positions. I am also active in the community here in Littlefork and value the school district as a valuable asset to this community.

Why are you running?

I hope to be a resource that all members of the L-BF community feel comfortable talking to about any concerns or suggestions for strengthening our district. I have knowledge of school finance and would like to help others better understand what the financial reports are conveying.

Why should voters elect you?

I'd like to see better transparency and communication with our taxpayers, students, and staff. I want to see our district continue to grow and succeed.

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

School Board members act as a bridge between stakeholders and the administration.
Board members listen to the public and, as a team, funnel those opinions into creating a direction for the success of the District. This is accomplished through financial oversight, policy setting, goal setting, and managing the administrators who are charged with running daily operations.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

I would have to say that I admire MN Vikings Head Coach, Kevin O'Connell, for his leadership skills. When he addresses the press at the end of a tough game, he doesn't look to place blame on outside factors. He owns it. He acknowledges their failures and immediately looks for solutions. His response is, "we messed up and we have work to do."
He maintains a vision for excellence amongst his players and coaching staff without letting pride get in the way of the goal. He is unapologetically honest, fair, and hard working. He prioritizes empowering his team, in turn, keeping them focused and dedicated to growth, excellence, and striving for victory. In recent NFL Player surveys on coaching staff, he holds very high approval ratings amongst Viking Players and won NFL Coach of the Year in 2024.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

My top priority is better communication and transparency. The district has a variety of tools available to make this happen, and I believe it is time to find ways to use them better.
Another issue that I hope to influence are rules and statutes at the state level that are created with metro school districts in mind. These laws often have negative and unintended effects on rural schools regarding athletics and enrollment. I plan to reach out to legislators to work on revisions that will not restrict rural schools that already have limited resources compared to metro districts.
Another issue that I'd like to work on is funding for building and grounds maintenance. The current funding formula does not allocate enough to cover what it takes to keep up facilities. This is why other school districts are looking to referendums for help. I hope to lobby legislators for change.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?

Again, the biggest challenge is communication and transparency. By and large, the biggest complaint I hear from parents, students, and staff is the level of confusion arising from this issue.
I strongly encourage community members to ask questions, attend board meetings, speak up at public forums, and contact board members with their concerns.
I will be a board member that parents, students, staff, and other community members will feel comfortable expressing concerns to and know that I will pursue answers and solutions.

What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?

This district has an incredible staff. I would support actions that promote employee retention and a good work atmosphere. Littlefork-Big Falls has long held a reputation for great staff and I would like to see that reputation continue to be upheld.

The last graduation ceremony spoke volumes about the staff as graduating students reminisced about individual staff members who had an impact on them. Many of the students plan to become educators themselves because of the role models we have at our school. That is something to be proud of and to maintain into the future.

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 55

Community: Littlefork

Employment: James Kennedy Trucking as a truck driver, operator, and supervisor.

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

I am an alumni of the district. My children have all graduated from Littlefork-Big Falls and now my grandchildren are attending school here as well. I am deeply rooted in this community and I want to see our district be successful many years into the future. Where I work, I am the union steward and am familiar with union procedures and contract negotiations. As a supervisor, I help management make sure the company runs efficiently.

Why are you running?

I’d like to see more transparency and accountability from the administration and better support for our staff. We are lucky to have great teachers and support staff. Also, the taxpayers of this district have a right to know what is happening at the school. It is a big part of our community as a whole and everyone here would like to see it succeed.

Why should voters elect you?

I plan to bring change to our district. I want to see accountability, integrity, and honesty. I would like to learn more about issues affecting our school and education in our state. I plan to attend any and all school board member training and education as soon as possible so that I can be a good representative for our school.

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

School board members make decisions for the best direction for the school. This includes gathering information and facts that consider everyone in the community, before voting on issues, so the right decision can be made.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

Any public leader that is honest and has integrity. Truth is the goal. No good decisions can be made without knowing the facts.

What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.

More transparency from the administration. Better communication to taxpayers, staff members, and parents. Many people from the community feel like they are in the dark about decisions that are being made. One of the biggest complaints I have heard is that there is no communication or consistency in enforcing and applying policies. I hope to improve that. We have a great district here, there should be nothing to hide. Everyone supports the success and betterment of the school.

What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing your district, and how do you plan to address it if elected?

Communication between the community, staff, and administration. I would like to close that gap. I would like to see our board meeting publicized, and find better channels for the community to communicate with decision makers. I also believe the current board is not always fully informed when making decisions. I plan to be a board member who asks questions and pushes for a full understanding of issues before making decisions. I think there needs to be more accountability on the school board and administration for well thought-out decisions.

What is one success in the district that you would offer support for as a board member?

The staff. The dedication of the staff is what keeps our school district thriving. We need to promote decisions that keep our good staff here and attract more quality candidates.