Two Harbors will have a special election to fill an at-large city council vacancy.
Donna Heil and Laura Osbakken Goutermont were the top vote-getters in the April primary. The winner will serve until the term expires in January 2027.
The special election is set for Aug. 12.
City residents can cast their ballots between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Two Harbors Community Building at 417 South Ave.
Two Harbors Community Radio, along with Lake County Press and Two Harbors Media, hosted a candidate forum in March ahead of the primary election.
Know of more forums, guides or other types of information? Email news@kaxe.org.
Candidate responses for KAXE's Election Guide have not been edited and are published as submitted.
As necessary, our news team may add contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics, though responses have not been uniformly fact-checked. We have made 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.
Donna Heil
Age on Election Day: 67
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
I am a business owner. I own a beautiful building, a short-term rental, a pub, and a cleaning business.
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I was a Registered Nurse for 36 years and have held numerous leadership roles. I am a caregiver, a decision maker, and a person who likes to see progress.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
My role is to listen to my constituents and address the needs of my community. Along with other council members and the mayor, it is to be fiscally responsible while developing policies to help the community thrive.
Why are you running for office?
With so much happening in the country and world, I felt the need to care for people in my community. Change begins at the grassroots level. I am a caregiver. I am a decision maker. I like to see progress
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
I own a business downtown and am an advocate for revitalizing the downtown community. I am excited about plans for the waterfront at Agate Bay. I am interested in brainstorming ideas for the housing issues. There currently is more demand than there is supply for housing. I think there are creative ways we can ease the situation.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your city, and how do you plan to overcome it?
Housing is one of the three issues are most important. City HRA and county HRA have joined forces. We can use all our resources to push ahead with development and construction of not only market-rate homes, but also homes for the elderly and disabled, and low-income housing. There are exciting plans for all of this, but it takes time and resources. Moving these plans forward is my intention. The second challenge is how to make Two Harbors a destination. Making Agate Bay a usable space is important for the downtown community. This will encourage more shops and businesses to locate here. This brings an increased tax base, supports tourism and employment. Tourism is not our only industry. We also need to encourage more manufacturing in our town. And that brings us to the third challenge. Our streets need repair. Street repair takes time and money too. We may be able to increase our tax base, but we can’t make the season longer. The city does have a plan and is doing what it can to address this.
What do you think is your city's greatest strength, and how would you continue to build upon it?
My city has a beautiful shoreline and a working harbor. It is a hidden gem on the North Shore and ripe for the tourism industry. It is also an innovative community with a history of a variety of manufacturing. Granet Gear, Northshore Manufacturing, LaBounty, Sure-Fab, LP Building Solutions, Serco, Northshore Steel, and more. It is also a climate refuge.
Across Northern Minnesota, renters and owners are struggling to afford housing. If elected, what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your city?
The city is working closely with the county on exciting plans for housing. We need to push ahead with the infrastructure to facilitate additional housing development. For too long, these plans have been tabled and overlooked. We need to grant variances when reasonable. Help developers get approval for plans that include all types of housing. We need to lift any roadblocks and assist them so they can move forward. We also need to look at blighted properties and find a way to fix or demolish ill-repaired homes so new homes can be built.
From our audience: What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
We are currently working on street repair. This includes new water, sewer, and drainage systems. The new culverts must be larger than what we have had in the past to accommodate extreme rainfall. I would like to see the city use and encourage more solar and wind sources for energy to adjunct and protect our city's power grid.
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.
We should increase our tax base by encouraging business development and housing for new families to move here. We should use those tax dollars carefully, ensuring efficient operation of city departments. The city also needs to be vigilant to find ways to adjunct taxpayer funds with state and federal dollars that may be available to apply for.
Laura Osbakken Goutermont
Age on Election Day: 63
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Retired
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
Leadership roles in my career include Army Nurse Corps, Manager at St. Luke’s Duluth, Director of Nursing at Lakeview Hospital Two Harbors, Critical Care Nurse and Emergency Room Nurse.
Currently President of the Two Harbors Curling Club and City Recreational Board. In the past served on the Arrowhead EMS Board, Two Harbors Ambulance Board and Two Harbors Area Fund Board.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Oversee city departments that provide services to the residents to assure they are done in the most cost effective manner. To create policies and procedures that protect the residents and employees of the city. Manage the city budget and levy and advocate for State and Federal Aid whenever possible.
Why are you running for office?
I am running because I believe the city needs a catalyst to help move forward on important issues. I believe that my ability to make tough decisions will be an asset to the city.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific goals.
Support all businesses and seek growth opportunities.
Advocate for continued city-county collaboration on housing issues.
Ensure streets, sidewalks, and utilities are maintained.
Preserve lakeshore and parks to encourage outdoor exercise.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your city, and how do you plan to overcome it?
Failing infrastructure - the city needs a short and long term plan to redo and maintain. I would levy for the dollars needed while seeking matching funds from the state.
What do you think is your city's greatest strength, and how would you continue to build upon it?
Our location and natural beauty that surrounds us.
Protecting the lakeshore so all can continue to enjoy it.
Across Northern Minnesota, renters and owners are struggling to afford housing. If elected, what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your city?
Continued collaboration between the city and county HRA Boards. The city should be working hand in hand with local developers to do everything possible to help create additional housing units.
From our audience: What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
To enforce and enhance storm water protections along with improving storm water run off capabilities.
Support lakeshore stabilization projects to prevent erosion along the lakeshore.
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.
Listening to my constituents to assure the city is not spending funds on services or projects the citizens deem unnecessary.
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