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

North Branch City Mayor {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

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

    Lorraine Moeller
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kevin Schieber
    (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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I have a vision for the City of North Branch, not just for the next 2 years but long into the future. A vision of hope and prosperity for North Branch, a thriving and vibrant community in Chisago County.

I have demonstrated my community service and leadership serving in various capacities within the City of North Branch and volunteer organizations and well as owning my own small business, Blue Sky Travel, Inc., for the past 25 years plus. I am well aware of the complexities of local government working with state, federal and local officials, residents, business owners, education and religious communities. I feel I understand, and have the pulse of the community to collaborate with all these entities to build a thriving, vibrant city.
Economic Development is my passion for North Branch. We have a 200 plus acre of shovel ready, rail spurs and infrastructure just waiting to happen. I will be laser focused on leading the drive to cut the red tape for new and existing businesses to do business in North Branch. Change is so necessary to fix our economic and city tax revenue to not be the burden it is on residents and a couple businesses. We need to be mindful of balanced growth. Investigate the sale of our Electric Utility.
I believe in checks and balances. Currently that is nonexistent in our city government. I do not believe in lumping things in a packet without detail. We need to see the need, the why and the expected result. The secrets have to stop. Knowing that the residents elect the council, and council directs staff - not the other way around. That will cause transparency. The need for bullying in chambers will not be tolerated. Code of conduct is there for a reason and will be upheld.
I believe that staff and council need to make time for the residents to be heard. This will hopefully initiate getting residents involved. By making available task forces or sub committees for issues facing the city and involving residents to participate enables them to feel they have an investment in their community. Plus fixing our open forum prior to any council meeting. I will also hold mayoral hours once a week and if needed 2 times a week. We the people - your voice matters!
I will work closely with our law enforcement and public safety departments in keeping the dialogue open to hear the comments/needs on both sides. Residents - we the people - need to be safe in our community whether it be the streets, work place, residence, shopping, schools, or freeway! You matter! You are a priority!
Campaign Website http://www.facebook.com/Schieber4Mayor
Contact Phone 7634435951
Campaign Email kevin.schieber@yahoo.com
I believe I am the best candidate for mayor of North Branch because I have taken extensive time as the current mayor to ask lots of questions of our various department supervisors, trying to understand their needs for providing services to our residents, business owners and non-profit organizations. I take a pragmatic approach to balancing the needs and requests of our various departments, with what I feel is sustainable during the operating budget planning process. Although some of our city challenges are difficult, I always try to be real about the situation and tackle our problems head on. I do that by truly listening to the needs of our community, then trying to figure out where we have common ground for finding the best solutions
•Refocus on city organizational structure. After many conversations with staff, it has become apparent that the city needs to reevaluate the layout and size of our current staffing. •Proactive Business Development. I will continue to help grow our relationships within the community, so that businesses and city leaders feel they are one team. •Public safety. The city has not kept up with needed manning, nor adequate replacement of police vehicles. Public Works manning/equipment need support.
I am straight forward and honest with my opinions and actions, with the expectation that other members of the city council, as well as staff leadership, will do the same. If council members or staff leaders show signs of inappropriate behavior or appear non-forthcoming in needed information, I try and handle it respectfully. Our residents and taxpayers deserve clearly articulated information and justifications for why the council makes their decisions.
I have helped expand our public comment time from 3 to 5 minutes during council meetings. I also encourage some feedback/acknowledgement from councilmembers to public comment speakers. I have listed my mobile phone number on the city website, as well as my city business cards. I am active on Facebook and do my best to answer all questions. We have held a couple of community forums this year, and I support more of those types of interaction events so I can learn from our residents.
I am currently supporting the hiring of an additional police officer, as well as the replacement of 6 police vehicles. Past budget decisions did not include an incremental approach to replacing our vehicles or the manning needs. This type of lapse in commitment cannot happen again. I am also in support of training and better pay for our volunteer fire fighters. Retention and recruitment support is crucial for keeping continuity and depth of experience on our first responder teams.
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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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