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

ISD #88 School Board Member {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

School board members oversee the care, management, and control of schools. This includes hiring, firing, and overseeing superintendents, who manage the day-to-day affairs of the district. They also set levies to fund the district and create school policies. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-school-boardIf 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 LWVMN!

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

    Steven Gag
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Tara Nilson
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Melissa Sunderman
    (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 forced to cut the budget in the face of declining revenues, what would be your strategy? (500 characters)

How would you address any racial and economic disparities in our education system? (500 characters)

Please describe how you will engage teachers and families in your decision making process. (500 characters)

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Campaign Email Stevegag@GSM1904.com
I am in my 16th year on the school board. I never expected to serve for this long but it is a very rewarding way to serve my community. I learn more every year and look forward to another 4 years of growth. I have experienced large budget reductions twice as well as numerous building years. I have enjoyed being the Chair of the board and having the opportunity to hear from the community about how they feel about all topics. I am always open to scheduling a meeting or even a discussion after a board meeting. I believe in education for all and support all students, including PSEO classes, CTE classes, advanced classes, etc. I understand the importance of education and have completed all four phases of education for a MN school board member.
We need to continue to be fiscally responsible to the community, retain and hire the best staff and provide a school system to be proud of. The New Ulm community supports the public school better than most communities and we need to compliment this.
I expect we will continue to reduce the budget due to declining enrollment. More than 80% of the budget is people, unfortunately this is where we will continue to see cuts. School staffing fluctuates along with student enrollment. Student interest determines elective classes available each year. I will continue being a member of the MN School Boards Delegate Assembly to be aware of changes and help shape the future of education as well as asking the state to fully fund public education.
Continuing to review and update school policies and supporting the superintendent, principals and teachers to make decisions that are the best for everyone.
I value the surveys the school superintendent sends out to community and wish to continue them. The members of the school board review the results of the surveys, good and bad. Continuing discussions on the surveys help with the direction of the schools. I am open to phone calls and meetings with all members of the community.
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Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund

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.