Election Day is November 5, 2024

As Mayor, the safety of our community has always been my #1 priority!  I believe this can be done effectively by:

• Following through on the construction of an Otsego Fire Station in 2026 to improve emergency preparedness and reflex time for response. Reliance on neighboring departments without any input beyond paying for services does not make Otsego prepared for when emergencies happen nor invested in keeping our community safe.
• Continuing to partner with the Wright County Sheriff's Department for comprehensive and cost-effective police service working closely with the Wright County Sheriff to adjust or add patrol hours where needed.

During my time as Mayor, +/-50 new businesses have come to Otsego and many existing businesses have expanded. Businesses in Otsego offset the tax burden for homeowners. I will continue to strive to bring high-quality businesses to Otsego that pay good wages and provide goods and services so people can do commerce right here in their hometown!

Growth in Otsego has always been driven by proximity to the Twin Cities and willing land sellers. New housing in Otsego follows the City’s Comprehensive Plan to be next to existing development and developers pay impact fees for utilities, stormwater, and parks. Otsego continues to be an attractive area to live with a variety of homes for young people, expanding families, empty-nesters, and seniors.

I joined the Parks and Recreation Commission in 2001 as my first involvement in the City.  Otsego now has 175 acres of parks including 11 neighborhood parks and 5 community parks. There are also annual community events that I helped start in the early 2000s and continue to this day. City recreation programming for all ages was started during my time as Mayor and has continued to grow year after year.

There are now 44 miles of trails within Otsego providing connections and loops for residents to explore our City or get to surrounding cities.  Continuing to secure green space and future parkland as land develops is crucial along with finding ways to promote the use of our natural waterways along the Mississippi and Crow Rivers.  

Otsego continues to undertake City street construction and to be a partner with the State, County, and neighboring cities on joint projects to complete important infrastructure and connections. Regional improvements during my time as Mayor include I-94 expansion from Maple Grove to Clearwater, Highway 169 in Elk River, improvements to CSAH 38 and CSAH 39, and reconstruction of CR 137, which resulted in Costco choosing to develop in Otsego. The City has a Streets Maintenance Program that evaluates the condition of every street in the City each year and schedules projects as a Capital Improvement Plan. 

I work closely with members of the City Council and staff on strategic planning to continually review and refine the City’s goals and priorities.  Decisions take time for discussion and planning before a final vote, especially for large-scale projects like the Fire Department or drinking water treatment, which are two projects just starting. Residents are always welcome to become involved and attend any meeting. It’s my priority for the City to be transparent in decision-making and improve communication using new resources, our website, and social media. I also encourage residents to connect with me by phone with comments and questions about City matters.

During my time as Mayor, the City has been managed conservatively maintaining one of the lowest local tax rates in our area. I support a "users pay" policy where new development funds the cost of improvements and pays impact fees to the extent allowed by law to offset City infrastructure costs. Major facilities and infrastructure projects are planned for well into the future and updated yearly with a Capital Improvement Plan. City finances are audited each year as required by law with a final report presented at a City Council meeting. The City has since 2012 received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.