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.

Start Over

Voter Guide

Richfield City Council Member Ward 2

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

    Sean Hayford Oleary
    (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)

{_btnLabelFor(compare1, _isInSelection(compare1))}
{_btnLabelFor(compare2, _isInSelection(compare2))}
The slogan I ran on in 2020 was "Sean Shows Up for Richfield" — and I've shown up in my first term, being highly responsive to constituents, being consistently prepared for meetings, and serving beyond the Council itself. I've served on the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, as liaison to the Transportation Commission, and regional groups Metro Cities and 35W Solutions. I understand city code and policy well, and I have used that knowledge and experience to the benefit of Richfield and to the residents of Ward 2.
1.) Continuing to invest in downtown Richfield. We all shared goals for redevelopment of the Hub, but I with that project stalled, I want us to broaden that goal to invest throughout our downtown in the 66th & Lyndale area.

2.) I support the referenda to invest more money in our parks, and will work to ensure the money, if approved by voters, is well-spent on the three projects and offer lasting, generational value

3.) Continue to support efficient, transparent government.
I make myself available through multiple modes — phone, email, text message, Facebook, and in-person. I meet with constituents, and when they have a concern, I work through any customer service problem with them. I am alway out and about in Richfield and always happy to talk about our city and its governance.
I continue to carefully examine budget increases, and will push back — as I did this year for the 2025 budget — when increases seem potentially unwarranted. The most important transparency tool, in my opinion, is our strategic plan, which tells us — elected leaders and staff leadership — what our priority and game plan is, and makes the progress transparent to the public. I will continue to support this process and ensure the public stays apprised.
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.