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2024 Mankato and North Mankato City Elections Guide (Final)
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Mankato and North Mankato

Municipal Election guides

  1. Mankato City Council

        Council Member (At Large): Mike Laven and Brett Skilbred

        Council Member (Ward 2): Dennis Dieken (unopposed)

        Council Member (Ward 4): Jenn Melby Kelley (unopposed)

  1. North Mankato

        Mayor: Scott Carlson (unopposed)

City Council (elect 2)

Bridget Quinton, Billy Steiner, Mattew Warnke , James Whitlock

  1. School District #77 School Board (Mankato, North Mankato) (elect 4):

City Council - What does it do?

City councils are generally made up of an elected mayor, and several elected council members. City councils meet regularly to address issues such as approving the tax rate, adopting the city budget, overseeing police policies, establishing the city vision, administering ordinances and managing intergovernmental affairs. The council usually also manages parks, recreational facilities, water, sewage, police and fire services, hospitals, streets, animal regulations, public events, and city employees.

Mankato City Council

The Mankato City Council is made up of 5 selected council members, 1 elected member at large, and 1 elected mayor. These seven individuals work with the appointed City Administrator to create and administer public policies affecting the city. The City Council meets twice a month for regular sessions and occasionally for goal setting sessions.

The mayor serves a 2-year term, serves as chair over the city council meeting and has a vote that is equal to any other council member. Mayors serve as representatives of the city at official events and in interactions with other governments (i.e. the state of Minnesota, the federal government, or other cities). According to state law, mayors have several other interesting roles and responsibilities including being the city weed inspector (ensuring that noxious weeds are controlled by landowners) and having the sole ability to declare a local emergency in a city.

Council members are divided into 5 wards: Ward 1 (the east side), Ward 2 (the north side), Ward 3 (the southeast side), Ward 4 (central) and Ward 5 (the west and southwest side). The at large member assumes the mayor’s duties on the council if the mayor is unable to attend, and serves as a liaison between the council and outside organizations and attends to legislative duties (e.g. lobbying, testifying). Council members serve 4-year terms, and elections are staggered so that only 3 council members are on the ballot at a time.

Council members are divided into 5 wards:

  • Ward 1 (green - east side)
  • Ward 2 (pink - north side)
  • Ward 3 (orange - southeast side)
  • Ward 4 (yellow - central)
  • Ward 5 (blue - west/southwest side)

The at large member assumes the mayor’s duties on the council if the mayor is unable to attend, and serves as a liaison between the council and outside organizations and attends to legislative duties (e.g. lobbying, testifying).

Council members serve 4-year terms, and elections are staggered so that only 3 council members are on the ballot at a time.

Mankato City Council Candidates

Member-At-Large - 4 year term (choose 1)

Mike Laven

  • Currently Council Member At-Large and President of the Council.
  • Represents the city on the Twin Rivers Council for the Arts, University/City Student Advisory, City/County intergovernmental, Mankato/North Mankato Planning Organization, Region Nine Development Commission, One Watershed One Plan, Highway 169 Coalition, Highway 14 Partnership, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, League of Minnesota Cities and the National League of Cities.
  • Lifelong resident of the Mankato area, Graduating from West High in 1985 and Minnesota State University, Mankato in 1991.
  • Technology Department Manager for McDonald’s Restaurants, working out of the Madison Ave location and supports the 10 other locations.
  • Married to Michelle Laven with one adult child.
  • Attends Centenary United Methodist Church; involved in leadership roles including launching the Connections Shelter.
  • Enjoys reading dry data like the budget and annual financial reports.
  • Key issues are affordable housing, transportation, and infrastructure.
  • Details matter. Reading the material matters. Asking the questions matter.
  • Finding common ground is important.

■ Brett Skilbred

  • No information available.

City Council Ward 2 (roughly north of Fair Street) - 4 year term (choose 1)

■ Dennis Dieken - Incumbent, running unopposed.

  • Married with one daughter.
  • Lived in Mankato for 32 years.
  • Test engineer at ZF Off-Highway Solutions.
  • Serves as Chair of the Joint Powers Board at All Seasons Arena, on the Public Safety Advisory Committee, and the Mankato Planning Commission.
  • Served on the Support Board at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in North Mankato, and volunteered at Regional Science Fair, air shows at Mankato, MAGFA, and Deep Valley Book Festival.
  • Represents the council at community events.
  • Stability and predictability in expenses is important.
  • Compares the history of city funding to anticipate  changes to funding.
  • Seeks different views and perspectives.

City Council Ward 4 (central) - 4 year term (choose 1)

■ Jenn Melby-Kelley - Incumbent, running unopposed.

  • Owner of the Coffee Hag coffee shop.
  • Visible LGBTQ leader and advocate for arts, music, small business, entrepreneurship and positive social change.

Note: This information has been compiled from campaign websites by volunteers from Indivisible St. Peter/Greater Mankato. These comparisons are not officially endorsed by any candidate. Where there is no information for a particular category, this does not mean that the candidate does not care about or has not spoken about the issue - it just may not appear on the website. Voters are encouraged to visit candidates’ websites and reach out to campaigns for more information. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.

North Mankato City Council

The North Mankato City Council is made up of 4 selected council members and 1 elected mayor. These seven individuals work with the appointed City Administrator to create and administer public policies affecting the city. The City Council meets twice a month for regular sessions and occasionally for work sessions to address specific issues.

The mayor serves a 2-year term, serves as chair over the city council meeting and has a vote that is equal to any other council member. Mayors serve as representatives of the city at official events and in interactions with other governments (i.e. the state of Minnesota, the federal government, or other cities). According to state law, mayors have several other interesting roles and responsibilities including being the city weed inspector (ensuring that noxious weeds are controlled by landowners) and having the sole ability to declare a local emergency in a city.

Council members are “at large” which means they don’t oversee Wards, but instead all cooperate to serve North Mankato together. Council members serve 4-year terms, and elections are staggered so that only 2 council members are on the ballot at a time.

North Mankato Mayor and City Council Candidates

Mayor - 2 year term (choose 1)

Scott Carlson 

Running unopposed. Has served as Mayor of North Mankato since 2022.

City Council - 4 year term (choose 2)

Billy Steiner

Running for his 8th consecutive term on the council. Current representative for the library board. Knows and understands the city, the council, and the job. Right now the budget is the important business for the council. Looks to support incoming and current businesses, and planned development in the community. Works toward consensus with colleagues.

 

Bridget Quinton

No information available

Matthew Warnke

No information available

James Whitlock

No information available