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.
Heather Hallett
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Jessica Howg
Incumbent: Yes
Age on Election Day: 42
City/Township of residence: City of Laporte
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
North Memorial Ambulance-EMT also Self Employed Owner and Manager at Howg’s Gas & Service
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I had previously served as a township supervisor before taking my position on the school board. I am on my 5th year serving on the Laporte school board and have learned so much about the different aspects of not only serving on the board but of running a school. I also serve on boards for multiple different community and volunteer organizations.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
There are many roles a school board member takes on. It is our responsibility to create policies for the district and ensure they are being followed by the staff, students, parents, and community. We are responsible for creating and maintaining a balanced budget while ensuring we have all the resources and staff to provide a safe and effective learning environment. We are held accountable to our community and taxpayers to ensure their money is being invested in a quality education for all our students.
Why are you running for office?
I have always had a heart for serving my community and when I saw a need for someone to step up and be a voice for the community, staff, and students I was happy to challenge myself in that roll.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
If re-elected I hope to continue the work of updating our building and security. Making sure our students have a safe environment is crucial for learning and peace of mind for our parents. I will continue to build relationships with staff and community members so that everyone feels they have a voice in our school.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing your district, and how do you plan to overcome them?
Funding is always a challenge for every district. Supporting advocacy at the state and federal level is crucial. Using the funding we do get to hire and retain high quality educators will always be a goal of mine. Beyond that I feel that we need to focus our efforts on attendance and student retention through graduation. I want to work with staff to create a better program for recruiting and retaining our high school students.
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 every dollar we spend is an investment in our future and our children’s future. However, those investments need to be made wisely, we need to always be aware of the impact that they have on our taxpayers and community. I will always push to find funding from alternative sources such as grants and make sure the funding we do get from taxpayers is used carefully.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in your school board?
Being a small school in a tight knit community has its benefits and challenges. Respectful communication is key. Being approachable and available to staff, parents, and community members is so important. I try to be involved in a lot of activities and events that happen in our school, it gives me a chance to interact with people personally and build relationships. That way when something does come up we have already built that trust and mutual respect to be able to communicate effectively.
Anna Kanani
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Jacqueline Meyer
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Larellyn Micheau
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Stacie Shuster
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Terry Tislund
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Karen Trapier
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Holly Wright
Incumbent: Yes
Age on Election Day: Not important
City/Township of residence: Hart Lake Township
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
Degree in project and leadership innovations, incumbent and experienced leader
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Shared decision making and advisement to administrators. Community engagement and relationship. Student Advocate.
Why are you running for office?
I have two teens in the Laporte School District. Their education and well being along with their classmates are very important to me as a parent.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
Increase community engagement for the right reasons. Partnering with parents and teachers to support the students in the best way possible.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing your district, and how do you plan to overcome them?
Enrollment and funds continue to be key to our success and growth.
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.
Shared decision making and full disclosure regarding plans, purchases and funds being used.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in your school board?
Encourage communication and community engagement
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.