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

SSD #6 School Board Member at Large {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies.Learn more here: Voting Local Matters: Why Vote for School Board | League of Women VotersIf your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info. If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from the LWVMN!A candidate forum for this race is available at https://youtu.be/QHTz41T9iFY. 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

    Isaac Contreras
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Christian Cruz
    (NP)

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    Paul Cumings
    (NP)

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    Ryan Duffy
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Mary Dunn
    (NP)

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    Monica Weber
    (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 forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

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Campaign Website http://www.paulcumings.com
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/paulforsspschoolboard
Campaign Twitter Handle @paulcumings
Campaign Email paul.cumings@gmail.com
My life has been dedicated to public service and bringing people together to find innovative, community-based solutions. I commit to putting Kids First.

During my 17+ years in state government service, I have learned how to work collaboratively to solve problems. As an expert in local government financing, I worked with local units of government on increasing existing state aid programs, creating new state aid programs, and lessening the pressure of property taxes.

I also have experience working on outreach efforts. As we talk to voters about how to fund our schools, I want to ensure we are ready to honestly talk about the issues voters care about.

Now, I am eager to use my experience to deliver results for South St. Paul students.
As your School Board Member, I will: • Put Kids First – I will ensure South St. Paul students have a World Class Education. Our future economy and civic life depend on great schools. • Fight for a Sustainable Future – As demographics change and enrollment declines, we need to embrace creative solutions and bold visions. • Progress through Partnership – I will work together with parents, students, teachers, staff, and residents to ensure we have safe, supportive, and inclusive environments.
I would prioritize cutting non-student facing budget items first. We need to protect student facing services. I would look for ways to increase shared services with other units of government. We should identify duplicative services that can be achieved in partnership with others. I would pursue creative revenue sources that could fill the gap. Also, I would make the case to students thinking of leaving SSP schools and ask them reconsider leaving our schools (which costs us revenue).
All students should be able to bring their whole selves into our learning environments. Every child – no matter their race or economic status - deserve to have schools that give them the best shot to get ahead. We need to continue to pursue strategies to increase literacy and basic math skills, ensure we are fully utilizing the services of county and city systems to serve our students, and continue to develop multiple pathways to ensure students can find the right path for them in life.
I will take a collaborative and open approach. It is important to go into spaces where parents and teachers meet including meetings of the PTA and teachers’ union, informal gatherings, and school sponsored events like athletic activities and theater. I will also ensure that parents and teachers feel welcome to share their feedback at school board meetings. Finally, I will try to ensure teachers and families know the issues that are coming up so they can provide timely feedback.
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Campaign Email mdunninssp@gmail.com
My 40 year work experience primarily in business to business sales and account management, has given me skills in finance management and budgeting, contract negotiation, and creative problem solving.

I believe these are important skills to bring to a role that requires that difficult and sometimes, unpopular decisions must be made. Thinking outside of the typical box though, and envisioning a longterm strategic path are two of my strengths. For that reason, i believe that I would be a valuable addition to the team of community members who will ultimately make up our school board.

If elected, my top three priorities would be: One: Listen, ask questions, fully understand where we are today and where are we headed.

Two: Address the budget and the resulting tax burden. Consider how we are spending today and how we can do better going forward. We’ve got some problems as many SD’s do, but we can be successful in managing the change that is needed to solve those problems.

Three: Equity for all kids and in all its forms, will be at the center of my decision making.
My strategy, if forced to cut the budget, would be to thoroughly understand the current priorities and shortfalls. I would also consider future priorities and how they may be changing. I would then be prepared to make sound decisions based on a well informed strategic plan.
Every decision that I make, would have equity for all students at its center.
I would always look to the two most important groups of participants in the educational experience, the students and teachers, as a part of my decision making process. They are the “why” and the “because of”. We are here as a board, for the students who can be educated because we have skilled, professional teachers who are willing to do that. I would expect to engage them in all decisions that affect any aspect of their experience.
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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.