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.
Jennifer Bonner
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Katherine Disterhaft
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Mark Forte
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Troy Loisel
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 39
City/Township of residence: Eveleth
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Heliene - Line Supervisor
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
Firstly I am a parent, but other qualifications would be the management and supervisory roles that I have been in for various employments. I have been in positions that have required me to make tough decisions and hold people accountable for their actions. Also being a security officer gave me great skills for verbal (and physical) de-escalation.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
I am running for office because I believe in the power of education to transform lives and build strong communities. As a father of four daughters, three of whom are attending Laurentian Elementary, and one in college, I have a personal stake in ensuring that our schools provide all students with a high-quality education. Having grown up on the Iron Range and now being part of the Rock Ridge school district, I understand the unique challenges our community faces. My experiences, from being bullied as a child to working in roles that require calm under pressure, have shaped my commitment to advocating for children and ensuring they feel safe, respected, and empowered in their schools.
I am also running to support our teachers and faculty, who are crucial to student success. Low morale among educators concerns me, and I am committed to making sure teachers have the resources they need, are fairly compensated, and have their voices heard. My work as a supervisor at Heliene, along with my management experience, has prepared me to bring a practical, solutions-focused approach to the school board. I want to help ensure that our schools are places where every child can thrive and every educator feels supported in doing their best work.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office because I believe in the power of education to transform lives and build strong communities. As a father of four daughters, three of whom are currently attending Laurentian Elementary, and one who is in college, I have a deep personal stake in ensuring that our schools are equipped to provide all students with a high-quality education.
Growing up on the Iron Range and now being part of the Rock Ridge school district, I understand the unique challenges our community faces. I have seen firsthand how critical it is for schools to have the resources they need, not just to teach, but to create safe and supportive environments where every child can thrive. My own experiences, from being bullied as a child to working in roles that require calm under pressure, have given me a strong sense of responsibility to advocate for children and ensure they feel safe, respected, and empowered in their schools.
Furthermore, I want to support our teachers and faculty. Morale among educators is low, and I know that for students to succeed, teachers need to feel valued, respected, and supported. I’m running to make sure that teachers have the resources they need, that they are fairly compensated, and that their voices are heard in decisions that affect their classrooms.
Lastly, I’m running because I want to give back to the community that has given so much to my family. My work as a supervisor at Heliene and my experience in management have prepared me to bring a practical, solutions-focused approach to the school board. I want to use my skills and experiences to help ensure our schools are places where every child can reach their full potential, and every educator is supported in doing their best work.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
If elected, my priorities will focus on ensuring student success, supporting teachers, and fostering strong community engagement. I am committed to enhancing academic programs and services, improving literacy and math outcomes, and creating safer, more inclusive learning environments by addressing bullying. I believe teachers are the backbone of our education system and will advocate for better compensation, professional development, and classroom resources. I also want to ensure that teachers have a voice in policy decisions, making their input central to shaping our district's future.
In addition, I will work to strengthen connections between schools, parents, and the community, prioritizing open communication and transparency in decision-making. I will advocate at the state level for full funding while ensuring our district's budget is managed responsibly, so that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and directly benefit students. These priorities reflect my commitment to helping every child thrive and ensuring educators are supported in their important work.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing your district, and how do you plan to overcome them?
The biggest challenges facing our district include large class sizes, overspending, declining student enrollment, and the loss of staff. Large class sizes strain both teachers and students, making it difficult for educators to provide individualized attention and for students to fully engage in their learning. At the same time, overspending in certain areas of the budget limits our ability to address critical needs, such as maintaining small class sizes, upgrading facilities, or investing in instructional resources. Additionally, declining student enrollment is reducing the amount of funding our district receives, which is leading to difficult choices, including staff reductions, further exacerbating the problem of large class sizes and overworked educators.
To address these challenges, I plan to advocate for more efficient budget management, focusing on prioritizing spending that directly impacts student learning and classroom support. This includes working to reduce class sizes by reallocating resources and ensuring that our budget is sustainable in the long term. I also plan to work closely with the community to attract and retain students by promoting the strengths of our district, while addressing concerns that may be driving enrollment declines. Furthermore, I will prioritize retention efforts for our current staff, ensuring they feel supported through fair compensation, professional development opportunities, and a positive working environment that fosters long-term commitment to our schools.
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.
High taxation is a significant concern for many Northern Minnesotans, particularly for the residents of Virginia, Eveleth, and Gilbert, who simply cannot afford an increase in taxes. I understand the burden that high taxes place on families and businesses, and I am committed to ensuring that any discussions about funding for our schools take these concerns seriously. Rather than seeking to increase taxes, I believe our focus should be on making the most of the resources we already have. The current finances need a full re-evaluation to determine if the budget is truly being spent where it's most needed and if there are areas where we can reduce unnecessary spending.
I believe in involving the community in this process to ensure that we are prioritizing the right initiatives. By seeking input from parents, teachers, and other stakeholders, we can ensure that our spending reflects the true needs of our students and schools. My goal is to streamline spending to maximize the impact of every dollar, ensuring that tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively. Through careful budgeting and community involvement, we can maintain high-quality education without placing additional financial strain on our residents.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in your school board?
I plan to improve transparency and trust in the school board by re-evaluating the budget and making the decision-making process more open and accessible to the community. One of the first steps is to conduct a thorough review of the budget with input from parents, teachers, and community members. By clearly outlining where funds are being allocated and ensuring that every dollar is spent with the best interests of the students in mind, we can demonstrate our commitment to fiscal responsibility. Sharing this process openly and regularly updating the community on the board’s financial decisions will build greater trust in how their tax dollars are being used.
Additionally, I believe that actively involving the community in board meetings will help foster a sense of ownership and partnership within the school system. By encouraging community participation in discussions and decision-making, we can ensure that the voices of parents, teachers, and residents are heard and valued. This increased collaboration will help residents feel more connected to the schools and invested in the outcomes, leading to a stronger relationship between the school board and the community. Ultimately, transparency and engagement are key to restoring and maintaining trust in our district’s leadership.
Tim Riordan
Incumbent: Yes
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Alan Sherek
Incumbent: No
KAXE did not receive a response from this candidate.
Jodi Westby
Incumbent: No
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.
