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.

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Voter Guide

Woodbury 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. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-you-should-vote-mayorIf 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 the LWVMN!Watch a candidate forum for this race recorded on September 10, 2026.TrueLens Community Media - Candidate Profile - Anne BurtTrueLens Community Media - Candidate Profile - John Sebastian

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  • Candidate picture

    Anne Burt
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    John Sebastian
    (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)

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I bring proven experience, steady leadership, and a deep commitment to Woodbury. As Mayor since 2019, I have worked collaboratively with residents, businesses, city staff, and regional partners to keep our community safe, financially strong, and prepared for the future. I understand both the opportunities and challenges facing a growing city and believe thoughtful planning, responsible budgeting, strong public safety, and strategic investment are essential. I listen, do my homework, respect differing viewpoints, and focus on solutions. Most importantly, I care deeply about preserving the exceptional quality of life that makes Woodbury a place people are proud to call home.
My top three priorities are: maintaining strong public safety; ensuring responsible budgeting and long-term financial stability; and managing growth thoughtfully so infrastructure, housing, transportation, parks, and city services keep pace with community needs. These priorities are essential to protecting Woodbury’s quality of life today while preparing responsibly for future generations.
I will continue to lead with openness, professionalism, and respect for the public process. That means making decisions based on facts, encouraging meaningful public input, asking tough questions, and ensuring residents have access to clear information about city priorities and finances. I also believe accountability starts with elected officials modeling ethical conduct, transparency, and respect for differing viewpoints.
I will continue to be accessible and intentional about listening to residents through community meetings, public forums, surveys, neighborhood conversations, email, and one-on-one discussions. I believe engagement works best when residents are informed early, have meaningful opportunities to provide input, and can see how that feedback helps shape decisions. Good government starts with listening.
Public safety will remain a top priority. I will continue supporting well-trained police, fire, EMS, and emergency response while strengthening relationships between public safety professionals and the community. Effective community policing depends on trust, visibility, communication, and accountability. Our goal must be to keep Woodbury safe while ensuring every resident is treated with fairness and respect.
Woodbury faces major financial decisions, from a $330 million water treatment plant to a property tax levy that has grown about twice as fast as inflation. Residents deserve a mayor who combines financial experience with a commitment to listening. I spent nearly a decade as an auditor, analyzing budgets and finding waste, and almost 20 years in strategy and operations at 3M. As board president of the History Theatre, I helped lead it through the COVID shutdown and a leadership transition, and ushered shows to hear from patrons. Elizabeth and I have lived here for more than 25 years. I'm retired, so serving as mayor would be my full-time priority. I'll bring financial discipline, sound judgment, and a residents-first approach to City Hall.
First, responsible spending. Woodbury's property tax levy has grown about twice as fast as inflation. I'll set priorities with residents before budgets are drafted. Second, resident-focused growth. New development should benefit current residents, not burden them with added costs. Third, a real voice. I'll meet residents in every precinct twice a year and let voters decide on ward representation.
Transparency starts with clear rules and open communication. Residents should know how decisions are made, why they are made, and how to have their voices heard. As mayor, I'll publish clear standards for council agenda requests, ensure residents receive answers to concerns, keep meeting recordings available longer, make city finances easier to understand, and require competitive proposals for consulting contracts.
Residents should be heard while decisions are being shaped, not after they’re made. I’ll hold open meetings in all 16 precincts twice a year to hear concerns and gather ideas. I’ll involve residents in setting budget priorities before departments draft budgets. I’ll publish clear rules for how residents can place issues on a council agenda and apply them consistently. And when the city promises a resident a follow-up, that commitment should remain visible in meeting minutes until it’s done.
Public safety is a core city responsibility. I'll support our police officers and firefighters, expand the Community Service Officer program so sworn officers can focus on policing, publish response times so residents can measure results, strengthen fire-prevention education, and explore a public safety advisory commission so residents have a voice in public safety policies.
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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.

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