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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Voter Guide

Mankato City Council Member Ward 3

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

    Jacob Bases
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Don Friend
    (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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YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND PUBLIC SERVICE My personal and professional background and experience make me very well qualified to serve on the city council. I am in my 30th year as a Minnesota public servant. My career as a professor at a state university give me extensive insight to all that goes into serving on a city council, beginning with the word, serve. The job is to serve the residents of the City of Mankato, and to make decisions that will benefit all, now and into the future. I have years of study and of experience in nearly all the elements and issues that come before the city council. I am also co-owner of a small business which gives me perspective on the needs of residents and of developers.
REPRESENTATION First and foremost, I will represent all residents with any concerns they have about city government.

HOUSING & RESOURCES Among the biggest issues facing us is housing - supply, affordability, and condition. I will work to assure that public resources are managed responsibly and benefit all of us equally and equitably.

INFRASTRUCTURE & ENVIRONMENT We must prepare for the future by investing in infrastructure. I will work to make Mankato resilient to our changing environment.
I WILL ASK QUESTIONS AND I WILL LISTEN Finding compromise is the basis of our democracy. On any one issue or vote we may disagree on how to best achieve something, but I will listen and ask questions to learn all the ways residents, stakeholders, city staff, and other experts believe their point of view will benefit our community and society. True consensus is not always possible, but I will strive to make decisions that will benefit all Mankato residents and our society.
THE SAME AS ABOVE… I WILL ASK QUESTIONS AND I WILL LISTEN Finding compromise is the basis of our democracy. On any one issue or vote we may disagree on how to best achieve something, but I will listen and ask questions to learn all the ways residents, stakeholders, city staff, and other experts believe their point of view will benefit our community and society. True consensus is not always possible, but I will strive to make decisions that will benefit all Mankato residents and our society.
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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.