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

Stearns County Commissioner District 2

County commissioners are the county s key policymakers. They oversee the administration of the county, set county budget, and participate in county long-range planning. County services that they oversee include a wide variety of social service and welfare programs, as well as certain public health programs. Learn more about the day in the life of a county commissioner in this video from the Association of Minnesota Counties.

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

    Joe Perske
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Jerry Theisen
    (NP)

Biographical Information

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)

How would you ensure election laws do not create barriers to Minnesotans’ freedom to vote while also ensuring safe and secure elections? (500 characters)

What do you see as the biggest challenges to mental health and social services in your county, and how would you address them? (500 characters)

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Contact Phone 3202234702
Campaign Email joseph.perske@co.stearns.mn.us
The number one county issue at the present time is the future of the Justice Center and the 3/8th % sales tax ballot question. The construction of a new jail facility is quite apparent, however the county has much unused space available downtown and at the Westside Service Center. Prudent spending of tax dollars is extremely important as we move forward with the project. Meeting the needs of the community through social services is always a challenge. Finding outside sources of funding and cooperative efforts within the community can help us address this issue. Another concern is the understaffing at the jail and sheriff's department, as well as many of our other departments. Without a complete workforce, it is very challenging.
The election process has been under great scrutiny on a local and national level. Stearns County has done an outstanding job answering concerns about election procedures and past practice. I have great confidence in our staff, election workers and volunteers from both political parties that our election process will be fair and secure. Minnesota has moved forward in providing eligible voters many opportunities to exercise their voting rights. These opportunities increase voter participation.
A shortage in the workforce has made it difficult for the county to meet these demands. Fortunately, our county’s Community Action Team, has been successful in addressing some of these challenges. This team of law enforcement, mental health and healthcare professionals have helped to get individuals the mental health care they need and avoid the criminal justice direction. We need to continue to pursue funding for these needs from state and federal sources and recruit a workforce to assist.
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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.

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.