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

New Brighton 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 Mayor

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

    Jeffrey Nelson
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas
    (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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Campaign Website http://www.votekarint.com
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/VoteKariNT
Campaign Email kari@votekarint.com
I have earnestly served as Mayor of New Brighton for the past 4 years, and I seek re-election to my third term to continue build community together. We have accomplished many priorities, yet there is more to achieve for New Brighton. My more than 30 years of experience are at work for New Brighton, and I lead with my values in action. My successful leadership in the private, public, civic, and nonprofit sectors includes corporate responsibility, sustainability, and innovation strategies with the world's largest companies. I manage multimillion-dollar capital/operating budgets, build multi-stakeholder partnerships for diverse, cross-cultural communities, volunteer for my kids’ activities, and serve on many boards of directors.
TRANSPARENCY: We succeeded at increasing transparency for decisions we are considering and decisions made. I have focused on making the city accessible, visible, and transparent. COMMUNITY: This Council prioritized equity-centered, accessible events to bring us together to city policies that ask who is adversely impacted. HOUSING—Our housing needs are positively enhanced by completing our first Housing Study, measuring affordability and policy solutions for single-family homeowners and renters.
I will make financial information accessible and understandable, explain budget decisions and their outcomes, and connect spending to city priorities. I support open, recorded budget work sessions, clear communication, and meaningful resident input before decisions are finalized. I will explain difficult choices, acknowledge tradeoffs, welcome feedback, and continually learn from other communities to improve city services and stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
As Mayor, I have championed transparency and meaningful resident engagement through public feedback sessions on corridor visioning, our Climate Action Plan, development concepts, and park designs. We communicate through social media, resident and business newsletters, annual State of the City updates, and a public GIS data map. I will continue ensuring residents have opportunities to shape decisions, track progress, and hold the city accountable.
I will support New Brighton’s nationally recognized Department of Public Safety, emphasizing prevention, education, compassionate service, and community partnerships. We will support first responders’ well-being, connect families with social workers when appropriate, and strengthen outreach through partnerships. Using crime data, organizational assessments, and ongoing training, we will make informed decisions, embrace best practices, and ensure every resident feels safe, heard, and supported.
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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.