KAXE contacted every candidate twice using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office to invite them to participate in our Election Guide.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published as submitted.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics, though responses have not been uniformly fact-checked. With our small team of three, we are unable to proactively fact check every statement made by candidates. But we will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
Please contact our news team at news@kaxe.org with questions or comments or to report any errors.
KAXE's Election Guide only includes candidates in contested races. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else is on the ballot.
District 5
Johnna Johnson
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Jamie Lee
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 48
City/Township of residence: Deerwood
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Self employed, President of NCT
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I have 18 years in law enforcement, 3 years planning and zoning and 15 years in business
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Commissioners are responsible first and foremost to the people they represent. The duties include setting the property tax levy, setting and balancing the county budget, overseeing all facets of county government and establishing the foundation for the future of the county and its residents.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for County Commissioner because I want to ensure our grandchildren have the same opportunities and lifestyles we were fortunate enough to grow up with.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
My first priority is to restore full transparency of county government to our residents. Second, I will focus on ensuring we are as fiscally responsible as we can possibly be. I don't want there to be any doubt every dollar is spent wisely. The third main priority is accountability. My expectation is for voters to easily be able to see how their commissioners have voted.
Across the region, renters and owners are struggling to afford housing. If elected, what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your constituents?
There are many variables as to why we have a housing issue. County commissioner's can assist by clearing the way to simplify the process for people to build. The permitting process should be streamlined and expedited. We also need to take a hard, line by line look at the county budget and consider where we can make changes to ease the cost of living in our county.
What effective policies will you support that will prepare your county now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
I believe Crow Wing County has addressed how we will address climate change in our comprehensive plan to the best of our ability with the resources we have and how this topic applies to county government.
High taxation is a concern for many Northern Minnesotans. Please share any specific opinions you hold related to taxation, and how you plan to ensure tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
My opinion on taxation is less is more. My goal is to limit taxation on our residents to the best of my ability. I intend to focus our attention on a line by line inspection of our budget. I will look for ways to reduce our levy and work with other Commissioners to reduce our tax liability.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
I will address the transparency issues we are facing with the other Commissioners, define a solution and work with County administration to implement a solution so every resident can find an answer to every question they have. This is the number one issue I have pointed out in my campaign and it will be my first priority when elected.
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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