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.
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City Council Ward 3
Jennifer Hoffman Saccoman
Incumbent: Yes
Age on Election Day: (Field left blank)
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Hibbing Foundation, Exec. Director
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I am running for re-election to continue representing the constituents of Ward 3 and all Hibbing taxpayers. It has been my honor to serve since taking office in January 2013, and I have been a strong advocate for the residents of Hibbing.
Additionally, I currently serve on the Hibbing Economic Development Authority (HEDA) and its finance committee. I have also represented Hibbing on Range Association of Municipalities (RAMS) and Schools, the Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) advisory board for St. Louis County and have been appointed as acting mayor by former Mayor Rick Cannata.
As the executive director of the Hibbing Foundation for the past 25 years, I have assisted individual donors, businesses, and organizations in establishing endowment funds that benefit our city, schools, and nonprofit community. To date, the Hibbing Foundation, a community affiliate fund of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, has awarded over $3.1 million in grants to support our community. It is a privilege to help grow this ‘savings account’—a legacy for our community.
My husband, Roger Saccoman, owned a small business for nearly 50 years. Working together at his architectural firm, I gained first-hand insight into the challenges that small business owners face in sustaining and growing their businesses.
My commitment to our community is unwavering. As a volunteer, I am a co-founding advisory board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Hibbing, which offers a wide range of programs. I have volunteered at my children’s schools, initiated the Teddy Bear Clinic, helped establish the Melting Pots Meals program at the Salvation Army, co-authored the grant for Hibbing’s first homeless shelter, and brought Lead for America fellows to the Iron Range to address issues related to childcare, youth mental health, and the need for affordable and accessible housing.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
I am running for re-election to continue representing the constituents of Ward 3 and all Hibbing taxpayers. It has been my honor to serve since taking office in January 2013, and I have been a strong advocate for the residents of Hibbing.
Additionally, I currently serve on the Hibbing Economic Development Authority (HEDA) and its finance committee. I have also represented Hibbing on Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS), the Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) advisory board for St. Louis County and have been appointed as acting mayor by former Mayor Rick Cannata.
As the executive director of the Hibbing Foundation for the past 25 years, I have assisted individual donors, businesses, and organizations in establishing endowment funds that benefit our city, schools, and nonprofit community. To date, the Hibbing Foundation, a community affiliate fund of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, has awarded over $3.1 million in grants to support our community. It is a privilege to help grow this ‘savings account’—a legacy for our community.
My husband, Roger Saccoman, owned a small business for nearly 50 years. Working together at his architectural firm, I gained first-hand insight into the challenges that small business owners face in sustaining and growing their businesses.
My commitment to our community is unwavering. As a volunteer, I am a co-founding advisory board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Hibbing, which offers a wide range of programs. I have volunteered at my children’s schools, initiated the Teddy Bear Clinic, helped establish the Melting Pots Meals program at the Salvation Army, co-authored the grant for Hibbing’s first homeless shelter, and brought Lead for America fellows to the Iron Range to address issues related to childcare, youth mental health, and the need for affordable and accessible housing.
Why are you running for office?
I believe in Hibbing! My strong and loyal ties to this community reflect my long-standing commitment as an advocate for its residents. I am running for re-election to represent the constituents of Ward 3 and all Hibbing taxpayers, driven by a continued and proven desire for Hibbing to be a forward-moving community that provides access to all people and its organizations.
I support economic development! Ensuring equal access to opportunities strengthens our city. The success of economic development relies on having a well-trained and educated workforce prepared for the jobs of the future. I will continue to promote Hibbing through various economic development projects and advocate for securing funding for local initiatives.
I promote collaboration! Working together with local businesses, non-profits, schools, and city and county governments is essential for creating a thriving community. I will continue to foster these partnerships to enhance our collective impact.
I believe in equity, fairness, openness and integrity. I will continue to ensure all voices are heard and continue to focus on improving our city. I will continue to work on behalf of the constituents in Ward 3 and all citizens of Hibbing.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
My Commitment to Hibbing
I am passionate about improving the quality of life for all residents in Hibbing. By delivering quality and sustainable services—aligned with our Strategic Plan for 2023-2025—I aim to ensure that our community thrives. Essential services like police, fire and ambulance response, public works, and sanitation are crucial for keeping our citizens safe and healthy. I stand behind our dedicated city staff who work tirelessly every day to make this happen.
Building Our Future Together
I envision a Hibbing where our initiatives and projects not only come to life but also reflect our shared values and aspirations. For example, I am committed to completing Phase 2 of the Hull Rust Mine View—Hibbing’s ‘Windows to the World’—a project that showcases our rich history and beautiful landscape.
I am equally excited about the progress we’re making at Carey Lake Campground, where families can enjoy nature in a well-designed space that includes RV campsites, tent areas, and facilities for all guests. Together, we can secure the funding needed to restore and maintain our beloved public buildings, such as City Hall and the library.
Fostering Community Connections
Collaboration is key. I will continue to strengthen relationships between the City of Hibbing, ISD 701, Hibbing Public Utilities, Range Regional Airport, and Hibbing HRA. By partnering with Minnesota North Colleges – Hibbing Campus, we can cultivate a workforce equipped for the jobs of tomorrow.
Together, we can build a vibrant, inclusive community that serves everyone. Let’s work hand-in-hand to create a future we can all be proud of.
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?
I will continue to work with community stakeholders to develop housing options including single family, multi-family and senior housing options. As a seated councilperson, I have collaborated with the Hibbing HRA on a housing needs analysis in 2023 to quantify the demand evident in our market. This process has led us to establish a local housing trust fund in early 2024, providing a consistent and flexible resource for housing within our jurisdiction. This fund aims to leverage public and private resources, jumpstarting projects that attract investment and create jobs.
Additionally, we supported the HRA in securing the local match necessary to apply for $25 million in state funding to replace the Haven Court Apartments. When it became clear that the proposed location was not ideal for the community’s needs, I advocated for an increased partnership between the City and the HRA. This collaboration allowed us to submit an application that preserved the project’s quality while taking community input into account.
Throughout my tenure as an elected official, we successfully helped Trellis secure $12 million in funding from the State of Minnesota through the forgiveness of a deferred loan established with a CDBG grant 30 years ago. We are also actively working with North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity to acquire additional lots from St. Louis County for new housing developments.
Currently, we are seeking community input on the Highland Hills project to guide the city council’s decision-making regarding a potential new housing development.
What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
Maintaining and improving key infrastructure including sidewalks, streets and water will help address housing needs and position Hibbing for additional business growth.
The City of Hibbing has been, and will continue to be, an active participant in industrial decarbonization discussions that began at the end of 2023. We have signed letters of support for the National Renewable Energy Lab and the Natural Resources Research Institute from UMD as they apply for federal funding to advance this important work. Our goal is to significantly reduce carbon emissions in our community while promoting the use of renewable energy sources.
To achieve these goals, we are actively engaging with local businesses and industries, assisting their efforts to become more sustainable and resilient for the long term. We encourage community involvement through public forums and workshops, where residents can learn about sustainability practices and contribute their ideas.
Through these partnerships, we have already seen positive outcomes, including more discussions pertaining to clean, efficient, sustainable and affordable energy solutions for our community.
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.
I believe taxes are essential for building strong communities, but transparency in how those funds are allocated is equally important. While high taxation is a concern, Hibbing strives to make every tax dollar count by pursuing outside investments and seeking continuous improvements. We are committed to delivering cost-effective services, maintaining a balanced budget, and keeping taxes low.
According to the 2023 City of Hibbing Annual Report, local taxes help fund:
• Career Fire Department: Consisting of 27 firefighters and 19 paid on-call firefighters, this department made over 3,000 runs, including 2,481 emergency 911 responses, 2,199 medical emergencies, and 282 fire responses.
• Hibbing Police Department: With 30 sworn officers, they protect our 186-square-mile patrol area—the largest in the state. In 2023, they responded to 17,134 calls, made 43 DWI arrests, and handled 168 assaults and 146 accidents.
• Hibbing Public Library: Welcomed 3,000 in-person and 5,530 online participants to its programs, with a circulation total of 34,022.
• Public Works, Engineering, and Sewer and Sanitation Departments: These departments maintain 227 miles of paved streets, 27 miles of alleys, 98 miles of gravel roads, 10.5 miles of storm sewers, and 81 miles of sanitary sewer, including 1,660 manholes and 18 lift stations. They also treat 688,855 gallons of water annually.
• Hibbing City Services: Responsible for maintaining all city buildings, 30+ parks, a municipal golf course, two cemeteries, and organizing various recreational activities, including "Hibbing on Howard."
Local elected officials are entrusted with responsibly managing public funds, ensuring sustainability. As part of St. Louis County, Hibbing operates under the True County Assessor System, implemented in 2018. Under this system, county staff handle property assessments, and city staff monitor property values, providing annual reports during budget discussions to ensure efficient use of resources based on the city’s needs.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
All meetings are public, streamed on Hibbing Public Television (HPAT), announced on the City of Hibbing website and social media. Minutes are prepared and posted on the City of Hibbing website.
I am here to represent you! Please feel free to reach out to me - to learn more about me and as an opportunity for me to hear YOUR ideas and concerns for the City of Hibbing. I welcome the opportunity to visit with you.
John Packa
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 35
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Hibbing Taconite, Maintenance Mechanic.
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I live and work in Hibbing and would like to help keep it a great place to live, and an excellent town for my child and others to grow up in.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Represent the residents in Hibbing Ward 3. Work to approve a budget, short, and long term goals that improve the city without constantly increasing taxes on the residents.
Why are you running for office?
I live and work in Hibbing and would like to help keep it a great place to live, and an excellent town for my kid and others to grow up in. Our city needs more regular everyday people to get involved in their local government!
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
For Hibbing to be a great place to live and have a family. For that you need good roads, schools, and more businesses. You need reasonable property taxes to support keeping the city running smoothly, without constant increases that hit homeowners on a fixed income hardest.
Continue investment in the fire department and police. Police need the resources and training to serve the community. Hibbing fire Dept. went from answering around 3000 calls a year, up to nearly 4000 currently. The Hibbing fire Dept. needs equipment replaced, and wages that are competitive.
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?
I am all for land and housing development. For major projects the residents of the area would need to be consulted beforehand. After that, as long as city planning and zoning are okay with it, build away.
The city should also look into condemned or unused lots that can be cleaned up and rebuilt within the main city residential areas. There are empty lots to use, and it would be a reasonably-sized start to adding more housing directly into existing neighborhoods.
What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
Minnesota has new energy policies taking effect over the next fifteen years. I would work with the mayor and other members to tell our state representatives what we need. Hibbing Public Utilities will need biomass to continue be classified as a renewable energy, and future investment from the state to meet Minnesota's 2035 -2040 guidelines. This is going to effect a lot of communities in the state, so almost all rural communities and small towns with local power will need better state guidelines, or additional grants and funds for power plant upgrades.
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.
Hibbing needs more economic activity to increase tax revenue, not to continue raising taxes on a smaller and smaller amount of people. Raising the city levy 5+% year after year is not sustainable. We need to focus on maintaining the basics: roads, utilities, fire dept. and police. Then move out from there to projects to improve the city, that don't require extra increases every year.
Large projects should be put to a city vote so the residents can have a direct say. The city is doing this with the new proposed public safety building. It's a better way to do it, that should continue.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
Announce and make public important votes earlier, so more people can give more input. The city has been doing a better job holding public meetings and giving out information. I would like to continue that.
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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