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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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.

Arden Hills City Mayor

The mayor is usually the head of the city and may represent the city in front of other government bodies. They also can preside at council meetings and appoint city workers. A mayor usually has a role in proposing a city budget which influences services provided to residents and can veto ordinances proposed by the city council.Voting in local elections is important - learn more here: Why Vote for MayorWatch a candidate forum for this race recorded on September 19, 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

    David Grant
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Emily Rousseau
    (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 elected, what strategies will you use to ensure transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in city government under your leadership? (500 characters)

How will you engage with residents to solicit feedback, involve them in decision-making processes, and ensure their voices are heard? (500 characters)

How will you approach public safety and community policing to ensure the well-being of all residents? (500 characters)

I have years of dedicated experience serving Arden Hills as mayor and know what the city needs to protect over the next decade. Under my leadership, Arden Hills has recently been ranked #4 as best place to live of metro suburbs. After finishing my MBA, I served as an international business executive and former small business owner. I offer a practical business background necessary to navigate the complex challenges facing our city. I have partnered with both federal and state governments bringing additional funding in the millions to our city, and much of this has gone to trails. Leadership means listening to resident concerns. Arden Hills is a vibrant community and I will work to protect our quality of life for future generations.
An expansive trail network improves quality of life. My proactive leadership will add five new trail segments in the next three years. Prosperous communities are safe. I am a steadfast supporter of our sheriff and fire departments and will continue to strengthen community protection. Communities thrive with low taxes and financial soundness. I budget for operational efficiencies focusing on responsible spending and wise investment. I will plan Rice Creek Commons to be fiscally responsible.
Transparency is the key to a successful city. I strongly support open meetings with information publicly shared among council members and residents. I advocate for TCAAP meetings with Ramsey County open for clear transparency. I ensure that residents are informed of the budget through Arden Hills Notes, the city newsletter. The city’s financial transparency has won awards for excellent reporting every year I’ve served as mayor; our annual audits have received a “clean and unmodified” status.
I lead by listening and gathering opinions. As mayor, it is important to be out in the community and I make it a priority to attend neighborhood meetings and city events. When people feel heard and see their input reflected in decisions, they take ownership to help shape Arden Hills. I treat people with dignity and welcome different perspectives. When challenges come up, I communicate honestly and move forward. Under my leadership, we create momentum, and our community thrives.
I work closely with Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Johanna Fire Department and brought a new state-of-the-art fire station to Arden Hills this year. I participate in sheriff department “ride-alongs” to view and exchange community concerns where improvement is needed. I support investing in our youth and families by the city partnering with Northeast Youth and Family Services, which provides education, counseling, and diversion support to prevent problems and strengthen our community.
As your Councilmember, every decision I make comes back to one goal: ensuring Arden Hills thrives. I’m committed to supporting happy, healthy families, keeping our seniors engaged, supporting our business community, and leaving our city stronger for the next generation. Securing our city's future requires rebuilding its foundation today, that takes proactive leadership willing to put in the work. Over the last 4 years, we launched strategic planning, updated our 25-year old park plan, worked towards a comprehensive review of our city code, and are moving towards creating an economic strategy. As Mayor, I’ll continue using my MBA, compliance background, and local government experience to ensure Arden Hills thrives for generations to come.
• Continue Making Achievable Plans for our City: including an actual Economic Strategy-to generate revenue and fund essential services. • Fiscal Responsibility: Stop using one-time surpluses for ongoing operations—that reliance causes tax hikes. Use detailed financial projections for the Rice Creek Commons development. • Essential Services: Keep Arden Hills safe, invest in trails and vibrant parks, and ensure our city delivers the services residents need to maintain strong homes & neighborhoods.
• Professional Governance: Establish a City Council code of conduct and provide the mayoral leadership needed to maintain respect during council meetings. • Local Media: Explore expanding coverage with the Shoreview Press. Local newspapers provide vital independent oversight and ensures residents stay informed. • Resident Engagement: Continue championing Arden Hills' first comprehensive community survey so your voice directly shapes municipal decisions and holds city hall accountable.
Our city’s first comprehensive community survey will ensure your voice directly shapes municipal decisions. By establishing clear data on our shared community values, it will reduce misinformation and empower residents who don't have time to attend long meetings or advocate for single issues. We can use this data to ensure our limited resources are directed specifically where residents want them. Additionally, I will continue to build, and actively support our resident Committees and Commissions
Public safety accounts for over half of our city budget, delivering low crime rates and rapid response times. But I refuse to rubber-stamp the 'shiny new toy' just because neighbors do. During discussions on Flock license plate readers, I used my data privacy background to ask tough questions. The result - Arden Hills stood out as the only contract city not to agree to install cameras. Vendor accountability, procedure review, and audits protect residents and reduce legal risks to law enforcement

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.

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