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

Red Wing 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. 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.A candidate forum for this race is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmEh9CXpYg8&authuser=0. 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

    Donald Kliewer
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Min MartinOakes
    (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))}
For several reasons, First I have a background of serving our citizens, either through my service as a school board member of six years, or 16 years in the Minnesota Army National Guard and now serving a little over two years as the Ward 2 Red Wing City Council representative. I served as the General Manager of the Q Media Group for 15 years, retiring at the end of 2020. Serving as a City Councilor requires a considerable time commitment, which I’m now fortunate to be able to accommodate. Tough decisions are continually at the forefront, with my business acumen, common sense, as well as direction from citizens, we will make the best decision with the information available
Budget - Taxes We need to determine how we are going to deal with high real estate taxes. We only have two options, either reduce spending or increase revenues from sources other than our citizens. Community Safety Economic Development to include Workforce Housing and Commercial Development. Cannabis Schools
I intend to be a voice for all citizens. I am determined to keep an open line of communication with all community members
I am open for dialogue with any member of our community to discuss any issue that I can legally can. Many times, citizens are short of all the facts and come to conclusions that are not correct. It is best to go on a fact-finding mission before drawing any conclusions.
Campaign Website http://www.winwithmin.org
Contact Phone 6512148622
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082173467099
Campaign Email moakes1567@gmail.com
My background in leadership and service makes me the best candidate for this position. I believe that to be an effective community leader, one must first "look into the eyes of the people" to understand the needs of the community. I continually seek to do just that in all my actions. As a teacher and school principal, I served children and families and worked collaboratively with others. As a school leader, I worked with limited budgets while continuing to effectively address challenges in my school. I believe it is everyone's duty to serve their community as they can. For me, that has been through work in the schools, volunteer work at our food shelf, at the Sheldon Theatre and as a member of the Sustainability and Charter Commissions.
1) Have a regular time that constituents can meet with me & speak about their "joys & concerns". This is a tangible way to increase civic engagement. 2) Work to address Red Wing's housing needs, including housing availability at all price levels, affordable housing & addressing the needs of the unhoused. 3) Our area has far less mental health providers than other communities of similar size. It is critically important to address mental health needs by attracting providers to the area.
I will reach out to community members of color & other backgrounds or who live with less resources to increase inclusion & continue to "draw the circle larger". Much of my professional work has been around inclusion of students with special needs in the general education setting. This increases student achievement & creates a community where students of all ability levels know, like & care for one another. This gives me a unique perspective on what belonging is & how it is created & increased.
In all matters, public comment and addressing resident concerns needs to be at the heart of civic work. Being mindful of, and adherent to, Open Meeting Laws, in both the letter and spirit of the law, needs to be a basic duty of all elected officials. Currently, it is typical that there are many items on the consent agenda at city council meetings. I will work to have less items on consent agendas so that there can be more public discussion on topics of interest to the public.
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.