Monique Garza
Name: Monique Garza
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 763-501-9278
Campaign Website: www.votemoniquegarza.com
Twitter Handle: N/A
Facebook Page: N/A
Candidate Bio
I am honored to be seeking my third term on the Cottage Grove City Council. Since first being appointed in 2023 and later elected by nearly 15,000 voters, I have worked hard to lead with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to serving every resident.
Outside of City Hall, I am a REALTOR®, small business owner, and community volunteer. I serve on the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and have held leadership roles with local, state, and national housing organizations, giving me a strong understanding of economic development, housing, and responsible growth.
I founded Movies with Mo, a free community event that brings families, local businesses, and neighbors together each summer. I believe strong communities are built through relationships, collaboration, and opportunities for residents to connect.
As your council member, I have supported responsible economic development, public safety, infrastructure investments, housing opportunities, and long-term financial planning while working to preserve the quality of life that makes Cottage Grove a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My leadership style is collaborative, approachable, and solutions-oriented. I believe the best decisions come from listening first, asking thoughtful questions, and bringing people together—even when perspectives differ.
I lead with integrity and focus on facts rather than politics. I value respectful dialogue, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning. Residents deserve elected officials who are visible in the community, accessible, and willing to have difficult conversations while keeping the community's best interests at the center of every decision.
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:
What is the biggest challenge facing Cottage Grove right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
One of our biggest challenges is balancing continued growth while maintaining the character and quality of life residents value. Growth brings opportunities but also increased demands on infrastructure, housing, public safety, and city services.
Our greatest opportunity is to continue attracting high-quality businesses, expanding our commercial tax base, and creating amenities that serve residents of all ages. Thoughtful planning today will ensure Cottage Grove remains a desirable community for future generations.
How would you characterize the business climate in Cottage Grove, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
Cottage Grove has a strong and growing business community, but we should always be looking for ways to improve. The city's role is to be a partner by creating a predictable permitting process, supporting workforce development, investing in infrastructure, and maintaining open communication with local businesses.
As both a small business owner and Chamber Board member, I understand the challenges businesses face. Strong partnerships between the city, schools, businesses, and regional organizations help create jobs, strengthen our economy, and improve the quality of life for residents.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Public safety begins with ensuring our police, firefighters, and emergency responders have the staffing, training, equipment, and community support they need.
We must also continue addressing traffic safety, youth engagement, mental health resources, and crime prevention through partnerships with schools, neighborhoods, and community organizations. Keeping residents safe requires both proactive policing and strong community relationships.
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?
Housing affordability is one of the most important issues facing our region. Cottage Grove should continue encouraging a variety of housing options that meet the needs of young families, seniors, first-time homebuyers, and workforce employees.
As a REALTOR®, I've seen firsthand how difficult it can be for families to enter the housing market. I support expanding housing supply, streamlining appropriate development, and partnering with public and private organizations to increase affordability.
I do not believe rent control is the right solution. Instead, I believe increasing housing supply and encouraging responsible development will have a more positive long-term impact while maintaining investment in our community.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Transportation improvements should focus on safety first. That includes maintaining roads, improving intersections, expanding trails and sidewalks where appropriate, and working with county and state partners on regional transportation projects.
As our community grows, we need infrastructure investments that support drivers while also creating safe options for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users.
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?
Every budget decision should begin with asking whether taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and whether the investment provides real value to residents.
I support responsible budgeting that protects core city services while limiting unnecessary spending. Growing our commercial and industrial tax base, seeking efficiencies, and planning for long-term financial sustainability can help reduce pressure on residential taxpayers while maintaining high-quality 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?
City government is best positioned to lead on:
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?
Transparency means making information easy to find, easy to understand, and easy to discuss.
I support clear budget presentations, accessible financial reporting, regular community engagement, and opportunities for residents to provide meaningful input before major decisions are made. I also believe elected officials should be visible and available outside of council meetings, listening to concerns, answering questions, and explaining not just what decisions are made, but why they are made. Building trust starts with open communication and accountability.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 763-501-9278
Campaign Website: www.votemoniquegarza.com
Twitter Handle: N/A
Facebook Page: N/A
Candidate Bio
I am honored to be seeking my third term on the Cottage Grove City Council. Since first being appointed in 2023 and later elected by nearly 15,000 voters, I have worked hard to lead with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to serving every resident.
Outside of City Hall, I am a REALTOR®, small business owner, and community volunteer. I serve on the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and have held leadership roles with local, state, and national housing organizations, giving me a strong understanding of economic development, housing, and responsible growth.
I founded Movies with Mo, a free community event that brings families, local businesses, and neighbors together each summer. I believe strong communities are built through relationships, collaboration, and opportunities for residents to connect.
As your council member, I have supported responsible economic development, public safety, infrastructure investments, housing opportunities, and long-term financial planning while working to preserve the quality of life that makes Cottage Grove a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My leadership style is collaborative, approachable, and solutions-oriented. I believe the best decisions come from listening first, asking thoughtful questions, and bringing people together—even when perspectives differ.
I lead with integrity and focus on facts rather than politics. I value respectful dialogue, fiscal responsibility, and long-term planning. Residents deserve elected officials who are visible in the community, accessible, and willing to have difficult conversations while keeping the community's best interests at the center of every decision.
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:
- Maintaining strong public safety services by ensuring our police, fire, and emergency responders have the resources they need.
- Supporting responsible economic development that expands our tax base, attracts quality businesses, and creates local jobs.
- Investing wisely in infrastructure, including roads, parks, trails, and community amenities while planning for future growth.
What is the biggest challenge facing Cottage Grove right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
One of our biggest challenges is balancing continued growth while maintaining the character and quality of life residents value. Growth brings opportunities but also increased demands on infrastructure, housing, public safety, and city services.
Our greatest opportunity is to continue attracting high-quality businesses, expanding our commercial tax base, and creating amenities that serve residents of all ages. Thoughtful planning today will ensure Cottage Grove remains a desirable community for future generations.
How would you characterize the business climate in Cottage Grove, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
Cottage Grove has a strong and growing business community, but we should always be looking for ways to improve. The city's role is to be a partner by creating a predictable permitting process, supporting workforce development, investing in infrastructure, and maintaining open communication with local businesses.
As both a small business owner and Chamber Board member, I understand the challenges businesses face. Strong partnerships between the city, schools, businesses, and regional organizations help create jobs, strengthen our economy, and improve the quality of life for residents.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Public safety begins with ensuring our police, firefighters, and emergency responders have the staffing, training, equipment, and community support they need.
We must also continue addressing traffic safety, youth engagement, mental health resources, and crime prevention through partnerships with schools, neighborhoods, and community organizations. Keeping residents safe requires both proactive policing and strong community relationships.
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?
Housing affordability is one of the most important issues facing our region. Cottage Grove should continue encouraging a variety of housing options that meet the needs of young families, seniors, first-time homebuyers, and workforce employees.
As a REALTOR®, I've seen firsthand how difficult it can be for families to enter the housing market. I support expanding housing supply, streamlining appropriate development, and partnering with public and private organizations to increase affordability.
I do not believe rent control is the right solution. Instead, I believe increasing housing supply and encouraging responsible development will have a more positive long-term impact while maintaining investment in our community.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Transportation improvements should focus on safety first. That includes maintaining roads, improving intersections, expanding trails and sidewalks where appropriate, and working with county and state partners on regional transportation projects.
As our community grows, we need infrastructure investments that support drivers while also creating safe options for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users.
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?
Every budget decision should begin with asking whether taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and whether the investment provides real value to residents.
I support responsible budgeting that protects core city services while limiting unnecessary spending. Growing our commercial and industrial tax base, seeking efficiencies, and planning for long-term financial sustainability can help reduce pressure on residential taxpayers while maintaining high-quality 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?
City government is best positioned to lead on:
- Public safety because local leaders understand community needs and can respond quickly.
- Land use, housing, and economic development because these decisions shape our neighborhoods and future growth.
- Infrastructure and quality-of-life investments such as parks, trails, roads, and community amenities because residents experience these services every day.
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?
Transparency means making information easy to find, easy to understand, and easy to discuss.
I support clear budget presentations, accessible financial reporting, regular community engagement, and opportunities for residents to provide meaningful input before major decisions are made. I also believe elected officials should be visible and available outside of council meetings, listening to concerns, answering questions, and explaining not just what decisions are made, but why they are made. Building trust starts with open communication and accountability.