08/11/2026
If you misses my answers to the Post Bulletin questions (there has been PB tech difficulties with the PB link), here you go:
Questions and my responses (responses under 250 words):
1) Rochester’s mayor frequently ends up being the face for council policy decisions, despite not having a vote in such matters. What do you see as the mayor’s role related to City Council positions and outcomes that are at odds with his or her personal goals and stances? How should the mayor address criticism of such council decisions?
Rochester residents elect their mayor based on background, qualifications, and expertise. As an elected representative of the people, our mayor has an obligation to address policy concerns and speak up against laws that are unjust. The mayor of Rochester should also provide additional oversight to protect residents by calling for audits, addressing possible conflict of interest, and ensuring the needs of residents come first.
As a leader of our City, it is important our mayor is honest and takes responsibility for the wellbeing of our community. This is done by stating facts, avoiding political bias, and not blame shifting on others, including City Council. Rochester leadership needs a unified front that is based on integrity, not platitudes.
Most community events and invitations are sent directly to the Mayor’s Office who often controls information. I believe it is the duty of the mayor to not only keep an accurate public schedule, but also ensure the entire Council is informed. All travel and conference information needs to be brought back to the public with records, receipts and detailed itinerary. Transparency is trust.
A mayor needs to focus on facts and the best interest of the community. Monthly check-in meetings with departments, council president, and all six Council members are essential. The mayor cannot “play politics” or council favorites. Our Rochester mayor needs to be a bridge between the legislative and executive branch, not an obstacle.
2) The mayor does have veto power when disagreeing with a council decision. What, if any, decision made by the City Council in the past year would you have vetoed, and why? How would you have worked with the council to avoid a potential override?
Over the last twenty years, I can think of several times I would have vetoed decisions to allow for additional information and public input. An example was recently on July 6, 2026. I believe the mayor should have vetoed item G.3 Final Plat No. CD2026-013 Plat by Maywood Lands, LLC. This Council adopted resolution, also known as Preserve on Maywood, included a potentially dangerous stretch of pedestrian/bike pathway used by residents of all ages, including children. I believe public safety is a priority. Accessibility for people with all abilities is also important, and this proposed path potentially endangers access and lives.
I would have vetoed this item also due to possible conflict of interest with the engineering firm being members of the development. There were future traffic utilizations concerns as well as matters of future maintenance costs and potential liability issues, in case someone is tragically injured. I believe when valid concerns of Rochester residents were ignored and safety is an issue, a veto is merited. Public safety, financial transparency, and addressing resident questions need to be prioritized.
As a former council member, I know there are many policy meetings held behind closed doors, lack of competitive bids, cronyism in contracts, and inconsistent information among staff and city council. A priority with vetoing would be to make available additional options available and the chance for all Council members to visit the site, understand concerns, and have consistent information before re-voting.
3) Rochester’s mayor, or a council-approved designee when the mayor is a Mayo Clinic employee, sits on the Destination Medical Center Corp. Board, which is charged with helping implement the DMC development plan. What do you see as priorities for the DMC initiative in the next four years?
Voters need to take conflict of interest very seriously when electing a mayor. In a city of Rochester’s size, the mayor is a full-time position. Our mayor should not hold other full-time employment, especially one that has the potential of financial conflicts like Mayo Clinic or Hospitality.
Rochester’s mayor is required to sign an Ethics Disclosure form, which should include immediate family financial ties to organizations that do business with the City.
As with all industry that does business with the City, DMC needs to fix their mistakes and keep their promises. This includes the Heart of the City projects, pavers in Peace plaza, and promises made with the former Lourdes building.
In addition to transportation and housing, residents want DMC to focus on things that make our downtown accessible and vibrant. This includes parking, way finding and support for struggling restaurants and shopping. A focus of DMC legislation was to ensure patients have places to go when not in appointments. Both visitors and residents need more affordable, accessible, and diverse activities downtown. All ages and income levels should be able to participate in experiences downtown.
The DMC also needs to ensure their actions do not adversely affect residents with increased taxation, construction, or safety. During a meeting DMC's Director of Business Development, stated DMC has problems integrating Rochester businesses into DMC projects. To help Rochester economic development also includes hiring more local companies to assist in Rochester’s growth.
4) Continued discussions about the new Rochester Regional Sports and Recreation Complex, as well as efforts to develop and promote other recreational opportunities, have many people suggesting the process was flawed. In hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently? How would you like to see the City Council move forward with efforts to meet residents’ recreational needs? (approx. 235 word count)
I believe the original November 2023 ballot wording for the 0.5% sales tax extension was not clear and thus misleading. The ballot language asked voters to approve a sales tax to fund an outdoor AND indoor regional sports and recreation complex. A complex that would meet the needs of our community for decades. Transparency is trust, instead the “regional sports and recreation complex” description was vague. Residents should have had more details, concrete description, and context prior to casting their vote.
The $65 million was also clearly not enough for the completion of an indoor design that our community needs. Residents should have had a more accurate cost estimate. Instead, public trust was eroded when the cost quickly doubled. Residents felt their tax dollars were not being used efficiently or honestly. As a council member, I advocated for the old IBM location which residents wanted yet again did not get.
As a parent and active volunteer in Rochester for 20 years, Rochester needs more inclusive indoor sports options and gym space after the YMCA’s closing. Summers get dangerously hot and winters incredibly cold, indoor space is needed to for physical, emotional well-being.
The change of plans betrayed public trust. This type of "bait and switch" is a clear example of how I believe our local government is abusing executive authority. There needs to be more oversight to ensure transparency and fiscal accountability to Rochester's residents.
5) Rochester’s mayor frequently ends up being the face for council policy decisions, despite not having a vote in such matters. What do you see as the mayor’s role related to City Council positions and outcomes that are at odds with his or her personal goals and stances? How should the mayor address criticism of such council decisions?
Rochester residents elect their mayor based on background, qualifications, and expertise. As an elected representative of the people, our mayor has an obligation to address policy concerns and speak up against laws that are unjust. The mayor of Rochester should also provide additional oversight to protect residents by calling for audits, addressing possible conflict of interest, and ensuring the needs of residents come first.
As a leader of our City, it is important our mayor is honest and takes responsibility for the wellbeing of our community. This is done by stating facts, avoiding political bias, and not blame shifting on others, including City Council. Rochester leadership needs a unified front that is based on integrity, not platitudes.
Most community events and invitations are sent directly to the Mayor’s Office who often controls information. I believe it is the duty of the mayor to not only keep an accurate public schedule, but also ensure the entire Council is informed. All travel and conference information needs to be brought back to the public with records, receipts and detailed itinerary. Transparency is trust.
A mayor needs to focus on facts and the best interest of the community. Monthly check-in meetings with departments, council president, and all six Council members are essential. The mayor cannot “play politics” or council favorites. Our Rochester mayor needs to be a bridge between the legislative and executive branch, not an obstacle.
6) The mayor does have veto power when disagreeing with a council decision. What, if any, decision made by the City Council in the past year would you have vetoed, and why? How would you have worked with the council to avoid a potential override?
Over the last twenty years, I can think of several times I would have vetoed decisions to allow for additional information and public input. An example was recently on July 6, 2026. I believe the mayor should have vetoed item G.3 Final Plat No. CD2026-013 Plat by Maywood Lands, LLC. This Council adopted resolution, also known as Preserve on Maywood, included a potentially dangerous stretch of pedestrian/bike pathway used by residents of all ages, including children. I believe public safety is a priority. Accessibility for people with all abilities is also important, and this proposed path potentially endangers access and lives.
I would have vetoed this item also due to possible conflict of interest with the engineering firm being members of the development. There were future traffic utilizations concerns as well as matters of future maintenance costs and potential liability issues, in case someone is tragically injured. I believe when valid concerns of Rochester residents were ignored and safety is an issue, a veto is merited. Public safety, financial transparency, and addressing resident questions need to be prioritized.
As a former council member, I know there are many policy meetings held behind closed doors, lack of competitive bids, cronyism in contracts, and inconsistent information among staff and city council. A priority with vetoing would be to make available additional options available and the chance for all Council members to visit the site, understand concerns, and have consistent information before re-voting.
7) Rochester’s mayor, or a council-approved designee when the mayor is a Mayo Clinic employee, sits on the Destination Medical Center Corp. Board, which is charged with helping implement the DMC development plan. What do you see as priorities for the DMC initiative in the next four years?
Voters need to take conflict of interest very seriously when electing a mayor. In a city of Rochester’s size, the mayor is a full-time position. Our mayor should not hold other full-time employment, especially one that has the potential of financial conflicts like Mayo Clinic or Hospitality.
Rochester’s mayor is required to sign an Ethics Disclosure form, which should include immediate family financial ties to organizations that do business with the City.
As with all industry that does business with the City, DMC needs to fix their mistakes and keep their promises. This includes the Heart of the City projects, pavers in Peace plaza, and promises made with the former Lourdes building.
In addition to transportation and housing, residents want DMC to focus on things that make our downtown accessible and vibrant. This includes parking, way finding and support for struggling restaurants and shopping. A focus of DMC legislation was to ensure patients have places to go when not in appointments. Both visitors and residents need more affordable, accessible, and diverse activities downtown. All ages and income levels should be able to participate in experiences downtown.
The DMC also needs to ensure their actions do not adversely affect residents with increased taxation, construction, or safety. During a meeting DMC's Director of Business Development, stated DMC has problems integrating Rochester businesses into DMC projects. To help Rochester economic development also includes hiring more local companies to assist in Rochester’s growth.
8) Continued discussions about the new Rochester Regional Sports and Recreation Complex, as well as efforts to develop and promote other recreational opportunities, have many people suggesting the process was flawed. In hindsight, is there anything you would have done differently? How would you like to see the City Council move forward with efforts to meet residents’ recreational needs?
I believe the original November 2023 ballot wording for the 0.5% sales tax extension was not clear and thus misleading. The ballot language asked voters to approve a sales tax to fund an outdoor AND indoor regional sports and recreation complex. A complex that would meet the needs of our community for decades. Transparency is trust, instead the “regional sports and recreation complex” description was vague. Residents should have had more details, concrete description, and context prior to casting their vote.
The $65 million was also clearly not enough for the completion of an indoor design that our community needs. Residents should have had a more accurate cost estimate. Instead, public trust was eroded when the cost quickly doubled. Residents felt their tax dollars were not being used efficiently or honestly. As a council member, I advocated for the old IBM location which residents wanted yet again did not get.
As a parent and active volunteer in Rochester for 20 years, Rochester needs more inclusive indoor sports options and gym space after the YMCA’s closing. Summers get dangerously hot and winters incredibly cold, indoor space is needed to for physical, emotional well-being.
The change of plans betrayed public trust. This type of "bait and switch" is a clear example of how I believe our local government is abusing executive authority. There needs to be more oversight to ensure transparency and fiscal accountability to Rochester's residents.
*Photo credit Post-Bulletin and questions from reporter Randy Petersen. These are just my response, to read all candidates please visit: https://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/eight-mayor-candidates-target-collaboration-with-rochester-council
Please vote today August 11th for your future
and integrity matters
