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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Otsego City Council Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

As local legislators who sometimes have executive power, council members can propose ordinances, set administrative policy, and authorize the budget proposed by the mayor. They oversee all city activities, including city services, programs, licensing, and public safety. Mayoral appointments to city government typically require council approval. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-city-councilUse the MN Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing page (https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/) to find specific candidate contact information.

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 Dahl
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Shawn Overocker
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Vincent "Vinny" Jay Peterson
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    David Shaptala
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Aaron G. Stritesky
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Brandon Wexler
    (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)

How do you plan to engage with and represent all members of our diverse community?(500 characters)

What steps will you take to ensure transparency and accountability in city government? (500 characters)

elect Elect 2
Campaign Email jdahl34@comcast.net
When I was on council from Jan 2021 to Dec 2024 my 2020 bio said, I wanted to filter and clean our water and get a Fire Station/dept built.  During my time, I got over $80 million in infrastructure done. 3 water treatment facilities (2 pump houses (3 & 4) south central water facility and 2 more wells). Fire station, Fire Trucks, cold storage facility and security fence. Also worked for a bay for an Ambulance service in our Fire station.  Plus, Council added more time with our Wright County deputies from 48 hours of coverage to 50 hours and pay raises for deputies. I back law enforcement and first responders by making sure they are not defunded and paid well. Otsego is my top priority! I kept city projects on time and budget.
   To finish what I started and get water treatment/filtration for Pumphouse 1 and 2 and add more water storage.     Work with wright county and the state of Minnesota to change ambulance borders and get an ambulance service/crews in our new fire station so Otsego residents are top priority. Have all meetings recorded on video and posted to YouTube plus have staff note Verbatim what all residents and council say. For Real Transparency.         
  At past council meetings we talked about mailing out flyers for biweekly updates but that would cost too much taxpayer money. The city adds info on the quarterly Otsego community page you receive in the mail.  The best way to be fully transparent is to be on video/Youtube. Not on social media because of Buzzwords, false narratives and no fact checking. Always check the City of Otsego YouTube channel. Subscribe and get updates. No extra costs. Always Fact Check.
I will add Council member social media comments to the agenda. For any errors by council members, they can be corrected by staff and for public to watch. I tried in March 2025 at a council meeting. I attended the Board of equalization meeting and what I said was rewritten. The only thing that was correct was my name. Having staff write Verbatim is important for Transparency otherwise it's just Political Buzzwords and false narratives. Always FACT CHECK. Im Jeff Dahl & I approve this Message.
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elect Elect 2
Campaign Email ranger770@aol.com
My Family moved to Otsego in 1972 so my roots run deep in Otsego. I purchased my first home at age 18. I bought the company that I was working for and I went on to purchase and start several more companies throughout my career. In 2020 I retired and now I am focused on stopping my property taxes from going up every year. I believe that the Otsego City Council's spending is out of control and we desperately need an all new City Council. Both of the seats that are open now will be filled with new people and I would like to be one of them. As CEO for all of my career I have accumulated a vast knowledge of systems and processes that work and I would like to help the community that I love by bring that to the Otsego City Council.
My top priority is to stop our property taxes from going up every year. In order to do this I will have to work with the other council members to put in place many new systems and processes that will lead to my other 2 priorities. My other 2 priorities are to implement an all new planning and budgeting process. By upgrading these we will be able to have the discussions needed to plan and budget in such a way that our community will not be hit with year after year property tax increases.
Proper planning, budgeting and controlling spending at the City level will benefit all of Otsego's residents. This is simply called living within your means and the sooner our community gets on that track the better for everyone.
The first thing I would like to see is that the City start recording and posting every city meeting on social media. The second thing is that I would like to see Otsego find the least expensive way to distribute a paper or magazine to every home in Otsego. This would not be like the Otsego View I would it would be a more current events news letter.
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elect Elect 2
Nearly 20 years of experience within the city, most of which as a member of the Planning Commission. Business owner with a common sense and analytical approach to decision making.
Top priority will be to help the city maintain conservative growth trajectory, with investments focused on benefit to all residents. The council's job is to make the city a place where business is welcome, and the residents can sleep safely at night, knowing that their interests are at the front of my mind.
I plan to listen to all who are engaged in the process of the city business.
The city does a decent job of its communication, it can always be better, but the official message needs to come from the city. What I will not do is create my own narrative that strays away or manipulates the message for my own agenda.
What distinguishes me is a record of leadership, results, and community service. Over 15 years in engineering, project management, and marketing, I have led projects and global teams, managed a $20 million aerospace and defense portfolio, and led programs delivering millions of dollars in sales and cost savings. I hold an MBA, Professional Engineer license, and Project Management Professional certification, and I am an Eagle Scout. As Prairie View Elementary PAC President and Treasurer, I have represented parent voices, built consensus, and helped turn ideas into action. I would bring that same approach to City Council: listen first, study the facts, manage resources responsibly, communicate transparently, and deliver results for Otsego.
My top priorities are clean water, reliable public safety, and financial responsibility. Otsego must protect water quality and ensure infrastructure and emergency services keep pace with growth. These essential services also help create the conditions for businesses to invest and bring jobs to our community. I will prioritize essential services, carefully evaluate major investments and alternatives, and responsibly steward taxpayer dollars while meeting the needs of a growing community.
My Residents First approach begins with listening. As Prairie View Elementary PAC President, I represented families in a diverse school community, sought different perspectives, and strengthened participation. I bring that approach to Otsego by canvassing and listening to residents across our community. If elected, I will seek input via accessible digital communications with translation and audio options. Different perspectives can challenge my assumptions and help me make informed decisions.
I will communicate openly before and after decisions. I support timely newsletters, recordings, and searchable transcripts of all meetings, with translation and accessibility options. I will seek public feedback and explain how it shaped decisions, with the facts and alternatives considered. As a Professional Engineer, I am committed to ethical, fact-based decisions and protecting public health, safety, and welfare. I will explain and stand behind my decisions to earn and maintain public trust.

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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