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

Grand Rapids City Council Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

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.Voting in local elections is important - learn more here: Why Vote for City Council

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

    Rick Blake
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Joe Burns
    (NP)

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    Dan Mertes
    (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)

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I served as a City Councilor for 8+ years. I know how to be an effective Council member. As a city councilor, business owner and one who oversaw department budgets in the paper & mining industries I know the budget process. I served on almost all the various Boards & Commissions Council Members are assigned to. As a Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Board & City Council Member, I have lobbied the legislature on behalf of the interests of our City. Community involvement helped me develop the skills needed to work with others to get things done. Successful projects I have been part of include the Community Solar Garden, multi & single family housing developments, the pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi River, & many others.
I plan to do my part to ensure my hometown is a great place to work, live & raise a family. A great place to work requires good jobs, fostering a business climate that encourages expansion of existing businesses & industries while attracting new ones. A great place to live requires maintaining infrastructure, ensuring public safety by adequately funding our police & fire departments. A great place to raise a family requires decent, safe & sanitary housing, affordable childcare & good schools.
As a member of City Council & of the Human Rights Commission I have been involved in protecting the rights of all of our citizens. A personal goal is to make our community a more welcoming one. I will continue to actively support & promote events that celebrate diversity & will reach out to under-represented members of our community. My involvement with the local community action agency provides me with the opportunity to work with a diverse population & I plan to continue in that role.
I follow open meeting law requirements & commit to open & honest dialogue with constituents. I will work to ensure that ICTV is able to continue recording & broadcasting public meetings. Funding is becoming a challenge due to the switch from cable, which passes through a fee to ICTV to support this service, to streaming, which does not. I will work with others to seek a remedy that guarantees continuation of this valuable service so citizens can witness local government proceedings firsthand.
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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.