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

Preston City Mayor

The mayor is usually the head of the city and may represent the city in front of other government bodies. They also can preside at council meetings and appoint city workers. A mayor usually has a role in proposing a city budget which influences services provided to residents and can veto ordinances proposed by the city council.Voting in local elections is important - learn more here: Why Vote for Mayor

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

    Austin Baukol
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Alison Leathers
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kurt Reicks
    (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 elected, what strategies will you use to ensure transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in city government under your leadership? (500 characters)

How will you engage with residents to solicit feedback, involve them in decision-making processes, and ensure their voices are heard? (500 characters)

How will you approach public safety and community policing to ensure the well-being of all residents? (500 characters)

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Campaign Email alisonbleathers@gmail.com
As Mayor, my main goal is to be a leader committed to investing in Preston’s future, to leave it a better community than when I found it. My skills and expertise in community organizing, collaboration, tourism, rural development, and small business management will enable me to be an effective Mayor to ensure the City is running efficiently, managing budgets, and being proactive on the needs of our residents and visitors. I am committed to having a strong public presence, participating in various committees and events, to passionately communicate and demonstrate Preston’s goals and values.
One priority is investment in Preston’s future to maintain and improve our infrastructure, utilize technology, and strive for economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Secondly, I am committed to being a visible leader to represent and promote Preston and listen to residents’ ideas and feedback. Finally, we must execute our housing study plan and our master riverfront plan while collaborating more with community groups to accomplish these projects and more.
More information sharing will provide more transparency and encourage more participation. City council meetings should be broadcast on Zoom and recorded. City council meeting packets should be made public and available online for all meetings of the current year, and elected official’s email addresses should be listed on the City website. Ethics and meeting conduct training should be provided to all elected officials. City council and staff must work closely to maintain audits and reviews.
City council meetings need to have time for public comment and feedback, and City Hall should have public comment or idea forms to submit. Annual survey data could be collected from residents to gather ideas and acknowledge concerns. More communication, in the form of utility mailers, City-wide email lists, and Mayoral newsletters, need to happen so residents are aware of ordinances, proposed changes, ways to get involved, and general happenings.
The City must work closely with our Preston Police Department, volunteer fire department, and EMS to ensure those entities are fully staffed and supported. Our residents must receive regular communication on emergency preparedness, storm shelter locations, and general updates. We need to work with our school district and other community partners to ensure everyone is aware of public safety resources and the shared roles we have. There are grants we must explore to enhance our public safety.
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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.