Gary Hansen
Name: Gary Hansen
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: (651) 485-9125
Campaign Website: https://hansenforcouncil.com/
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteersForHansen
Candidate Bio
I was first elected in 2008 after previously serving on and chairing the Eagan and Dakota County Planning Commissions. I have served four one-year terms as acting mayor when needed in the mayor’s absence. A JD degree graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, I am a commercial arbitrator and I’m active in the Minnesota State Bar Association. My legal and risk management background informs and guides my decisions on matters considered by the city council.
I represent Eagan in the regional transportation and transit decision-making process. I have demonstrated regional leadership as Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Suburban Transit Association (STA) Board chair, Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (Metro Cities) president, League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) Board member, and MN Cities Climate Coalition member. I am STA’s representative on the regional Transportation Advisory Board, which coordinates planning and funding of transportation and transit initiatives with the Metropolitan Council. I also serve on the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Federal Advocacy Committee. I represented the LMC on an Electric Vehicle Legislative Working Group in 2025-26. I am actively engaged in legislative policy development in the interest of municipalities on Metro Cities and LMC legislative policy committees.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My preferred style of leadership is collaboration. I encourage teamwork, diverse perspectives, and inclusivity in decision making. As a professional arbitrator I try to influence conflict resolution through constructive dialogue and compromise.
I believe in transparency and open communication. Each month, I send to a growing list of Eagan residents an email update of City and Council activities and upcoming events. I welcome comments and questions on the topics addressed or on other issues. I frequently receive inquiries and suggestions in response to these updates that result in follow-ups and resolution of issues. This is an effective way to communicate with residents and give them an opportunity to share their thoughts or to seek assistance with issues they may have. Residents may request to be added to my distribution list by email or telephone.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top priorities are fiscal prudence, public safety, and race equity and inclusion.
Fiscal prudence while providing high-quality, cost-effective services is essential. We must continue to practice good stewardship of taxpayer funds and preserve Eagan’s Aaa bond rating, enabling access to borrowed funds when needed at the lowest possible rates and maximizing our use of tax funds for needed services and investments. Reduced availability of state and federal funding may result in greater reliance on borrowed funds to pay for needed infrastructure investments.
The Eagan Police and Fire Departments provide effective and reliable public safety and security. Community surveys consistently demonstrate greater than 90% approval ratings for our police and firefighters. They are committed to serving and protecting us, and they deserve our support. Among City services, we need to maintain public safety as the highest priority. Federal funding expedited the transition of Eagan’s fire fighters from volunteers to paid staff, but the City’s budget pays ongoing salary obligations.
About 30 percent of Eagan’s population is Black, Indigenous, or people of color. Recognizing that our city needs a welcoming race equity and inclusion foundation across all City services, programs, policies, and budgetary decisions, the Council provided direction for and has implemented a race equity and inclusion major initiative. Inclusive and equitable City hiring practices, program offerings, provision of City services, proactive outreach for citizen advisory commission opportunities, Council expansion, housing policies, and job-promoting business regulations are examples of strategies and practices that I support to achieve this initiative. The City is self-sufficient in supporting our commitment to the initiative, which has not changed despite the federal administration’s current position on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What is the biggest challenge facing Eagan right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Continuing to achieve orderly redevelopment while accommodating community needs and respecting neighborhood preferences is a significant challenge. Proposals have been made to redevelop major office facility sites in Eagan. These typically are multi-use proposals involving, housing, retail, or warehouse components. Due to traffic, noise, density, and other concerns expressed by residents in nearby neighborhoods, approval of these proposals has been challenging. Neighborhood preferences are important considerations that must be balanced with the need to maintain a sound, reliable tax base.
Part of this challenge is the need to provide adequate housing that is affordable for those who want to live in Eagan. While this is a challenge, it presents a great opportunity. The City has an excellent working relationship with the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA). Working with the CDA, we’ve made substantial progress in providing for workforce and affordable housing. The CDA estimates that Eagan has a housing gap of about 3,250 for-sale units and 1,750 rental units. The addition of a variety of housing product types and affordability levels will enhance the City’s ability to meet changing and growing housing needs. We will continue to work with the CDA to address these needs.
How would you characterize the business climate in Eagan, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
The business climate in Eagan is very favorable. A recent survey of business owners and managers about their perspectives on the community, including the business climate, revealed that more than 92% of respondents recommend operating a business in Eagan, suggest working in Eagan to someone who asked, and will keep their business in Eagan for the next five years. These ratings top national benchmarks and are a compliment to the City’s efforts on behalf of Eagan businesses.
Businesses comprise the foundation of Eagan’s tax base, enabling the City to maintain high-quality services while keeping overall property taxes low. Businesses help to define our standard of living by creating jobs, providing purpose to peoples’ lives and a sense of identity. I will continue to support a strong business environment and Eagan’s position as the employment center of Dakota County with more than 50,000 jobs.
When needed to stimulate economic development due to market or economic conditions, local government can be a source of incentives to preserve and enhance the tax base and attract and retain jobs. This may be accomplished through limited use of options such as tax increment financing or tax abatement to provide assistance for development and redevelopment.
The task of preparing for present and future workforce needs isn’t solely the responsibility of businesses. The public, private, and nonprofit sectors, as well as government, can help by supporting trade programs that bolster the talent pipeline. The County’s Workforce Development Board provides guidance for and exercises oversight over job training programs. I will continue to support this effort.
In addition, preparing youth for the workplace is important. A primary predictor of future success is early exposure to work experience. Another training initiative that is worthy of support is the Minnesota Youth Program, which provides short-term employment and training services to low-income and at-risk youth who lack the academic and applied skills considered critical in the workplace.
Government support of technical and community college programs is essential to assure the availability to businesses of technically trained workers. Technical career graduates have focused career interests that can quickly address business needs.
I support city coordination with these various sources of training and workforce development to help prepare workers for jobs.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Public safety is a primary responsibility of local government. Public trust in our police force is essential for providing effective service. As shown in the City’s most recent citizen survey, we are meeting this challenge. Eagan residents rated safety higher in our community than national benchmarks and ratings for hundreds of cities nationwide, with 9 in 10 residents rating our public safety positively. As a city, we are working as partners with our public safety personnel to build and maintain community trust, which will remain a priority.
Another challenge is that Eagan’s continued strong retail and population growth has necessitated increased investment in additional police officers and upgraded facilities and technology. In order to fully utilize this technology and responsibly evaluate emerging tools that are becoming standard practice in public safety, dedicated leadership and oversight is needed. However, the Eagan Police Department faces a leadership succession challenge due to the planned retirement of all current lieutenants within the next three years. To address this challenge, the department has hired a dedicated succession planning and research and development officer, with funding from salary savings resulting from sworn officer vacancies over the next couple of years.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
I appreciate the positive working relationships that Eagan has with organizations such as Ally Supportive Services, The Link, Dakota County Social Services, and the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA), and the progress we’ve made and continue to make in providing for workforce and affordable housing. An example is the CDA’s purchase of the Delta Airlines office site in the Northwest Central Commons Small Area to help implement the City’s vision for the area, including the possibility of an element of workforce housing. We need to continue working with these kinds of organizations to find creative and effective ways to provide housing for workers and others in Eagan.
The Eagan City Council has not engaged in consideration of issues such as rent control policies, leaving matters such as this to state and federal policy making. Our approach has been to offer financial assistance programs for housing purposes, such as Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA).
The 0.25% metro area sales tax approved in 2023 funds LAHA and provides annual allocations to metro cities and counties for building and preserving affordable housing and helping those experiencing homelessness find housing. Qualifying uses of these funds range from preservation and new construction of income-eligible homeownership units to financial support for non-profit housing providers and emergency rental assistance to income-eligible households.
I support our commitment to helping improve, preserve, and stabilize housing stock within the City. LAHA programs assist in achieving this commitment. Utilizing LAHA funds, the City collaborates with the CDA to also offer home improvement loan and radon mitigation grant programs.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Roadway safety across all transportation modes must be a priority. Traffic fatalities and severe injuries are preventable through a comprehensive and collaborative approach to road safety that accounts for the needs of all road users, and especially the most vulnerable users. A successful approach to roadway safety requires coordination, engineering and design strategies, planning, data analysis, and policy consideration.
As a regional Transportation Advisory Board member, I am aware of and advocate for planning and funding of initiatives to improve transportation infrastructure and safety for all users. Projects that are proposed for funding through the regional solicitation process include a safety component in various categories of projects. Examples of projects include upgraded road surfaces and signage to enhance visibility and reduce hazards; implementation of dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian pathways to separate users from vehicle traffic; increased public transit options and frequency to encourage use and reduce congestion; installation of traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps and roundabouts, to slow down vehicles; and enhanced lighting at crosswalks and transit stops to improve safety during low visibility.
Eagan has a network of county roads presenting various safety challenges. I have collaborated with county commissioners and staff to identify areas of concern. Progress has been made in major concern areas to address safety hazards, including speed and lane reductions, traffic calming measures, walking and biking trail construction and improvements, and enhanced lighting and signage at pedestrian crossings.
In addition, as a board member and past chair of the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Suburban Transit Association Board chair, I advocate for public transit’s contribution to roadway safety by providing safe transportation due to professional drivers, dedicated lanes, and advanced safety technologies, and by reducing traffic congestion on local streets and highways.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the city levy?
The budgeting process is a balancing act, responding to growth, state mandates, and rising costs while being mindful of the impact on taxpayers and making thoughtful, long-term decisions. The goal is to be fiscally responsible while remaining committed to our long-term fiscal strategies and protecting core services.
Of primary importance is maintenance of effective and reliable public safety and security through adequately staffed and equipped police and fire departments. Residents understand the importance of these fundamental services and are willing to support them, as well as parks and recreational amenities and public works.
Businesses comprise the foundation of Eagan’s tax base, enabling the City to maintain high-quality services while keeping overall property taxes low, benefiting homeowners. The City’s per capita total expenditures are low among Minnesota cities of 50,000+ population, and our property tax rate is low relative to cities of Eagan’s size in the Twin Cities region. The City’s financial operations remain strong because of management's proactive budgeting practices and stable property tax revenue.
A proactive long-term planning process is needed to achieve fiscal sustainability, avoid budget crises, and maintain essential public services. This is done by conducting regular assessments of community needs to prioritize services; utilizing data-driven budgeting to allocate resources based on demand and impact; and implementing cost-saving measures, such as energy efficiency programs and technology upgrades.
In addition, ongoing maintenance of facilities and infrastructure is needed to protect and preserve capital assets, sometimes necessitating borrowing of funds. Eagan’s Aaa bond rating enables borrowing at the lowest possible rates, maximizing use of tax funds for needed investments. This rating helps minimize long-term borrowing costs while supporting community priorities such as public safety, streets, and parks.
I will continue to promote fiscal prudence and financial stability through strong fiscal management while providing high-quality, cost-effective services and maintaining essential infrastructure, balancing fiscal responsibility with demand for services.
What are the two or three issues where you believe city government is best positioned to lead — and why the city rather than the state or county?
Housing and transit are a couple of issues of advocacy interest to me. I believe the City is best positioned to lead policy implementation in these areas.
Legislative proposals have been considered to support the goal of improving housing availability and affordability. The approaches in attempting to do so, though, raise concerns about our community’s ability to regulate development, exercise local control, and preserve the character and integrity of our neighborhoods. These proposals would impose a rigid framework on residential development, limiting local decision-making authority regardless of a city’s unique needs and circumstances.
Local zoning is an important planning tool that ensures communities can responsibly plan for residential development and address locally identified housing needs with resident input. I support working with the legislature to find ways to increase availability of housing in our community, but I believe that local authority needs to be preserved to allow us to make decisions in the best interests of Eagan.
Public transit legislation considered in the 2026 session proposed elimination of suburban transit providers, including Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. Anticipating the possibility of such legislation, I successfully advocated for city council approval of a resolution supporting local control of transit services and opposing the dissolution of suburban transit providers. The resolution encouraged the Legislature, the Governor, and the Metropolitan Council to continue working in partnership with suburban transit communities to preserve and strengthen a transit system that respects local governance, builds on past success, reflects the diverse needs of the region, and supports long-term, stable funding to meet the needs of our community.
Elimination of suburban providers would substantially alter governance and service delivery of public transit. A primary concern is centralization of authority under the Metropolitan Council and loss of local control, removing locally elected representation from suburban transit decision-making and reducing accountability to suburban communities. The suburban providers were authorized more than 40 years ago due to inadequate service coverage in suburban areas and lack of an equitable return on regional funding. The proposed legislation risked recreating these same service deficiencies, and likely would result in our suburban routes being reduced or eliminated, leaving us with inadequate service coverage as we experienced more than 40 years ago.
Suburban providers’ continued operations and services are needed. Employers, community organizations, and residents support suburban transit providers, who know our communities, work hard to understand evolving needs, and help ensure that people in suburban transit service areas can travel efficiently throughout the region. This is another area in which local government is best positioned to lead. I will continue to advocate for local governance of suburban transit provider services
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
Residents want a voice in how their tax dollars work. It’s important to engage them early in the budgeting process to ensure transparency and accountability. Methods of engagement can include surveys and polls, reaching people where they are, online or through mail. Community meetings can encourage dialogue, enabling citizens to indicate their preferences for budget allocations. Digital feedback tools can make it easier for residents to express their opinions.
Budget information must be understandable to the public by eliminating technical language, reducing excessive detail, and explaining information through charts and visuals that make sense. When residents offer input, it needs to be acknowledged by demonstrating how they influenced final decisions.
After budget implementation, regular public reporting of budget allocations and expenditures needs to occur. This information is posted monthly on Eagan’s website. In addition, annual independent audits need to be conducted and published for public scrutiny. Eagan routinely obtains unmodified audit opinions – the highest level of assurance offered – on the City’s financial statements. In addition, the City regularly earns the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report. These achievements provide optimal assurance to the public of the City’s excellent work in accounting, financial reporting, and state and federal compliance.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: (651) 485-9125
Campaign Website: https://hansenforcouncil.com/
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteersForHansen
Candidate Bio
I was first elected in 2008 after previously serving on and chairing the Eagan and Dakota County Planning Commissions. I have served four one-year terms as acting mayor when needed in the mayor’s absence. A JD degree graduate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, I am a commercial arbitrator and I’m active in the Minnesota State Bar Association. My legal and risk management background informs and guides my decisions on matters considered by the city council.
I represent Eagan in the regional transportation and transit decision-making process. I have demonstrated regional leadership as Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Suburban Transit Association (STA) Board chair, Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (Metro Cities) president, League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) Board member, and MN Cities Climate Coalition member. I am STA’s representative on the regional Transportation Advisory Board, which coordinates planning and funding of transportation and transit initiatives with the Metropolitan Council. I also serve on the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Federal Advocacy Committee. I represented the LMC on an Electric Vehicle Legislative Working Group in 2025-26. I am actively engaged in legislative policy development in the interest of municipalities on Metro Cities and LMC legislative policy committees.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My preferred style of leadership is collaboration. I encourage teamwork, diverse perspectives, and inclusivity in decision making. As a professional arbitrator I try to influence conflict resolution through constructive dialogue and compromise.
I believe in transparency and open communication. Each month, I send to a growing list of Eagan residents an email update of City and Council activities and upcoming events. I welcome comments and questions on the topics addressed or on other issues. I frequently receive inquiries and suggestions in response to these updates that result in follow-ups and resolution of issues. This is an effective way to communicate with residents and give them an opportunity to share their thoughts or to seek assistance with issues they may have. Residents may request to be added to my distribution list by email or telephone.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top priorities are fiscal prudence, public safety, and race equity and inclusion.
Fiscal prudence while providing high-quality, cost-effective services is essential. We must continue to practice good stewardship of taxpayer funds and preserve Eagan’s Aaa bond rating, enabling access to borrowed funds when needed at the lowest possible rates and maximizing our use of tax funds for needed services and investments. Reduced availability of state and federal funding may result in greater reliance on borrowed funds to pay for needed infrastructure investments.
The Eagan Police and Fire Departments provide effective and reliable public safety and security. Community surveys consistently demonstrate greater than 90% approval ratings for our police and firefighters. They are committed to serving and protecting us, and they deserve our support. Among City services, we need to maintain public safety as the highest priority. Federal funding expedited the transition of Eagan’s fire fighters from volunteers to paid staff, but the City’s budget pays ongoing salary obligations.
About 30 percent of Eagan’s population is Black, Indigenous, or people of color. Recognizing that our city needs a welcoming race equity and inclusion foundation across all City services, programs, policies, and budgetary decisions, the Council provided direction for and has implemented a race equity and inclusion major initiative. Inclusive and equitable City hiring practices, program offerings, provision of City services, proactive outreach for citizen advisory commission opportunities, Council expansion, housing policies, and job-promoting business regulations are examples of strategies and practices that I support to achieve this initiative. The City is self-sufficient in supporting our commitment to the initiative, which has not changed despite the federal administration’s current position on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What is the biggest challenge facing Eagan right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Continuing to achieve orderly redevelopment while accommodating community needs and respecting neighborhood preferences is a significant challenge. Proposals have been made to redevelop major office facility sites in Eagan. These typically are multi-use proposals involving, housing, retail, or warehouse components. Due to traffic, noise, density, and other concerns expressed by residents in nearby neighborhoods, approval of these proposals has been challenging. Neighborhood preferences are important considerations that must be balanced with the need to maintain a sound, reliable tax base.
Part of this challenge is the need to provide adequate housing that is affordable for those who want to live in Eagan. While this is a challenge, it presents a great opportunity. The City has an excellent working relationship with the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA). Working with the CDA, we’ve made substantial progress in providing for workforce and affordable housing. The CDA estimates that Eagan has a housing gap of about 3,250 for-sale units and 1,750 rental units. The addition of a variety of housing product types and affordability levels will enhance the City’s ability to meet changing and growing housing needs. We will continue to work with the CDA to address these needs.
How would you characterize the business climate in Eagan, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
The business climate in Eagan is very favorable. A recent survey of business owners and managers about their perspectives on the community, including the business climate, revealed that more than 92% of respondents recommend operating a business in Eagan, suggest working in Eagan to someone who asked, and will keep their business in Eagan for the next five years. These ratings top national benchmarks and are a compliment to the City’s efforts on behalf of Eagan businesses.
Businesses comprise the foundation of Eagan’s tax base, enabling the City to maintain high-quality services while keeping overall property taxes low. Businesses help to define our standard of living by creating jobs, providing purpose to peoples’ lives and a sense of identity. I will continue to support a strong business environment and Eagan’s position as the employment center of Dakota County with more than 50,000 jobs.
When needed to stimulate economic development due to market or economic conditions, local government can be a source of incentives to preserve and enhance the tax base and attract and retain jobs. This may be accomplished through limited use of options such as tax increment financing or tax abatement to provide assistance for development and redevelopment.
The task of preparing for present and future workforce needs isn’t solely the responsibility of businesses. The public, private, and nonprofit sectors, as well as government, can help by supporting trade programs that bolster the talent pipeline. The County’s Workforce Development Board provides guidance for and exercises oversight over job training programs. I will continue to support this effort.
In addition, preparing youth for the workplace is important. A primary predictor of future success is early exposure to work experience. Another training initiative that is worthy of support is the Minnesota Youth Program, which provides short-term employment and training services to low-income and at-risk youth who lack the academic and applied skills considered critical in the workplace.
Government support of technical and community college programs is essential to assure the availability to businesses of technically trained workers. Technical career graduates have focused career interests that can quickly address business needs.
I support city coordination with these various sources of training and workforce development to help prepare workers for jobs.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Public safety is a primary responsibility of local government. Public trust in our police force is essential for providing effective service. As shown in the City’s most recent citizen survey, we are meeting this challenge. Eagan residents rated safety higher in our community than national benchmarks and ratings for hundreds of cities nationwide, with 9 in 10 residents rating our public safety positively. As a city, we are working as partners with our public safety personnel to build and maintain community trust, which will remain a priority.
Another challenge is that Eagan’s continued strong retail and population growth has necessitated increased investment in additional police officers and upgraded facilities and technology. In order to fully utilize this technology and responsibly evaluate emerging tools that are becoming standard practice in public safety, dedicated leadership and oversight is needed. However, the Eagan Police Department faces a leadership succession challenge due to the planned retirement of all current lieutenants within the next three years. To address this challenge, the department has hired a dedicated succession planning and research and development officer, with funding from salary savings resulting from sworn officer vacancies over the next couple of years.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
I appreciate the positive working relationships that Eagan has with organizations such as Ally Supportive Services, The Link, Dakota County Social Services, and the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA), and the progress we’ve made and continue to make in providing for workforce and affordable housing. An example is the CDA’s purchase of the Delta Airlines office site in the Northwest Central Commons Small Area to help implement the City’s vision for the area, including the possibility of an element of workforce housing. We need to continue working with these kinds of organizations to find creative and effective ways to provide housing for workers and others in Eagan.
The Eagan City Council has not engaged in consideration of issues such as rent control policies, leaving matters such as this to state and federal policy making. Our approach has been to offer financial assistance programs for housing purposes, such as Local Affordable Housing Aid (LAHA).
The 0.25% metro area sales tax approved in 2023 funds LAHA and provides annual allocations to metro cities and counties for building and preserving affordable housing and helping those experiencing homelessness find housing. Qualifying uses of these funds range from preservation and new construction of income-eligible homeownership units to financial support for non-profit housing providers and emergency rental assistance to income-eligible households.
I support our commitment to helping improve, preserve, and stabilize housing stock within the City. LAHA programs assist in achieving this commitment. Utilizing LAHA funds, the City collaborates with the CDA to also offer home improvement loan and radon mitigation grant programs.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Roadway safety across all transportation modes must be a priority. Traffic fatalities and severe injuries are preventable through a comprehensive and collaborative approach to road safety that accounts for the needs of all road users, and especially the most vulnerable users. A successful approach to roadway safety requires coordination, engineering and design strategies, planning, data analysis, and policy consideration.
As a regional Transportation Advisory Board member, I am aware of and advocate for planning and funding of initiatives to improve transportation infrastructure and safety for all users. Projects that are proposed for funding through the regional solicitation process include a safety component in various categories of projects. Examples of projects include upgraded road surfaces and signage to enhance visibility and reduce hazards; implementation of dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian pathways to separate users from vehicle traffic; increased public transit options and frequency to encourage use and reduce congestion; installation of traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps and roundabouts, to slow down vehicles; and enhanced lighting at crosswalks and transit stops to improve safety during low visibility.
Eagan has a network of county roads presenting various safety challenges. I have collaborated with county commissioners and staff to identify areas of concern. Progress has been made in major concern areas to address safety hazards, including speed and lane reductions, traffic calming measures, walking and biking trail construction and improvements, and enhanced lighting and signage at pedestrian crossings.
In addition, as a board member and past chair of the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and Suburban Transit Association Board chair, I advocate for public transit’s contribution to roadway safety by providing safe transportation due to professional drivers, dedicated lanes, and advanced safety technologies, and by reducing traffic congestion on local streets and highways.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the city levy?
The budgeting process is a balancing act, responding to growth, state mandates, and rising costs while being mindful of the impact on taxpayers and making thoughtful, long-term decisions. The goal is to be fiscally responsible while remaining committed to our long-term fiscal strategies and protecting core services.
Of primary importance is maintenance of effective and reliable public safety and security through adequately staffed and equipped police and fire departments. Residents understand the importance of these fundamental services and are willing to support them, as well as parks and recreational amenities and public works.
Businesses comprise the foundation of Eagan’s tax base, enabling the City to maintain high-quality services while keeping overall property taxes low, benefiting homeowners. The City’s per capita total expenditures are low among Minnesota cities of 50,000+ population, and our property tax rate is low relative to cities of Eagan’s size in the Twin Cities region. The City’s financial operations remain strong because of management's proactive budgeting practices and stable property tax revenue.
A proactive long-term planning process is needed to achieve fiscal sustainability, avoid budget crises, and maintain essential public services. This is done by conducting regular assessments of community needs to prioritize services; utilizing data-driven budgeting to allocate resources based on demand and impact; and implementing cost-saving measures, such as energy efficiency programs and technology upgrades.
In addition, ongoing maintenance of facilities and infrastructure is needed to protect and preserve capital assets, sometimes necessitating borrowing of funds. Eagan’s Aaa bond rating enables borrowing at the lowest possible rates, maximizing use of tax funds for needed investments. This rating helps minimize long-term borrowing costs while supporting community priorities such as public safety, streets, and parks.
I will continue to promote fiscal prudence and financial stability through strong fiscal management while providing high-quality, cost-effective services and maintaining essential infrastructure, balancing fiscal responsibility with demand for services.
What are the two or three issues where you believe city government is best positioned to lead — and why the city rather than the state or county?
Housing and transit are a couple of issues of advocacy interest to me. I believe the City is best positioned to lead policy implementation in these areas.
Legislative proposals have been considered to support the goal of improving housing availability and affordability. The approaches in attempting to do so, though, raise concerns about our community’s ability to regulate development, exercise local control, and preserve the character and integrity of our neighborhoods. These proposals would impose a rigid framework on residential development, limiting local decision-making authority regardless of a city’s unique needs and circumstances.
Local zoning is an important planning tool that ensures communities can responsibly plan for residential development and address locally identified housing needs with resident input. I support working with the legislature to find ways to increase availability of housing in our community, but I believe that local authority needs to be preserved to allow us to make decisions in the best interests of Eagan.
Public transit legislation considered in the 2026 session proposed elimination of suburban transit providers, including Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. Anticipating the possibility of such legislation, I successfully advocated for city council approval of a resolution supporting local control of transit services and opposing the dissolution of suburban transit providers. The resolution encouraged the Legislature, the Governor, and the Metropolitan Council to continue working in partnership with suburban transit communities to preserve and strengthen a transit system that respects local governance, builds on past success, reflects the diverse needs of the region, and supports long-term, stable funding to meet the needs of our community.
Elimination of suburban providers would substantially alter governance and service delivery of public transit. A primary concern is centralization of authority under the Metropolitan Council and loss of local control, removing locally elected representation from suburban transit decision-making and reducing accountability to suburban communities. The suburban providers were authorized more than 40 years ago due to inadequate service coverage in suburban areas and lack of an equitable return on regional funding. The proposed legislation risked recreating these same service deficiencies, and likely would result in our suburban routes being reduced or eliminated, leaving us with inadequate service coverage as we experienced more than 40 years ago.
Suburban providers’ continued operations and services are needed. Employers, community organizations, and residents support suburban transit providers, who know our communities, work hard to understand evolving needs, and help ensure that people in suburban transit service areas can travel efficiently throughout the region. This is another area in which local government is best positioned to lead. I will continue to advocate for local governance of suburban transit provider services
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
Residents want a voice in how their tax dollars work. It’s important to engage them early in the budgeting process to ensure transparency and accountability. Methods of engagement can include surveys and polls, reaching people where they are, online or through mail. Community meetings can encourage dialogue, enabling citizens to indicate their preferences for budget allocations. Digital feedback tools can make it easier for residents to express their opinions.
Budget information must be understandable to the public by eliminating technical language, reducing excessive detail, and explaining information through charts and visuals that make sense. When residents offer input, it needs to be acknowledged by demonstrating how they influenced final decisions.
After budget implementation, regular public reporting of budget allocations and expenditures needs to occur. This information is posted monthly on Eagan’s website. In addition, annual independent audits need to be conducted and published for public scrutiny. Eagan routinely obtains unmodified audit opinions – the highest level of assurance offered – on the City’s financial statements. In addition, the City regularly earns the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report. These achievements provide optimal assurance to the public of the City’s excellent work in accounting, financial reporting, and state and federal compliance.