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

Owatonna City Council Member at Large

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

    Dan Boeke
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Tony Jurowski
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Joseph "JOE P." Petersen
    (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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I will not claim to be the best candidate for a position on the City Council. That decision will be made by the majority of citizens who cast a ballot. Born and raised in Owatonna, I know this community and the people here hold a unique place in the world. I feel the current leadership has lost its way and is trying to turn Owatonna into a suburb of the Twin Cities. Bigger does not mean better. You can change without improving, but you cannot improve without changing. All change begins from within-so, I strive to be an architect of change from within. IMO: The changes being made by the Council may be argued are good for business – but I believe are not in the best interest of the citizens. JOE P. will be an advocate for the citizens.
1: Get totally honest with the citizens about the cost of the proposed fire and police stations. Create a cost-effective solution. 2: Get to the bottom of the problems city employees have with the administration. Consider going back to the original city charter-where the Mayor was in charge. Put the burden on an elected individual instead of a hired one? 3: Revisit the 30 by 30 plan and the 2050 plan outside interests created for Owatonna. The citizens should decide if bigger is better.
I personally believe the spark of life inside every human comes from the same source. Which leads me to conclude: there is only one race-that is the human race. Within the human race are many cultures and sub-cultures. Cultural differences often lead to competition/conflict between cultures. I focus and engage with others based on our common needs as humans. I would open a dialogue with: What is in the best interest of everyone?  Also, keep in mind some cultures are more appealing than others.
I can ensure transparency and accountability for myself-others in government- not so much-liars are losers.  Be true to thine own self. The first step I will take is to admit I don’t know what I don’t know. The next step is to learn what I don’t know about all the facts. Once the facts are in an order easily understood by a sixth grader, share them as I understand them. Then when sharing the facts: Avoid putting a spin on them based on feeling or emotions or labeling them as good or bad.
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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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