It’s a packed ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Included in the mix are several local races, including for Cottage Grove, Newport, Woodbury and Denmark Township. Woodbury council candidates registered at the Minnesota Secretary of State include Timothy Brewington, Jory DeLoach, Todd Jakober, John J. Jarrett, Kelly Lindstrom, Soga William Mbilima, Nicole Mitchel, Chris Mog, Steve Morris, and Samantha Wolf. Other local contested local races include Woodbury mayor (Anne Burt vs. John Sebastian) and Afton mayor (Bill Palmquist vs. Jake Solberg).
Candidates for Cottage Grove, Newport, and Denmark Township were given a chance to answer a questionnaire, with the following responses.

CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE

Starting with Cottage Grove, there are three candidates for two seats, these being Monique Garza, Michael Haatvedt, and Tony Khambata. Haatvedt and Khambata both serve on the City’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, with Khambata having past experience on the Planning Commission and City Council as well. Neither Haatvedt nor Khambata returned a questionnaire response to the Journal. Haatvedt maintains a Facebook election page at Michael Haatvedt for Cottage Grove City Council.
As for Garza, the candidate for council member at large is 49 years old, a wife and mother, and active in the community. Professing a belief that local government should be accessible, transparent, fiscally responsible and responsive to the people it serves, Garza shared more in a questionnaire.

Name: Monique Garza
Age: 49
Seat/Office sought:
Cottage Grove City Council Member – At Large

Background/Education:
I currently serve on the Cottage Grove City Council and am seeking re-election for another term. I was first appointed to the Council in 2023 and elected in 2024.
Professionally, I am a REALTOR® and small business owner. I also serve on the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and have been involved with local, state and national real estate organizations, particularly in the areas of housing, government affairs and community engagement.
Community involvement has always been important to me. I am the founder of Movies with Mo, a free outdoor movie series that brings families, businesses and community organizations together each summer. I am also a wife, mom and active community volunteer.
My professional experience in real estate, small business ownership and quality assurance, combined with my experience serving on the City Council, has given me a broad perspective on housing, economic development, responsible growth and the everyday concerns of Cottage Grove residents.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
I believe local government should be accessible, transparent, fiscally responsible and responsive to the people it serves.
One thing I have learned while serving on the City Council is that you won't always make a decision that everyone agrees with. My responsibility is to listen to different perspectives, ask questions, understand the facts and make the decision I believe is in the best long-term interest of our community.
I also believe representation means showing up.
If you know me, you know I am out in our community. I attend neighborhood events, support our local businesses, talk with residents and make myself available to listen to concerns and ideas.
Whether someone voted for me or not, and whether we agree on every issue or not, I still represent them. I believe we can disagree respectfully, find common ground and continue working together to make Cottage Grove a great place to live.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
One of the most important issues facing Cottage Grove is how we manage our continued growth while keeping our community affordable and maintaining the quality of life residents expect.
Growth impacts almost everything we do—public safety, roads and infrastructure, housing, parks, city services and ultimately property taxes.
I want Cottage Grove to continue attracting businesses and quality jobs that strengthen and diversify our tax base so the responsibility for funding our community doesn't fall disproportionately on homeowners.
At the same time, we have to be disciplined with taxpayer dollars. That means prioritizing essential services, planning ahead for infrastructure needs, looking for efficiencies and partnerships, and asking whether new spending provides real value to residents.
Responsible growth also means having housing options for people at different stages of life, maintaining strong police and fire services, and making sure our infrastructure keeps pace with development.
I want families to choose Cottage Grove because they see a great place to raise their children. I want businesses to choose Cottage Grove because they see opportunity here. And I want residents who have lived here for decades to still be able to say, “This feels like home.”
For me, that's what responsible growth looks like.
www.votemoniquegarza.com

NEWPORT COUNCIL

Also on the ballot Nov. 3 are seats on the Newport City Council. With five names on the ballot, three responded to the Journal’s invitation to a questionnaire. The five candidates are Cory Huspek, Tom Ingemann, Lexy Johnson, Branden Petroff, and Bill Sumner.
Starting with Tom Ingemann, the current incumbent seeks reelection to the Council, holding a basic philosophy in which government provides public services the public wants at the lowest possible property tax rate. He shared more in a questionnaire.

Name: Tom Ingemann
Seat/Office sought: Re-election to the Newport City Council
Background/Education: I have graduated from St Paul TVI,I have college credits from various colleges and universities and retired assistant Newport Fire Chief.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
Provide public services that the public wants and needs at the lowest possible property tax rate.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
See above statement.

Also on the ballot at Newport on Nov. 3 is Lexy Johnson, a 32-year-old with some college eduction and a professional background in finance and small business operations.

Name: Lexy Johnson
Age: 32
Seat/Office sought: Newport City Council
Background/Education: I have some college education and a professional background in finance and small business operations. I currently own and operate Johnson Auto Body in Newport.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation? Less is more.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
I would like to see even more communication and accessibility between the City, residents, and businesses. I think sometimes people feel frustrated because they don’t understand why something is happening or changing, and they don’t know who to talk to or how to approach them. I’d like to help make that relationship more open and approachable.
Campaign Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61593457230064

Also running for Newport City Council is Cory Huspek, a 42 year old with a philosophy that the best government is one that governs least, or not at all. Concerned about rising property taxes, he shared more in a questionnaire.

Name: Cory Huspek
Age: 42
Seat/Office sought: Newport City council

Background/Education: Master of ceremonies with a high school diploma and some college.

What is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
I believe the best government is the one that governs least—or not at all. I think our current system has drastically overstepped its intended limits. Instead of a massive, centralized authority that constantly overreaches, I advocate for self-governance and community-level decision-making.

What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
The issue that concerns me the most, is our rising property taxes. It's something that directly affects every homeowner in Newport. No one is signing up for my only fans. I would address the issue, by voting against any project or proposal that would cost our taxpayers money.
Campaign Social Media: www.mockthevote.us

DENMARK TOWN BOARD

Also in view this year for local races is Denmark Township, with two supervisor seat. Annie Gerlach faces Matt
Ruben in seat 2, while Mike Femling faces Ginny Sieben in seat 5. Sieben and Femling both returned a questionnaire for the Journal, while Gerlach and Ruben did not.
Starting with Ginny Sieben, she is 72 years old with a bachelors in nursing and chemistry as well as a juris doctor, and is an Iraq War veteran. Sieben shared more in a questionnaire.

Ginny Sieben

Name: Ginny Sieben
Age: 72
Seat/Office sought: Denmark Township Supervisor, Seat 5
Background/Education: Bachelor’s: Nursing/Chemistry; Master's: Strategic Intelligence; Juris Doctor; Prosecutor/Attorney, RN, Iraq War veteran with 27 years of military experience.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
Government’s primary role is to protect the safety, health and welfare of all residents, and to ensure zoning protects property rights without harming neighbors or the Township. That takes Supervisors who lead with honesty and integrity, follow the law, do not play favorites and ensure every resident has notice of issues affecting them and their property.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
First, half the Township lacks prompt Fire/EMS service. The Town needs to bring Hastings, Cottage Grove and the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Departments together to better serve the entire Township, not just areas near Hastings. After 9/11, I helped draft our nation's first collaborative federal disaster response plan. We need that same advance planning locally, so the northern and eastern parts of Town, Afton Alps, the parks and St. Croix River forests get rapid initial response with mutual aid backup.
Second, the Cemstone mine may come before the Board for rezoning to allow major mining and blasting. The proposed 75-foot-deep aggregate mine would be the Town’s third. It would be next to a protected Shoreland Management District, Scientific and Natural Area, the St. Croix Scenic Byway, County Park and a long-established business, and less than 100 yards from the nearest home. Our two existing mines generate up to 1,250 semi and dump truck trips daily through Town from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. That traffic brings noise and road damage far beyond what family and farm vehicles cause. The law requires the Town Board to weigh the community’s health, safety and general welfare. I will insist the review is thorough and every resident has the opportunity to be heard.
Campaign Social Media:
Facebook: Ginny Sieben for Denmark Township

Also seeking seat 5 in Denmark township is Mike Femling, a 41-year-old longtime Denmark resident and the current incumbent. With a philosophy that government should be practical, responsive, and accountable, Femling shared more in a questionnaire.

Name: Mike Femling
Age: 41
Seat/Office sought: Denmark Township Supervisor, Seat 5
Background/Education:
I am a longtime Denmark Township resident and currently serve as the Seat 5 Town Supervisor. During my first term, I have been responsible for roads and ditches and have worked directly with residents, contractors and engineers on road maintenance, snowplowing, grading, mowing, drainage, signage and other township concerns.
I bring a lifetime of hands-on farming and construction experience and hold a Bachelor of Science degree in horticulture and farm business.
What is your basic philosophy of government and representation?
Local government should be practical, responsive and accountable. A supervisor should listen to residents, investigate the facts, protect taxpayer dollars and make decisions based on what is best for the township as a whole. I believe residents deserve respectful treatment, clear communication and a supervisor who is willing to visit a site personally when concerns arise.
What is the most important issue to you and why? How would you address it?
The responsible maintenance of Denmark Township’s roads and infrastructure is one of our most important duties. It requires hands-on knowledge, long-term planning and careful use of taxpayer dollars. I will continue working directly with residents and contractors, planning maintenance before problems become more expensive, improving snowplow routing and protecting the township’s road reserves. Managing roads, ditches, contractors and taxpayer dollars requires practical, local experience. I bring that experience to Denmark Township.
Campaign Social Media:
None

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Readers can find more and view their sample ballot by accessing the Minnesota Secretary of State website at www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/whats-on-my-ballot.