Thomson Township 2026 Election Guide

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 65

Employment: Retired, Independent Business Consultant

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

I have been a City Council member in a prior community for 12 years. There I also served on Fire Board for 10 years. I also served on a Church Elder Board for 8 years and the business board for 8 years.

Why are you running?

This is how I can best serve the community I live in. This year three members of the Town Board are retiring. That leave a huge experience hole on the board. My experience will help the board transition smoothly and do the work needed.

Why should voters elect you?

I understand how small cities and townships work. township is responsible for and what it is not. My mantra is to keep Esko, Esko. No big changes, listen to what people want, careful development, manage the city so it meets the needs of the town.

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

A member of the township board work with the entire board, and staff, to discuss and vote on what the policies of the township will be. The township board also approves all operation of the town.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

My leaders are not public. Mayor Paul Skrede, now deceased, Paul taught me how to be an effective city council member. How to make a good decision, then stand against the nay-sayers. Mayor Kent Carlson taught us how to negotiate with other government entities. Kent is running to keep his seat as Mayor.

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

I have no big plans, that is the the object of running. My priority is to look at each issue and make a decision that meets the needs with financial restraint. There are present issues, Hwy 61 upgrade, new maintenance building, possible move to a city from a township. Keeping the Esko Esko means the board must deal with the urban and rural areas and meet the needs of each.

Contributed

Age on Election Day: 35

Employment: Self-Employed, Web Design & Consultant

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

Much of my experience has come from saying yes when my community has needed someone to step up. I value the skills and lessons I’ve learned each time I’ve said “yes” to an opportunity.

After being the first to graduate from UMD’s Master’s in Chemical Engineering program, I worked in a variety of roles before deciding to start my own small business. Beyond school and work, I’ve also served in volunteer leadership roles over the years, including currently co-leading then Oldenburg Art & Culture Community’s Carlton County Messages to 2076 project.

All of these experiences have taught me how to approach complex issues, find the root of a problem, and bring the right people together to create solutions. I’ve also learned to lead with curiosity, seek understanding, and persevere through challenges.

I believe these all of qualities would help me serve Thomson well.

Why are you running?

I’m running because when I see a need in my community and believe I can contribute, I’m willing to step forward. I’ve lived in this area for several years, and over that time I’ve found meaningful ways to contribute, from volunteering with local organizations to helping turn community ideas into projects that make a difference.

When the opportunity to run for Thomson Town Board came up, I saw it as another way to serve my community. I care about where we live and want to be part of the decisions that shape its future.

Why should voters elect you?

I will bring a fresh perspective and new energy to the Thomson Town Board while respecting the work that has already been done. Thomson is a great community, and I’m not looking to change what makes it special. I want to help build on its strengths and think thoughtfully about what comes next.

I bring curiosity, a willingness to ask questions, and a genuine interest in finding solutions. I’m not afraid to look at an issue from a different angle or consider a new approach when it makes sense.

I commit to be a supervisor who is engaged, prepared, and willing to listen. My goal isn’t to change Thomson for the sake of change. It’s to help our community continue to grow and evolve in ways that make sense for the people who live here and future generations.

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

The Thomson Town Board is responsible for overseeing the affairs of the township and making decisions on behalf of its residents. Supervisors work together as a board to establish policies, approve expenditures and contracts, oversee township finances and the annual budget, and address matters involving township roads, services, property, and other responsibilities assigned by law.

The board also works with the township clerk, treasurer, road employees, and other officials to ensure township business is conducted properly and resources are managed responsibly. Supervisors are responsible for attending board meetings, reviewing information and proposals, participating in decisions, and providing oversight of township operations.

Ultimately, the role is one of public stewardship: making informed decisions, balancing competing needs and available resources, and acting in the best interests of the township and its residents.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

A public leader I admire is Dolly Parton. I admire the way she has used her success and influence to invest in people and communities, particularly children. Through the Imagination Library, she has provided millions of free books to children from birth to age five, helping make early childhood literacy more accessible regardless of a family’s income.

What I find most inspiring is that her approach to leadership is practical. She identifies something that can make a real difference in people’s lives and then works to make it happen. She has continued investing in her home community and supporting education, literacy, and disaster relief without needing to hold public office.

To me, that is a meaningful example of leadership: using whatever influence and resources you have to create opportunities for others and leave your community better than you found it.

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

I have four main priorities: planning thoughtfully for Thomson’s growth, investing in infrastructure, practicing fiscal responsibility, and making township government accessible and responsive to residents.

I want to help develop a clear roadmap for housing and infrastructure that supports new and growing families while preserving the rural character and green spaces that make Thomson special. That means considering whether our services and infrastructure can keep pace with growth. It also means protecting places like the Midway River, parks and trails, and the School Forest from the unintended impacts of development.

Growth for growth’s sake isn’t the goal. I want Thomson to grow in a way that is sustainable, financially responsible, and supported by the services residents need. My goal is to help build a community prepared for the next 10 to 20 years without losing what has made, and continues to make, Thomson feel like home for generations.

Age on Election Day: 63 years young

Employment: Retired Carlton County Recorder

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

Prior public service as the Carlton County Recorder/Registrar of Titles and Vital Records Registrar. Graduate of St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN.

Why are you running?

As a current resident of Thomson Township, the need for dedicated representation for township matters prompted me to file for this office. My prior experience with local government will be a useful tool to help provide efficient services to the local citizens.

Why should voters elect you?

I will bring prior knowledge, together with the ability to adapt and learn, to this position. My prior experience as the county recorder gifted me experience with government processes and practices. Most importantly, I am dependable and approachable. I am not afraid to "do the work" to research the issue before me. The needs of the community and the parameters of statute will be my guideposts.

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

Duties will include decisions that affect budget, contracts, and services to the township. The ability to work well with staff, other elected officials and the public is crucial for success in this role. The township is the piece of government that is closest to the citizens and the needs of the community.

Name a public leader you admire and explain why.

The author and philosopher Albert Camus. His works challenge the reader to question and think not to just accept as presented. My other choice would be Dolly Parton. She set a standard of service to our families, friends and communities that I wish to follow.

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

To educate and expand my knowledge of what the needs of the community are, and how do we best meet those needs in a fast-changing world. To encourage good public discourse and conversation from the citizens of the township. To find efficiencies of service where possible and to use the resources from the community wisely.

KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.