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.
City Council (Elect Two)
Kristin Berberich
Incumbent: Yes
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Markelle Kuznia
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 53
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Kittson Healthcare in Hallock, MN, as an registered nurse in the hospital
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I spent the first 20 years of my career working for Northwest Community Action, this allowed me to work with many agencies building relationships, expanding my leadership skills and developing problem solving techniques. I am also an active board member of the Tri- County Emergency Medical Service board which has provided me with good communication, strategic thinking, conflict management and interpersonal skills. As a registered nurse, I am able to time manage well, make decisions quickly and manage change.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Set budgets and make fiscal plans for the future, supervising construction of public works, attending monthly meetings, interacting with the community and getting feedback, etc.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for city council because I care about the little town that I have spent the majority of my life living in. I am a strong supporter of local government and feel it is my responsibility to use the skills I have gained to maintain and improve the running of city.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Fiscal responsibility is very important to me and I believe it is needed to maintain the best interest of the town.
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?
Affordable housing has many layers to its struggle. Some ideas are to control the ever increasing cost of house and rental insurance, give tax breaks to affordable housing for a certain amount of years, apply for housing grants through state and federal agencies to build more affordable housing.
What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
As a small town, I believe that the best thing we can do is encourage habits for a sustainable lifestyle such as; save water, reduce, reuse, recycle, heat and cool smartly, etc.
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 that our budget is key! Making cuts where needed but maintaining productivity of the town is important. Now is not the time for any extras!
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
I believe that members of any elected government position needs to be willing accept, encourage and respond to community feedback.
Rob Mickelson
Incumbent: Yes
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
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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