At a Nov. 15 special meeting, the Cottage Grove City Council appointed Monique Garza to fill the seat vacated by Steve Dennis, who gave his notice on Oct. 4. The vacancy was announced to the public …
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At a Nov. 15 special meeting, the Cottage Grove City Council appointed Monique Garza to fill the seat vacated by Steve Dennis, who gave his notice on Oct. 4. The vacancy was announced to the public at the Oct. 9 regular meeting, and the council asked that residents interested in applying for appointment to the seat submit application materials by Nov. 9 for review. Ultimately receiving the nod from the council, Garza will now finish out Dennis’ term, which was scheduled to end in 2026.
Garza is a local realtor, a board member for the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, and active in working with the Women in Business group. Her participation in the community also includes hosting a community event called Movies With Mo in the Park, launched in 2022, and is the proud parent of a Strawberry Fest Ambassador.
Including Garza, there were six applicants invited to the Nov. 15 special meeting for the council to make its decision. They were each given three minutes’ time to speak to the council to outline their credentials, perspectives, goals, and intentions if given the appointment. The other five applicants present were Terry DuBry, Michael Falkner, Amy Lucas, Sara Umbreit, and former District 54B Minnesota State Rep. Tony Jurgens.
The voting process was explained to the council by City Clerk Tamara Anderson, noting that each council member would receive one ballot with their name on it, to be used for three rounds of voting as they narrowed the field.
In the first round they each selected three applicants. Anderson collected the ballots, tallied them, and read them aloud. The first round showed council members Tony Khambata and Dave Thiede cast votes for Garza, Jurgens, and Umbreit. Council member Justin Olsen voted for Garza, Jurgens, and Lucas. Mayor Myron Bailey voted for DuBry, Garza, and Lucas.
In the second round of ballots, only two names were allowed from each member of the council. After tallying, they were again read by Anderson. Khambata voted for Garza and Umbreit, Thiede for Jurgens and Umbreit, Olsen for Garza and Jurgens, and Bailey for Garza and Lucas.
The final round allowed one selection from each member of the council, choosing only between Garza, Jurgens, or Umbreit. The ballots were read, with Khambata voting for Umbreit, Thiede for Jurgens, and Olsen and Bailey both selecting Garza. With a 2-1-1 majority vote in place, Garza was named the newly-appointed member of the Cottage Grove City Council.
In a statement, Garza said, “My active involvement in various community initiatives has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of our city’s unique needs and opportunities. Joining the City Council will not only allow me to further my professional growth, but also provide me with a platform to make an even more significant impact and help our community thrive.”
Mayor Bailey commented on the appointment, saying, “I am excited to welcome Monique Garza to the Cottage Grove City Council. Monique brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep love for our community. I look forward to working with her to continue our amazing path of success.”
