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.
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Voter Guide

Prior Lake 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

    Kirt Briggs
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kevin Burkart
    (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 Website http://www.ChooseBriggs.com
Contact Phone 6128892250
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/ChooseBriggs
Campaign Email ChooseBriggs@gmail.com
The accomplishment and prosperity that Prior Lake has seen over these past 8 years has been under my leadership as Mayor. My candidacy provides voters with a proven choice for Mayor. I have led our city through budget belt-tightening that has reduced debt and elevated the city’s bond rating to AAA. This enhanced financial foundation will save the city over $60K in 2024. I have also led the city through the difficult challenges of a major road project in our downtown, a pandemic that shut down our small businesses, and fought to oppose proposed state legislation that would harm taxpayers. Through each, my accessibility to all voices expanded, collaboration was fostered, and stronger relations and positive outcomes were realized.
1.) Continued focus on fiscal strength, saving for anticipated expenses and maintaining our AAA Bond rating. 2.) As a member of the EDA for 2 terms, we tripled private investment (~$11m) as compared to the previous 8 years. Continue/accelerate this commercial development to reduce residential tax burden. 3.) Oppose proposed legislative change at the Capitol that would eliminate local control(s) on land use, zoning and the public hearing process shifting costs from developers to taxpayers.
My cell number has been on the City website since elected. I have been a constant presence at community events, the Farmers Market or for a cup of coffee at Edelweiss these past 8 years. I have served as a Santa Claus for kids, reading in our schools, and meeting regularly with our many service organizations. My sole residence is in Prior Lake. With the loss of our local paper, the city needs, and I will support, additional communication resources to maintain transparency in all that we do.
My accessibility to citizens has been a hallmark of my tenure as Mayor: This will largely remain unchanged! I will seek out new venues and technical formats to reach further into our community seeking out quieter voices.
My efforts at the Capitol, along with others, allowed our School Resource Officers to return to our schools. I am a strong voice for public safety on the Council leading us to adding 7 officers these past 8 years. I have had success advancing discussions on public safety funding outside the city at the state and federal level. These efforts enhanced safety while buffering taxpayers from added cost. With the relationships that I have formed, the effectiveness of my public safety focus will grow.
Campaign Website http://www.electburkart.com/
Contact Phone 9524578066
Campaign Email kevin@kevinburkart.com
Current mayor has had the position two terms - 8 years. I'm in favor of term limits. I've term limited myself on Council, I will term limit myself as Mayor - two terms. It's a healthy system that turns over leadership - build the next generation of community leaders, new ideas, a new approach.
1. A revitalized downtown with parking & residential options. 2. I support a Park & Trail Referendum. The investment is overdue. 3. Legislative representation protecting local authority.
I want independent voices on your City Council, no open meeting violations, and a respect for the non-partisan process. No voting blocks for me, I listen to taxpayers first. I don't want a 5-0 Council, I want healthy deliberation.
Better utilize the existing Citizens Engagement Committee. We should delegate more analysis and responsibility to them.

I'd like to see the City Council meet in other locations than Council Chambers. We should go to constituents.
We have grown our police force and fire department exponentially the past 8 years I've been on Council. Public safety continues to be a mission critical function of local government.
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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.

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