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

Carver County Commissioner District 3

County commissioners are the county s key policymakers. They oversee the administration of the county, set county budget, and participate in county long-range planning. County services that they oversee include a wide variety of social service and welfare programs, as well as certain public health programs. Learn more about the day in the life of a county commissioner in this video from the Association of Minnesota Counties.A candidate forum for this race is available at https://www.youtube.com/live/JSzexRv-Kdg?si=aGLk5tX9-pRuU-rw. 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

    John Peter Mihajlov
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Matt Udermann
    (NP)

Biographical Information

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)

How would you ensure election laws do not create barriers to Minnesotans’ freedom to vote while also ensuring safe and secure elections? (500 characters)

What do you see as the biggest challenges to mental health and social services in your county, and how would you address them? (500 characters)

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Campaign Website http://www.johnforcarvercounty.com
Contact Phone 612-226-8485
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560874641441
Campaign Email info@johnforcarvercounty.com
My first priority will be to ensure the safety of all citizens in Carver County. I believe the County has the responsibility to create an environment that’s safe for everyone, including protecting our neighbors from crime, potential hazards and unforeseen circumstances.

My second is to ensure the County is optimizing our resources. We need to be good stewards of our natural and financial resources, creating a balance that is welcoming to businesses and citizens, and investing in the services that create, support a vibrant community.

My third will be to focus on short- and long-term strategic planning. Carver County is a great place to live and work, we need to plan our infrastructure and resources to ensure healthy growth.
We have a strong tradition of free and fair elections in Minnesota. To maintain that tradition, we need to continue to invest in providing multiple safe voting options, including in-person, early and mail-in voting. We need to ensure voting remains accessible, making polling places available and functional for all, including people with disabilities or language barriers. Finally, maintaining and evolving election security measures, including regular audits of the system.
It's clear we have a mental health crisis in our country, and the county has an opportunity to help meet the need. We can do that by focusing on:

Funding: Start by ensuring the funding we do have goes to evidence-based, effective and proven resources. Stigma and Education: Stigma surrounding mental health and not knowing where to turn or what’s available are often the biggest barriers to connecting with help. Coordination and integration: Remove barriers to ensure our agencies are aligned.
Campaign Website http://www.youmattertomatt.com
Contact Phone 6516051162
Facebook (Full URL) http://facebook.com/youmattertomatt
Campaign Email matt@youmattertomatt.com
Shouldn't elections be about YOU, the voter? I think so. Four pillars drive the YOU MATTer campaign. People Matter; people before politics. Community Matters; you should be able to live here a lifetime if you choose. Finances Matter; we need to be smarter stewards of your tax dollars. Results Matter; results over rhetoric (www.youmattertomatt.com/resultsmatter)

Top issues voters when knocking on doors? 1. Sustainable taxes - we need to be intentional about a balanced tax mix by being pro business and not overly burden homeowners/renters. 2. Need for strategic vision - we need to plan further out and embrace fresh thoughts beyond status quo. 3. Talent Pipeline - seeing staff as an investment including employee engagement metrics/goals.
Balanced boards are better boards. I have (and will continue to) invite a broader voice to the table - by board and committee appointments, seeking insights, hearing challenges, and evaluating unnecessary barriers. We need to look at our changing communities and embrace the positive impact of and make room for representative voices.
We need to be smart about the best return of time/money in tackling very complex challenges that are anything but one size fits all. An est. 90% of funds are going toward emergency care - and we have growing unfunded state mandates, inadequate layers/systems and need to move upstream to prevention. Part of prevention is community - lowering barriers for authentic connection, partnering with civic, not for profit and faith organizations. One connection with someone that cares has impact.
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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.