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

Carver County Commissioner District 5

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.Watch a candidate forum for this race recorded on September 22, 2026.

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

    John P. Fahey
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Khai Tran
    (NP)

Biographical Information

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

How would you balance safe and secure elections with voting access? (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)

What approach would you take to delivering county services while managing the cost of delivering those services? (500 characters)

What role, if any, do you think the county board plays in immigration enforcement? (500 characters)

How do you plan to interact with constituents to best understand the needs of the county? (500 characters)

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My top three priorities are:

1. Fiscal responsibility and accountability. Taxpayers deserve clear budgets, responsible spending and measurable results.

2. Stronger representation for District 5. Our five cities and six townships need a stronger voice while preserving their individual identities, rural character and quality of life.

3. Strong communities. I will focus on roads and public safety, responsible growth and better connections to mental health and social services.

These priorities are connected. County government should use tax dollars wisely, plan for the future and deliver services that improve people’s lives.
Election security and voting access are not opposing goals. We need both. I support paper ballots, secure equipment, careful chain-of-custody procedures, bipartisan election judges, pre-election testing and post-election audits. I also support accessible polling places, early and absentee voting, and clear information for voters. Every eligible voter should be able to vote, and every voter should be confident that the results are accurate.
The biggest challenges are access, affordability, workforce shortages, transportation and knowing where to turn. Too often, people reach a crisis before they find help. I would strengthen early intervention, support community-based and mobile services, and build partnerships with schools, health providers and nonprofits. The Family Resource Center is a good example: meet people in a trusted place, help them navigate services and reduce duplication.
Start with the basics: fund essential services, measure outcomes and be honest about what works. I would review programs for duplication, use technology where it truly improves service, seek state and federal funding, and partner with cities, townships and nonprofits when it lowers costs or improves access. Residents should receive timely, dependable service, while the county clearly explains what it spends, why it spends it and what taxpayers receive in return.
Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility. The County Board should ensure county policies follow the law, protect public safety and respect due process. It should not create its own immigration policy or turn county employees into federal immigration officers. I came here as a refugee and later became a citizen. I believe in lawful immigration and treating people with dignity. This should be about responsible government, not partisan politics.
I will show up, listen and stay accessible through regular listening sessions and office hours across District 5. I will also publish a one-page update: what the board discussed, motions made, who voted yes or no and how I voted; plus upcoming topics and how residents can attend, watch online or send me feedback before a vote. Communication must go both ways. Residents deserve clear information, and county leaders need to hear directly from the people affected by their decisions.
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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.