Hi, everyone!
There’s an election tomorrow and it’s our duty as citizens to show up. Below is what I could find for candidate information for the Southwest metro.
Wow. Things have changed a lot since the last time I had to compile candidate information for multiple races. It is a lot harder to find information on candidates and elections because local newspapers used to publish this information, and for the most part, they don’t exist anymore. 😢
This is the best I could come up with, so there may be gaps. Please fill any gaps you see in the comments section and please provide URLs for verification.
Below, you’ll find what information I could dig up for Mayoral, City Council, School Board and referenda by city for the Southwest Metro.
Local elections are ostensibly non-partisan, so it is often hard to determine which candidates align with your issue priorities and values. Where they exist, I’ve included links to the candidate websites, so I’d encourage you to visit them and pay attention to who has endorsed them and what pledges they have made to help you make your decision.
School board candidates are a particular area of focus for a lot of us, given MAGA’s attempts to get a toe-hold there through the “Moms 4 Liberty” organization.
Here are some organizations and who they are backing for school board elections.
Education Minnesota (school teachers’ union)
Minnesota Parents Alliance (conservative, aligned with the Minnesota conservative think tank Center of the American Experiment)
School Board Integrity Project (lists candidates who have taken their candidate pledge)
Minnesota Public Radio has a build your ballot tool and the Minnesota Secretary of State has a poll finder tool.
Bloomington
City Council
At Large
Candidates:
Ward I
Candidates:
Ward II
Candidates:
School Board (ISD 271)
Carver County
Referenda
Operating Referendum:
New Request: Total Ballot Amount: $742 Per Pupil, plus inflation.
Duration: 10 years Approximately $7,000,000 revenue per year.
Learn more
Hopkins
Mayor
Candidates:
Robert Ivers (no website)
Lynn M Bialick (no website)
City Council
Candidates:
Wendy L. Andersen (no website)
Referenda
Capitol Projects Renewal:
New Request: Total Ballot Amount: $575 Per Pupil
Duration: 10 years $2,000,000 per year
$15,667,898 per year for technology, band instruments, transportation vehicles.
Building Bond:
Total Amount: $140,000,000
Duration: 22 years
Safety & security, ADA compliance, playground upgrades, storm shelters, CТЕ renovation, learning space improvements.
Learn more
School Board (ISD 270)
Minnetonka
Mayoral
Candidates:
Michael Briles (no website)
Jon Kayser (no website)
City Council
Candidates:
Deb Calvert (seat A)
Kimberly Wilburn (seat B)
David D. Biesboer (seat B - no website)
Craig Alciati (seat B)
Referenda
Building Bond:
Total Amount: $85,000,000
Duration:
Modernized middle school science classrooms, gym/performance spaces, and small instructional space; select additions at elementary schools, cafeteria addition and counseling area modifications at high school, security software.
Learn more
School Board (ISD 276)
Prior Lake/Savage
School Board (ISD 719)
Candidates:
Richfield
School Board (ISD 280)
Candidates:
Callmie Dennis (no website)
Hayley Tompkins (no website)
Eric Carter (no website)
Shakopee
Referenda
Operating Referendum:
New Request: Total Amount: $620 Per Pupil, plus inflation
Duration: 10 years $5,000,052
New Request: Total Amount: $310 Per Pupil, plus inflation
Duration: 10 years $2,500,026 per year
Waconia
Referenda
Operating Referendum:
New Request: Total Ballot Amount: $731 Per Pupil, plus inflation.
Duration: 10 years Approximately $3,000,000 revenue per year.
Learn more
Rank Choice Voting
You may be aware the Minneapolis and St. Paul are using a voting system called Rank Choice Voting. If you’re not familiar with how it works, these illustrations from the Native American Community Development Institute’s Make Voting A Tradition campaign explain things.
Great info David! Thank you so much for putting it all in one place!
If anyone is voting in the Prior Lake area. Jon Conlon is supported by the conservative Moms for Liberty group. Dustin Smith has been endorsed by the PLSAS teacher's union. I've been volunteering on Dustin Smith's campaign.