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

Pennock City Council Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

As local legislators who sometimes have executive power, council members can propose ordinances, set administrative policy, and authorize the budget proposed by the mayor. They oversee all city activities, including city services, programs, licensing, and public safety. Mayoral appointments to city government typically require council approval.Voting in local elections is important - learn more here: Why Vote for City Council

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

    Jeffrey A. Arends
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Lance Crowe
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Shane Dillabough
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kerry Gross
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jerry L. Kolden
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Karen Skaggs
    (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)

How do you plan to engage with and represent all members of our diverse community?(500 characters)

What steps will you take to ensure transparency and accountability in city government? (500 characters)

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Contact Phone 320.441.9480
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/shane.dillabough/
Campaign Email dillaboughsha@gmail.com
My grandparents lived in Pennock, so I’ve spent a lot of time in this community, and I’ve built lasting friendships here. Knowing the people and the challenges we face gives me a unique perspective. I’m deeply invested in seeing our town succeed, not just as a place to live, but as a thriving, close-knit community. With my background in IT and business development, I’m ready to use my skills and connections to make a positive impact.
If elected, my top priorities will be addressing the emerald ash borer to protect our trees, promoting technology development to keep our community modern and competitive, and ensuring fiscal responsibility so our town’s money is spent wisely. I’ll also support local small businesses by reducing obstacles and providing resources, ensuring they continue to thrive. My goal is to protect and grow our community while making decisions that benefit everyone.
I plan to engage with everyone by being approachable and supporting easy communication, like a city email system for all members. This way, people can share ideas, concerns, or suggestions directly. I’ll reach out to different groups in our community to ensure everyone feels included and heard. My goal is to make sure everyone’s voice counts, no matter their background, and to make decisions that benefit the whole community.
To ensure transparency and accountability, I’ll support easy access to city records and decisions through an online portal where people can track budgets, projects, and meetings. I’ll also push for open communication, like regular updates via email or community posts, so everyone knows what’s going on. By making sure decisions are clear and public, and listening to feedback, I’ll work to build trust and keep the government accountable to the people.
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While living in Pennock, I've shared the same experiences of many Pennock residents. I can relate to being a renter, a single mom raising a family, and a property-owner. To me, Pennock is a special opportunity for people to have an affordable, safe home and raise a family. Pennock businesses provide products and services to residents and others, and I feel it’s important to have city policies that promote local business. When residents can re-elect a city council member, they get a representative that has already gone through the learning that happens during the first term. This would be my second term as a city council member. I fully believe that a council member should represent the views of the residents, not just personal opinions.
1)Responsible City spending balanced with, 2) Developing helpful local services, 3) Promoting Pennock to develop housing opportunities. Wise spending helps keep local taxes reasonable; helping Pennock residents/businesses. As a member of Pennock Lions, we work with the City on projects like adding playground equipment and park facilities. Places that can be enjoyed by all residents. With the current housing challenges, Pennock can be an affordable alternative for people who work in the area.
The best way to represent people in Pennock is to hear residents’ needs. This could be in small-group meetings, by mail or electronic communications; give people many ways to speak. City council members are not currently provided an email address only for City Council issues. Even before the election, I will propose that City council members get a dedicated email address to provide to residents, and residents should be able to use the drop-box to reach out to a specific council member or mayor.
Provide community members with many ways and opportunities to communicate with council members. Open council meetings give residents a way to learn about current and ongoing issues the council is addressing, but meetings can seem formal and intimidating. With interest from residents, it might be helpful to have a dedicated time before the meeting to speak 1-on-1 with residents having questions or concerns. Monthly meeting minutes are printed and available in the lobby of the post office.
Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund

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.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.