Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

We do not save your information; it will be lost when you leave this page. Only candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed. Additional information may be available for your area so be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for other voters’ guides.

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Voter Guide

Fridley City Mayor

The mayor is usually the head of the city and may represent the city in front of other government bodies. They also can preside at council meetings and appoint city workers. A mayor usually has a role in proposing a city budget which influences services provided to residents and can veto ordinances proposed by the city council.Voting in local elections is important - learn more here: Why Vote for MayorA candidate forum for this race is available at https://youtu.be/yWR1rwXMKS4. More MN forums are available at https://www.lwvmn.org/2024-candidate-forums.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Dave Ostwald
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Natividad Seefeld
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

If elected, what strategies will you use to ensure transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in city government under your leadership? (500 characters)

How will you engage with residents to solicit feedback, involve them in decision-making processes, and ensure their voices are heard? (500 characters)

How will you approach public safety and community policing to ensure the well-being of all residents? (500 characters)

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I have been involved in local government for approximately 14 years starting with several city commissions to being the Council Member at Large the last 5 years. My professional career led me to being the president and board member of the Minnesota Business Aviation Association as well as a member of the Gulfstream Aerospace Customer Advisory Board. I am a past president and board member of the Fridley Lions Cub and served 10 years as a US Marine. My extensive experience in leadership roles have involved long range planning, budget forecasting, staffing concerns and project management. I am the best qualified candidate to be mayor.
Public safety, the residents must feel safe in their community and know that our police and first responders are available to support their needs. Provide value and accountability for tax dollars spent to provide city services. Continuing the implementation of the detailed parks plan that has been created with public input over several years.
By providing training and education on the duties and responsibilities of all staff and council so there are no questions as to what is expected and required. All meetings and conferences where public policy is being decided are in accordance with open meeting laws so that anyone can view or attend.
We currently hold town hall meetings, solicit feedback through on line forms, pop up meetings on location, links through electronic communications and public hearings related to all planned city projects. There are also mailings, quarterly newsletters, a city calendar on the web site and email subscriptions available. I personally communicate my willingness to take calls and respond to any inquires at all times.
By providing the necessary equipment, training and support to our public safety department. I fully support the Director of Public Safety’s Fridley Citizens Advisory Group which meets with a good cross section of residents to take input on current events and trends within the city which can be used to tailor responses to incidents.
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The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

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