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

Corcoran 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 CouncilA candidate forum for this race is available at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n53qsglb4zaca4qms6vs7/Candidate-Forum9-30-24.mp4?rlkey=4jr9an4ot4jb17r6gpyn7gewz&st=gtqevbyj&dl=0. 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

    Craig Espelien
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Michelle R. Friedrich
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Dean Vehrenkamp
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jason Woody
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Anthony Wychgram
    (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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Contact Phone 6128450064
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555132419660
Campaign Email cespelien@gmail.com
I believe we have an opportunity to build out Corcoran to be one of the best places to live in all of Minnesota - but only if we create the vision and plan now. The next 10-15 years will be critical to developing the plan and creating an execution plan to allows for smart, measured growth while developing our city into a great place to live and an amazing destination for people in surrounding communities.
#1 - smart, measured growth

#2 - every development project should be good for Corcoran, good for our residents and positively impact our overall financial position

#3 - as a city, spend money like it is out own. This means we should improve our total living experience, create and monitor accountability for every dollar is spent and remember that no government has their own money - it is the people's money
Through interviews and listening sessions with each group within the city:

Residents Businesses Land Owners Developers City Staff
First and foremost, I will advocate for creating a scorecard for every project and a dashboard for the public. We can measure things like "On Time" for projects, "Performance Relative to Budget" for projects and departments as well as making sure city staff is held accountable for not only being good stewards of public funds but create and execute against proper accountabilities.
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I am a current City Council member representing Corcoran Residents and current businesses which includes growing the MUSA area while preserving the Rural area of our city.. Working to keep our city tax rate flat the last 3 years. Driving our city staff to be as transparent as possible and keep Corcoran a great place to live. Giving my full support to our Police department to help them keep us safe while keeping them protected as much as possible including keep our K-9 position filled and active. Supporting our Parks by working hard on the remaster plan of our city park and begin developing trail throughout our city. Continue to support our Ag community as much as possible as they are very important to me and my Rural roots from Southern MN.
Continue to support Commercial and Industrial Development in Corcoran including our Downtown plans near the St. Therese community opening SEPT 2024. Work with Hennepin county to resolve Traffic issues related to Drive through traffic intersections at CTY Rd 30 and CTY RD 19, CTY Rd 19 and CTY RD 117, and the 610 intersection 1/2 mile from our eastern border on CTY road 30. Continue to support all activities at Corcoran Lions Park.
I personally meeting and talk face to face with any Resident/Business Owner/Developer on issues they may have. I attend as many public events as possible and make myself available to anyone during my days off from my regular job. I do not spend a lot of time on electronic devices, I feel personal conversations mean more to me and the person that needs answers. Everyone in our City means something to me and are worth my time as an elected office.
Continue to personally meet with citizens and make sure that our city government is not self serving but is responsible to our residents are the ones our Administration should be helping.
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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.