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

Willernie 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. 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.

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.

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    Kristine Cook
    (NP)

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    Dean M Flaherty
    (NP)

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    Andrew De Jong
    (NP)

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    Patrick Miller
    (NP)

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    Donald Regan
    (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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Because I have lived in Willernie for over five years now, so have a strong working knowledge of, and investment in, the local community. I want the council to keep our city functioning efficiently and prospering, and I have an especially vested interest in working toward those aims as a younger homeowner in the city, and parent of young children. I have not served on the council before and would provide fresh opinions and insight in decision-making. I have a background as an attorney, and have lived in big and small communities in and out of our state, which will help me navigate critical analysis needed for serving our city, and permits me to apply my view of what may have worked - or what didn't work - in these other cities or towns.
Working to make sure our city continues to attract and retain residents by keeping its small village feel and natural charm, while remaining affordable, so current homeowners can stay put; protecting the city's lake and other natural areas, as they are great assets; and continuing the current council's progress in creating opportunities for residents to get together as neighbors, to promote community connectedness and public civic investment and engagement.
Connect and develop relationships with local residents, community members, business owners and employees, and other stakeholders in the role of city council member. Then, when it comes to addressing city issues and questions, these relationships can afford space and opportunity for anyone from our diverse community, with an interest in city politics or workings, to connect with me, and the larger council, to have their opinion, concern, or request heard.
I would promote and encourage in-person or video attendance and participation at city council meetings, and work toward providing more up-to-date information to residents and the public on goings-on in Willernie, or pending city issues, via the city website or newsletters. I would also make myself readily reachable by phone, text, or email for public inquiry or commentary on matters before the council or otherwise impacting the city, and relay that information to the council for decision making.
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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.