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.
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Rosemount City Council Member At Large {_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. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-city-councilUse the MN Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing page (https://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/) to find specific candidate contact information.Watch the candidate forum for this race, held on August 22, 2024.

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

    Heidi Freske
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Paul Theisen
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Al Viall Jr
    (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)

I am currently serving in my second term on City Council. We have accomplished many things in the last 8 years: continuous investments in public safety, Fortune 500 companies are investing in our community, new schools to support our growing population and experiencing record economic development growth These accomplishments are a result of diligent planning, a strong leadership team, and a council who is proactive and focused on providing our residents a high-quality of life, while wisely spending their tax dollars. I am running for a third term because our community is in the midst of tremendous growth. My experience as a council member, professional and leader will continue to be an asset to the City Council.
1. Preserving our hometown feel is not just words, it’s how I make decisions. Community is always first. 2. Continued strategic growth – I am pro-business and believe we have tremendous assets in both land and people. But with growth, we need to think through the impacts and ensure plans for infrastructure is in place: road 3. Public Safety – always the top priority! - Continued investments in Police and Fire - Ensuring we have safe water - Continued focus on our roadways and intersections
Engaging with our resident is one of our council goals. We recently added a new communications person to our staff with the focus of increasing communications and engagement. We continue to do so and listen to resident feedback. We want to be connected to our residents and continue to try new things to ensure we are reaching all residents through various methods. On a personal level, I am always willing to listen to residents. I often do so via email, phone and over coffee.
Transparency is a north star in which I conduct myself and a constant focus for the council. We have a continued focus on communications in various methods. Incorporating in-person events when needed are considered as well. I work closely with city staff leaders to ensure the information provided is accurate and answering our questions. Having open dialogues around issues, budgets and other topics is done ongoing to ensure all parties are heard.
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Candidate response is not yet available.
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I’m the best candidate for Rosemount City Council because I’ve lived here since 2009, giving me a deep understanding of our community’s needs. My priorities include public safety, responsible planning, small business support, and fiscal transparency. As a Technical Alliance Consultant at Oracle, I bring expertise in problem-solving and collaboration to achieve practical results. I’m dedicated to ensuring Rosemount remains a safe and prosperous community, and as a parent of a Rosemount High School student, I’m personally invested in shaping a bright future for all residents. I’ll work hard to represent your voice.
If elected, my top three priorities will be: *Public Safety*—ensuring Rosemount remains a safe place for families and businesses; *Responsible Planning*—fostering smart growth while preserving our community’s character; and *Supporting Small Businesses—promoting a thriving local economy. These priorities reflect my commitment to safety, balanced development, and economic vitality, ensuring Rosemount remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
I plan to engage with and represent all members of our diverse community by being accessible, listening to concerns, and fostering open communication through regular town halls, community events, and online platforms. I’ll actively seek input from underrepresented groups to ensure their voices are heard. By building strong relationships and promoting inclusivity, I’ll work to make sure every resident feels valued and has a say in shaping the future of Rosemount.
To ensure transparency and accountability, I will advocate for open communication with residents, including clear updates on city decisions, budgets, and projects. I will push for accessible public meetings, publish detailed reports, and encourage community feedback through surveys and town halls. I’ll also work to ensure that city operations and spending are thoroughly reviewed and publicly accessible, so residents have a clear understanding of how their tax dollars are being used.

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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