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

ISD #181 School Board Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies.Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-school-boardIf your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info (https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/). If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from LWVMN!Watch a candidate forum for this race recorded on September 24, 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

    DJ Dondelinger
    (NP)

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    Randy (RJ) Heidmann
    (NP)

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    Mark Lelwica
    (NP)

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    Connie Lyscio
    (NP)

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    Scott Parsons
    (NP)

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    Ed Shaw
    (NP)

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    Sarah Speer
    (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 forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

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I am a lifelong Brainerd resident, BHS graduate, and second-generation owner of Dondelinger Automotive, where I've spent decades meeting a payroll and treating people by the golden rule. I was elected to ISD 181 in 2023, I was elected Vice Chair by my peers and kept my promises: fiscal accountability, competitive bidding, and a real voice for parents. I do what I say I'll do.

I’ll put core academics first: reading, writing, math, science, and life skills. I’ll also support our teachers, because when we lose good teachers it’s the kids that pay the price. Finally, I’ll work closely with our new school superintendent to make sure he, and our schools, succeed.
Protect the classroom first. I'd start with administration and contracts, not teachers or student programs. I’d right size staff to match enrollment, demand competitive bids, and review every contract line by line. In short, I’d cut from the top.
Every child, regardless of background or income, deserves to know the fundamentals like reading, math, science, and history. We need to make sure students can envision a productive life right here in our community. That’s why I've opened doors through programs like Learn to Fly, now serving 60+ students. Strong basics and real career pathways close gaps fastest.
Show up and listen. Decisions get better when the people who live with them are in the room before the vote, not after.
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I am a parent of two Forestview seventh graders, a Brainerd small business owner for 30 years, a youth soccer coach, and an active community member. My children will remain in the district throughout the next board term, so the district’s success is personal to my family. I will listen, ask hard questions, support teachers and reasonable class sizes, work to bring families back, and make careful use of taxpayer dollars.
My top three priorities are: 1. Address declining enrollment by learning why families leave and showing them what Brainerd schools offer. 2. Support reasonable class sizes so teachers can teach effectively and students can learn in safe, well supervised classrooms. 3. Improve communication by listening to parents, teachers, students, and community members before major decisions are made.
I would protect classroom instruction and look first for savings outside the classroom. I would review spending carefully and consider ways to generate revenue from suitable unused building space, including rentals to community groups or businesses. The goal would be to reduce the effect of budget cuts on students while making better use of taxpayer funded property.
Every student should have access to strong instruction, school activities, and a safe learning environment. I would review achievement, discipline, attendance, and participation data to identify disparities, then listen to families and teachers about practical solutions. I would also work to reduce activity fees and other costs that keep students from participating.
I will seek input from teachers and families before major decisions are made. I will listen at board meetings, visit schools, meet with staff and parent groups, and explain what the board is considering in plain language. I will treat different views with respect, explain my decisions, and remain accountable to the public.
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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.