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

Cottage Grove 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. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-city-councilUse the MN Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing page (https://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/) to find specific candidate contact information.A candidate forum for this race is available at https://www.youtube.com/live/vnWHlv0RTVU?si=qFufbqRI5bgIAfrt. 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

    David Clausen
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Tony Khambata
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Justin Olsen
    (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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Campaign Website http://olsenforcottagegrove.com
Contact Phone 6128453524
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/OlsenForCottageGrove/
Campaign Twitter Handle @@justinolsencg
Campaign Email olsenforcg@aol.com
I grew up in Cottage Grove, graduating from Park High in 1988. My dad was a Volunteer Firefighter and my mom worked in Early Childhood Education. Their example about the importance of serving others led me to work as a volunteer Public Safety, Health, and Welfare commissioner for four years before seeking election to the City Council. That invaluable experience taught me a lot about how our city operates, the annual budget process, and the critical importance of compromise. I am also past President of the Cottage Grove Strawberry Festival Committee, current Vice-President of the Cottage Grove Economic Development Authority, current President of the Cottage Grove Lions Club and current Chair of our Cottage Grove Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Sensible growth in our business sector to widen our city’s tax base & create good paying jobs while reducing the tax burden on homeowners.

Work closely with local, state and federal partners toward supporting a vibrant commercial environment - including retail & dining amenities - that keep Cottage Grove residents shopping locally.

Fiscal responsibility that balances our city’s overall tax levy, bond rating, water quality & infrastructure needs for the long-term health of our community.
I’ll continue working tirelessly to ensure all members of our community feel safe, respected, and valued regardless of race, color, or creed through my presence at all local events, open houses, and consistent outreach on issues important to our residents. Including affordable housing, water quality, our environment and natural resources, public safety, and improved transit options, while simultaneously working hard to support the excellent level of city services delivery all residents deserve.
It has always been my goal to serve Cottage Grove residents fairly and honorably, to represent our city positively, to communicate my positions effectively, and to help enact policy initiatives that serve the greater good of our community. All council and commission meetings are open to the public, as are open workshops, with published meeting minutes available for public review. Transparency, effective listening, and personal accountability are among the core values my parents instilled in me.
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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.