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

Marshall City Council Member Ward 1

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

    John Alcorn
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Larry P. Magrath
    (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)

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The Ward 1 council seat represents the east side of town which includes Southwest Minnesota State University. I believe I am the best candidate for this seat based on my willingness to put the time in to study the issues facing the city and provide meaningful feedback and involvement during council meetings as well as work sessions and subcommittee meetings. I believe in being present and prepared at each meeting and with each issue. I strive to provide a fresh perspective and ask tough questions. I hope to bring an informed perspective as a nearly 3-decade resident of the city having raised 3 boys who all attended SMSU. The struggles of the young person’s experience working their way through challenging adult-life is fresh.
1) Work with city staff and other elected officials to ensure Marshall remains a viable and affordable city to live in and raise a family. Marshall should be mindful of the larger cost-of-living landscape and keep taxes in check. 2) Work toward increasing the city’s overall valuation which allows the city to spread the tax burden across a wider swath. 3) Advocate for more effective assistance to the home-building industry to build houses suitable for families. More single-family homes.
Take advantage of the wide array of cultural and social events that take place here. Engaging with people face-to-face is likely to be the best avenue for connecting with people who have grown up in a different culture than what I’m most familiar. I would seek to be approachable and willing to listen probably more than talking. My campaign includes a Facebook page as well as an Instagram account and that could continue once on the council if elected.
Filling this out is a good start and an example of transparency and accountability for me as a candidate. I have not held elective office, so I have a citizen’s perspective on what transparency and accountability feels like. Challenging an incumbent requires a lot of thought on what makes me different since I can’t rely on the inherent incumbent advantage. My handouts include contact information for me and a QR code to contact me with issues or concerns. That would likely continue if elected.
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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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