Steven Haes
Name: Steven Haes
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 952-985-8043
Campaign Website: https://stevenhaes.com
Twitter handle: @stevenhaes
Facebook Page: Steven Haes
Candidate Bio
My professional experience includes leading large-scale municipal projects for major cities, touching nearly every aspect of city operations, including 911 and emergency services, public works, technology infrastructure, GIS mapping, and citywide planning.
This experience gave me a firsthand understanding of how decisions in one area of city government can impact taxpayers, infrastructure, public safety, and long-term growth.
My career has taken me around the world, from Australia to Europe and across North America. Working with large organizations and diverse communities has taught me how to manage complex challenges, bring people together, ask difficult questions, and make responsible, long-term decisions.
I have also seen firsthand how massive data centers and other resource-intensive developments can strain water, energy, roads, and public infrastructure while shifting costs onto families and homeowners. Lakeville must say no to data centers, bottling plants, and other destructive developments that threaten our natural resources.
I will work to protect our natural resources, ensure global corporations pay their fair share for infrastructure and taxes, support public safety, reduce the tax burden on families, and ensure Lakeville remains a safe, financially responsible, and well-planned community for generations to come.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My leadership philosophy is rooted in servant leadership, and it would be the foundation of how I serve as a City Council member. Public office should never be about power, politics, or personal recognition. It should be about listening to residents, understanding their concerns, and making decisions based on what is best for the community, not special interests.
A servant leader must be accessible, transparent, and accountable. Every resident deserves to have a voice in the decisions that shape our city, whether they have called Lakeville home for decades or have just joined our community. Leadership means listening to different perspectives, asking difficult questions, and being willing to stand up for residents when important decisions are being made.
That also means being willing to say no when a development is not in Lakeville’s long-term best interest. I support banning large-scale data centers and commercial water-bottling plants in Lakeville. These facilities can place significant demands on water, energy, infrastructure, and other community resources while potentially shifting costs and long-term risks onto residents. Economic development should strengthen Lakeville—not compromise our water resources, burden taxpayers, or change the character of our community for the benefit of large corporations.
I will lead with integrity, protect taxpayer dollars, support responsible and sustainable growth, strengthen public safety, protect our lakes and watersheds, and preserve the character that makes Lakeville a great place to live. By putting service before self, I will work to earn the trust of residents and make thoughtful decisions that strengthen Lakeville today while protecting it for future generations.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
I am running for Lakeville City Council to put residents first, period.
My campaign is built on three simple principles: No to Data Centers. Focus on Community First and Fairness for Taxpayers.
I oppose data centers that consume enormous amounts of electricity, place additional pressure on our infrastructure, and threaten our watersheds while providing limited benefit to our community.
I also believe it's time to end the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that prevent residents from knowing what their elected officials and city government are doing. Transparency is essential to public trust, and the people of Lakeville deserve an open government that is accountable to its citizens.
I also believe homeowners and working families should not be expected to subsidize large global corporations.
As Lakeville continues to grow, major businesses should pay their fair share for the roads, utilities, and public services their developments require, reducing the burden on local taxpayers. Along with protecting our lakes, wetlands, and groundwater, supporting our police, fire, and emergency responders, investing in our schools, and encouraging responsible growth, I will work every day to preserve the character of Lakeville while ensuring our city remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. My commitment is straightforward: protect our community, respect taxpayers, and always put Lakeville residents first.
What is the biggest challenge facing Lakeville right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Lakeville is at a turning point. The greatest challenge facing our community is ensuring that the interests of residents always come before the interests of powerful outside organizations. Whether it is proposals for large-scale data centers, bottling plants that could impact our groundwater, or other developments driven by corporate interests, every decision must be measured by one simple question: Does this make Lakeville a better place for the families who live here? Growth should strengthen our community—not compromise our natural resources, increase traffic, or leave taxpayers paying the bill for private development.
At the same time, cities across Minnesota are facing increasing financial pressures as federal funding becomes less certain and infrastructure costs continue to rise. Lakeville must prepare by spending taxpayer dollars wisely, demanding transparency from city government, and ensuring that large corporations pay their fair share for the roads, utilities, and public services they require.
We cannot rely on homeowners and working families to shoulder the costs of decisions that primarily benefit outside interests. By protecting our water, planning responsibly, and putting residents first, we can preserve Lakeville we love while building a financially strong and sustainable future.
Lakeville's greatest opportunity is its people. Our city continues to attract young, educated families who value excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and a high quality of life. That talented workforce is one of our strongest economic assets. Businesses don't just choose a location because of available land—they choose communities where they can recruit and retain skilled employees. By continuing to invest in our schools, protecting our quality of life, and planning growth responsibly, Lakeville can attract high-quality employers that provide good-paying jobs while preserving the character of our community. The future of Lakeville is not about chasing every development opportunity; it is about creating a city where families want to live and where businesses want to invest because of the exceptional people who call Lakeville home.
How would you characterize the business climate in Lakeville, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
Lakeville has built one of the strongest business climates in Minnesota by attracting talented, educated families, maintaining excellent schools, and fostering a safe, welcoming community. That combination makes our city an attractive place for businesses that need a highly skilled workforce. City government should focus on strengthening those competitive advantages—not by offering special treatment to a select few, but by creating an environment where businesses of all sizes can succeed. That means investing in infrastructure, maintaining predictable and transparent government, supporting workforce development, and ensuring Lakeville remains a community where people want to live, work, and raise their families.
The City's role is to be a partner with business who value Lakeville, not a benefactor to a select few large corporations. We should champion our local small businesses, streamline processes where appropriate, and recruit employers that create high-quality jobs while respecting our community's values. At the same time, partnerships must be fair. Large corporations should pay their fair share for the infrastructure and public services they require instead of shifting those costs onto homeowners and working families. Economic development should enhance Lakeville's quality of life, protect our natural resources, and preserve the character that makes businesses—and the talented people they want to hire—choose Lakeville over other communities.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
As Lakeville continues to experience rapid growth, our greatest public safety challenge is ensuring that essential services keep pace with the needs of our community. More residents mean increased demands on our police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services, roads, and supporting infrastructure. These investments are critical to maintaining the high level of public safety that Lakeville residents expect, but they come with significant costs. We cannot continue to place the majority of that financial burden on homeowners and working families.
My approach is to plan and ensure corporations pay for their growth. New commercial developments and large corporations should contribute their fair share toward the infrastructure and public safety investments their projects require. By managing growth responsibly, prioritizing infrastructure before expansion, and making strategic investments in police, fire, roads, and emergency services, we can maintain Lakeville's exceptional quality of life without unfairly shifting costs onto residents. Public safety is one of government's core responsibilities, and we must ensure it remains fully supported as our city continues to grow.
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 long-term challenges facing Lakeville, but it must be addressed through thoughtful planning—not unchecked growth. Today, our city is developing faster than our infrastructure, public works, and transportation systems can comfortably support. Before approving additional large-scale development, we should take a comprehensive look at the land available for future growth, review our long-term development plans, and ensure that every decision enhances Lakeville's character rather than changes it. Smart planning today will help us avoid costly problems tomorrow.
At the same time, we need to create opportunities for the next generation. Our children should be able to return to Lakeville after college, trade school, or military service and have access to quality, affordable housing. Achieving that goal requires a balanced approach that expands housing choices while protecting the property values and investments of current homeowners. I support responsible growth, housing options, and infrastructure-first planning that allows Lakeville to remain an affordable, desirable community for both today's residents and future generations
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Transportation is one of the most visible challenges facing Lakeville today. Our city's rapid growth has placed significant pressure on roads, intersections, sidewalks, trails, and transit infrastructure. Before we continue expanding, we need a comprehensive review of our transportation network to identify where improvements are needed today and what investments will be required over the next 20 years. Planning ahead is far less expensive than trying to fix problems after they have become major bottlenecks.
That review should include input from residents across every part of Lakeville because transportation needs vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. We need to evaluate road capacity, traffic flow, sidewalks, bike trails, pedestrian crossings, and regional transit access. We should also work with our regional partners to improve park-and-ride facilities and bus access along the I-35 corridor and Cedar Avenue so commuters have safe, convenient transportation options. Every investment should be guided by safety, accessibility, and long-term value for taxpayers.
Accessibility must be a priority in every transportation decision we make. Sidewalks, trails, intersections, and transit stops should be designed and maintained so they can be safely used by people with disabilities, seniors, families with strollers, and anyone with mobility challenges. That means investing in accessible curb ramps, smooth sidewalks, safe crossing signals, and pathways that connect neighborhoods to parks, schools, businesses, and transit. A truly connected transportation system is one that serves every resident, regardless of age or ability.
Living in Minnesota also means planning for all four seasons. Sidewalks, trails, and bike paths are only useful if they remain safe and accessible during the winter months. As we expand our pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, we must also ensure the city has the equipment, staffing, and resources necessary to clear snow and ice in a timely manner. Winter maintenance should be considered as part of every infrastructure decision so residents, including students walking to school, commuters, seniors, and people with disabilities—can safely use these pathways year-round.
As a parent, this issue is personal. My own children walked to school, and I want future generations to have that same opportunity. Safe sidewalks, connected trails, well-designed crosswalks, and traffic-calming measures near schools should remain a priority as Lakeville grows. Whether someone is driving to work, riding transit, biking on our trails, or walking to school, every resident deserves a transportation system that is safe, reliable, accessible, and built to support the community for decades to come.
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?
Residential property owners are feeling the pressure of rising property taxes, and I believe the City Council has a responsibility to recognize that families and seniors cannot simply absorb higher taxes year after year. When considering the city levy, I would carefully review spending, look for efficiencies, and make sure we are distinguishing between essential community needs and spending that can be delayed or reduced. Fiscal responsibility means remembering that every tax dollar ultimately comes from a resident or business.
One of my guiding principles would be simple: developers and corporations should pay for growth. Lakeville's continued development creates additional demands for roads, public safety, utilities, parks, public works, and other infrastructure. Those costs should not continually be passed along to existing homeowners. We need to make sure developers and large businesses benefiting from Lakeville's growth are paying their fair share of the infrastructure costs their projects create.
At the same time, we cannot balance our community's finances by weakening the things that make people want to live in Lakeville. Our schools, teachers, principals and support staff are one of the primary reasons families choose Lakeville, and I would not support reducing our commitment to education as a way of addressing the tax burden. Strong schools protect our community's future, help maintain property values, attract families and employers, and are an important part of Lakeville's identity.
We also have to protect essential city services. Police, fire, emergency response, roads, snow removal, water infrastructure, and public works must keep pace with our population. That is another reason responsible growth is so important. Approving development without considering the long-term cost of providing services can eventually leave existing taxpayers paying the bill.
My goal is to lower the tax burden on homeowners without sacrificing our schools, public safety, or essential services. Before asking residents for more, we should ask whether the spending is necessary, whether we can operate more efficiently, and whether new development and large businesses are contributing their fair share. Lakeville can continue to grow, but that growth must strengthen our community rather than simply increase the tax burden on the people who already call it home.
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?
I believe city government is best positioned to lead in three critical areas: protecting taxpayers, protecting our natural resources, and protecting our community. These are not abstract political issues—they are decisions that directly affect Lakeville families, their homes, and the future of our city.
First, we must reduce the financial burden on families and homeowners. Lakeville cannot continue growing by simply passing the cost of that growth onto existing taxpayers. When large corporations and major developments come to our city, they must pay their fair share for the roads, utilities, public safety, and infrastructure their projects require. I believe growth should pay for growth. The City Council controls many of these decisions, and residents deserve leaders who will put taxpayers ahead of special interests.
Second, we must protect Lakeville's water and natural resources. I oppose large data centers, commercial water-bottling operations, and other developments that could threaten our groundwater, watersheds, lakes, wetlands, or place excessive demands on our energy and infrastructure. Economic development is important, but not every development is good development. No project is worth jeopardizing the resources our children and grandchildren will depend upon. Through zoning, land-use decisions, development agreements, and long-term planning, the City Council has both the authority and responsibility to protect Lakeville.
Finally, public safety must remain a fundamental responsibility of city government. As Lakeville grows, our police, fire, emergency services, roads, and infrastructure must grow with it. We cannot approve development today and leave taxpayers to pay tomorrow for the additional staffing, equipment, facilities, and roads that development requires.
The state and county are important partners, but City Council members are elected to represent Lakeville residents. My priority will be families before special interests, responsible growth before unchecked development, protection of our natural resources, and keeping Lakeville safe. Those are decisions we can—and should—make right here in Lakeville.
In the end development that changes the core characteristics of Lakeville should not be permitted.
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?
Real taxpayer transparency means residents should be able to understand what their city government is doing, how their tax dollars are being spent, and who is influencing major decisions. Transparency should not begin after a decision has already been made. It needs to be part of the process from the beginning.
First, I believe strongly in both the letter and the spirit of Minnesota's Open Meeting Law. City business should be conducted openly whenever required, with adequate notice and meaningful opportunities for residents to understand what is being discussed.
I oppose the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or unnecessary confidentiality arrangements that prevent the public from knowing about major developments affecting their community. Residents should not learn about a major project only after negotiations have progressed to the point where they feel the decision has already been made.
That is especially important when dealing with large developers and corporations proposing projects that could significantly affect Lakeville's infrastructure, taxes, traffic, water, or natural resources. There should not be a separate process for powerful interests and another process for ordinary residents. Appropriate discussions may sometimes need to occur within legal confidentiality requirements, but major public-policy decisions should be debated openly, and residents deserve to know the potential costs, benefits, incentives, infrastructure demands, and long-term consequences before the City Council acts.
Financial transparency also needs to be understandable. Posting hundreds of pages of budget documents online may technically provide information, but that does not necessarily make government transparent. I would support clear, easy-to-read reporting showing where taxpayer dollars are going, how spending is changing, the cost of major projects, debt obligations, and how proposed spending will affect taxpayers.
Finally, public comment needs to matter. Residents should have meaningful opportunities to speak, ask questions, and provide input before major decisions are made. Public engagement should not simply be a procedural requirement completed at the end of the process.
To me, taxpayer transparency comes down to a simple principle: no surprise agendas, open meetings, no NDAs, no backroom decision-making with major corporations, understandable financial reporting, and genuine opportunities for public comment.
The people of Lakeville are paying the bills, and they deserve a government that conducts the public's business in public.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 952-985-8043
Campaign Website: https://stevenhaes.com
Twitter handle: @stevenhaes
Facebook Page: Steven Haes
Candidate Bio
My professional experience includes leading large-scale municipal projects for major cities, touching nearly every aspect of city operations, including 911 and emergency services, public works, technology infrastructure, GIS mapping, and citywide planning.
This experience gave me a firsthand understanding of how decisions in one area of city government can impact taxpayers, infrastructure, public safety, and long-term growth.
My career has taken me around the world, from Australia to Europe and across North America. Working with large organizations and diverse communities has taught me how to manage complex challenges, bring people together, ask difficult questions, and make responsible, long-term decisions.
I have also seen firsthand how massive data centers and other resource-intensive developments can strain water, energy, roads, and public infrastructure while shifting costs onto families and homeowners. Lakeville must say no to data centers, bottling plants, and other destructive developments that threaten our natural resources.
I will work to protect our natural resources, ensure global corporations pay their fair share for infrastructure and taxes, support public safety, reduce the tax burden on families, and ensure Lakeville remains a safe, financially responsible, and well-planned community for generations to come.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My leadership philosophy is rooted in servant leadership, and it would be the foundation of how I serve as a City Council member. Public office should never be about power, politics, or personal recognition. It should be about listening to residents, understanding their concerns, and making decisions based on what is best for the community, not special interests.
A servant leader must be accessible, transparent, and accountable. Every resident deserves to have a voice in the decisions that shape our city, whether they have called Lakeville home for decades or have just joined our community. Leadership means listening to different perspectives, asking difficult questions, and being willing to stand up for residents when important decisions are being made.
That also means being willing to say no when a development is not in Lakeville’s long-term best interest. I support banning large-scale data centers and commercial water-bottling plants in Lakeville. These facilities can place significant demands on water, energy, infrastructure, and other community resources while potentially shifting costs and long-term risks onto residents. Economic development should strengthen Lakeville—not compromise our water resources, burden taxpayers, or change the character of our community for the benefit of large corporations.
I will lead with integrity, protect taxpayer dollars, support responsible and sustainable growth, strengthen public safety, protect our lakes and watersheds, and preserve the character that makes Lakeville a great place to live. By putting service before self, I will work to earn the trust of residents and make thoughtful decisions that strengthen Lakeville today while protecting it for future generations.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
I am running for Lakeville City Council to put residents first, period.
My campaign is built on three simple principles: No to Data Centers. Focus on Community First and Fairness for Taxpayers.
I oppose data centers that consume enormous amounts of electricity, place additional pressure on our infrastructure, and threaten our watersheds while providing limited benefit to our community.
I also believe it's time to end the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that prevent residents from knowing what their elected officials and city government are doing. Transparency is essential to public trust, and the people of Lakeville deserve an open government that is accountable to its citizens.
I also believe homeowners and working families should not be expected to subsidize large global corporations.
As Lakeville continues to grow, major businesses should pay their fair share for the roads, utilities, and public services their developments require, reducing the burden on local taxpayers. Along with protecting our lakes, wetlands, and groundwater, supporting our police, fire, and emergency responders, investing in our schools, and encouraging responsible growth, I will work every day to preserve the character of Lakeville while ensuring our city remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family. My commitment is straightforward: protect our community, respect taxpayers, and always put Lakeville residents first.
What is the biggest challenge facing Lakeville right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Lakeville is at a turning point. The greatest challenge facing our community is ensuring that the interests of residents always come before the interests of powerful outside organizations. Whether it is proposals for large-scale data centers, bottling plants that could impact our groundwater, or other developments driven by corporate interests, every decision must be measured by one simple question: Does this make Lakeville a better place for the families who live here? Growth should strengthen our community—not compromise our natural resources, increase traffic, or leave taxpayers paying the bill for private development.
At the same time, cities across Minnesota are facing increasing financial pressures as federal funding becomes less certain and infrastructure costs continue to rise. Lakeville must prepare by spending taxpayer dollars wisely, demanding transparency from city government, and ensuring that large corporations pay their fair share for the roads, utilities, and public services they require.
We cannot rely on homeowners and working families to shoulder the costs of decisions that primarily benefit outside interests. By protecting our water, planning responsibly, and putting residents first, we can preserve Lakeville we love while building a financially strong and sustainable future.
Lakeville's greatest opportunity is its people. Our city continues to attract young, educated families who value excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and a high quality of life. That talented workforce is one of our strongest economic assets. Businesses don't just choose a location because of available land—they choose communities where they can recruit and retain skilled employees. By continuing to invest in our schools, protecting our quality of life, and planning growth responsibly, Lakeville can attract high-quality employers that provide good-paying jobs while preserving the character of our community. The future of Lakeville is not about chasing every development opportunity; it is about creating a city where families want to live and where businesses want to invest because of the exceptional people who call Lakeville home.
How would you characterize the business climate in Lakeville, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
Lakeville has built one of the strongest business climates in Minnesota by attracting talented, educated families, maintaining excellent schools, and fostering a safe, welcoming community. That combination makes our city an attractive place for businesses that need a highly skilled workforce. City government should focus on strengthening those competitive advantages—not by offering special treatment to a select few, but by creating an environment where businesses of all sizes can succeed. That means investing in infrastructure, maintaining predictable and transparent government, supporting workforce development, and ensuring Lakeville remains a community where people want to live, work, and raise their families.
The City's role is to be a partner with business who value Lakeville, not a benefactor to a select few large corporations. We should champion our local small businesses, streamline processes where appropriate, and recruit employers that create high-quality jobs while respecting our community's values. At the same time, partnerships must be fair. Large corporations should pay their fair share for the infrastructure and public services they require instead of shifting those costs onto homeowners and working families. Economic development should enhance Lakeville's quality of life, protect our natural resources, and preserve the character that makes businesses—and the talented people they want to hire—choose Lakeville over other communities.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
As Lakeville continues to experience rapid growth, our greatest public safety challenge is ensuring that essential services keep pace with the needs of our community. More residents mean increased demands on our police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services, roads, and supporting infrastructure. These investments are critical to maintaining the high level of public safety that Lakeville residents expect, but they come with significant costs. We cannot continue to place the majority of that financial burden on homeowners and working families.
My approach is to plan and ensure corporations pay for their growth. New commercial developments and large corporations should contribute their fair share toward the infrastructure and public safety investments their projects require. By managing growth responsibly, prioritizing infrastructure before expansion, and making strategic investments in police, fire, roads, and emergency services, we can maintain Lakeville's exceptional quality of life without unfairly shifting costs onto residents. Public safety is one of government's core responsibilities, and we must ensure it remains fully supported as our city continues to grow.
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 long-term challenges facing Lakeville, but it must be addressed through thoughtful planning—not unchecked growth. Today, our city is developing faster than our infrastructure, public works, and transportation systems can comfortably support. Before approving additional large-scale development, we should take a comprehensive look at the land available for future growth, review our long-term development plans, and ensure that every decision enhances Lakeville's character rather than changes it. Smart planning today will help us avoid costly problems tomorrow.
At the same time, we need to create opportunities for the next generation. Our children should be able to return to Lakeville after college, trade school, or military service and have access to quality, affordable housing. Achieving that goal requires a balanced approach that expands housing choices while protecting the property values and investments of current homeowners. I support responsible growth, housing options, and infrastructure-first planning that allows Lakeville to remain an affordable, desirable community for both today's residents and future generations
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Transportation is one of the most visible challenges facing Lakeville today. Our city's rapid growth has placed significant pressure on roads, intersections, sidewalks, trails, and transit infrastructure. Before we continue expanding, we need a comprehensive review of our transportation network to identify where improvements are needed today and what investments will be required over the next 20 years. Planning ahead is far less expensive than trying to fix problems after they have become major bottlenecks.
That review should include input from residents across every part of Lakeville because transportation needs vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. We need to evaluate road capacity, traffic flow, sidewalks, bike trails, pedestrian crossings, and regional transit access. We should also work with our regional partners to improve park-and-ride facilities and bus access along the I-35 corridor and Cedar Avenue so commuters have safe, convenient transportation options. Every investment should be guided by safety, accessibility, and long-term value for taxpayers.
Accessibility must be a priority in every transportation decision we make. Sidewalks, trails, intersections, and transit stops should be designed and maintained so they can be safely used by people with disabilities, seniors, families with strollers, and anyone with mobility challenges. That means investing in accessible curb ramps, smooth sidewalks, safe crossing signals, and pathways that connect neighborhoods to parks, schools, businesses, and transit. A truly connected transportation system is one that serves every resident, regardless of age or ability.
Living in Minnesota also means planning for all four seasons. Sidewalks, trails, and bike paths are only useful if they remain safe and accessible during the winter months. As we expand our pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, we must also ensure the city has the equipment, staffing, and resources necessary to clear snow and ice in a timely manner. Winter maintenance should be considered as part of every infrastructure decision so residents, including students walking to school, commuters, seniors, and people with disabilities—can safely use these pathways year-round.
As a parent, this issue is personal. My own children walked to school, and I want future generations to have that same opportunity. Safe sidewalks, connected trails, well-designed crosswalks, and traffic-calming measures near schools should remain a priority as Lakeville grows. Whether someone is driving to work, riding transit, biking on our trails, or walking to school, every resident deserves a transportation system that is safe, reliable, accessible, and built to support the community for decades to come.
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?
Residential property owners are feeling the pressure of rising property taxes, and I believe the City Council has a responsibility to recognize that families and seniors cannot simply absorb higher taxes year after year. When considering the city levy, I would carefully review spending, look for efficiencies, and make sure we are distinguishing between essential community needs and spending that can be delayed or reduced. Fiscal responsibility means remembering that every tax dollar ultimately comes from a resident or business.
One of my guiding principles would be simple: developers and corporations should pay for growth. Lakeville's continued development creates additional demands for roads, public safety, utilities, parks, public works, and other infrastructure. Those costs should not continually be passed along to existing homeowners. We need to make sure developers and large businesses benefiting from Lakeville's growth are paying their fair share of the infrastructure costs their projects create.
At the same time, we cannot balance our community's finances by weakening the things that make people want to live in Lakeville. Our schools, teachers, principals and support staff are one of the primary reasons families choose Lakeville, and I would not support reducing our commitment to education as a way of addressing the tax burden. Strong schools protect our community's future, help maintain property values, attract families and employers, and are an important part of Lakeville's identity.
We also have to protect essential city services. Police, fire, emergency response, roads, snow removal, water infrastructure, and public works must keep pace with our population. That is another reason responsible growth is so important. Approving development without considering the long-term cost of providing services can eventually leave existing taxpayers paying the bill.
My goal is to lower the tax burden on homeowners without sacrificing our schools, public safety, or essential services. Before asking residents for more, we should ask whether the spending is necessary, whether we can operate more efficiently, and whether new development and large businesses are contributing their fair share. Lakeville can continue to grow, but that growth must strengthen our community rather than simply increase the tax burden on the people who already call it home.
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?
I believe city government is best positioned to lead in three critical areas: protecting taxpayers, protecting our natural resources, and protecting our community. These are not abstract political issues—they are decisions that directly affect Lakeville families, their homes, and the future of our city.
First, we must reduce the financial burden on families and homeowners. Lakeville cannot continue growing by simply passing the cost of that growth onto existing taxpayers. When large corporations and major developments come to our city, they must pay their fair share for the roads, utilities, public safety, and infrastructure their projects require. I believe growth should pay for growth. The City Council controls many of these decisions, and residents deserve leaders who will put taxpayers ahead of special interests.
Second, we must protect Lakeville's water and natural resources. I oppose large data centers, commercial water-bottling operations, and other developments that could threaten our groundwater, watersheds, lakes, wetlands, or place excessive demands on our energy and infrastructure. Economic development is important, but not every development is good development. No project is worth jeopardizing the resources our children and grandchildren will depend upon. Through zoning, land-use decisions, development agreements, and long-term planning, the City Council has both the authority and responsibility to protect Lakeville.
Finally, public safety must remain a fundamental responsibility of city government. As Lakeville grows, our police, fire, emergency services, roads, and infrastructure must grow with it. We cannot approve development today and leave taxpayers to pay tomorrow for the additional staffing, equipment, facilities, and roads that development requires.
The state and county are important partners, but City Council members are elected to represent Lakeville residents. My priority will be families before special interests, responsible growth before unchecked development, protection of our natural resources, and keeping Lakeville safe. Those are decisions we can—and should—make right here in Lakeville.
In the end development that changes the core characteristics of Lakeville should not be permitted.
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?
Real taxpayer transparency means residents should be able to understand what their city government is doing, how their tax dollars are being spent, and who is influencing major decisions. Transparency should not begin after a decision has already been made. It needs to be part of the process from the beginning.
First, I believe strongly in both the letter and the spirit of Minnesota's Open Meeting Law. City business should be conducted openly whenever required, with adequate notice and meaningful opportunities for residents to understand what is being discussed.
I oppose the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or unnecessary confidentiality arrangements that prevent the public from knowing about major developments affecting their community. Residents should not learn about a major project only after negotiations have progressed to the point where they feel the decision has already been made.
That is especially important when dealing with large developers and corporations proposing projects that could significantly affect Lakeville's infrastructure, taxes, traffic, water, or natural resources. There should not be a separate process for powerful interests and another process for ordinary residents. Appropriate discussions may sometimes need to occur within legal confidentiality requirements, but major public-policy decisions should be debated openly, and residents deserve to know the potential costs, benefits, incentives, infrastructure demands, and long-term consequences before the City Council acts.
Financial transparency also needs to be understandable. Posting hundreds of pages of budget documents online may technically provide information, but that does not necessarily make government transparent. I would support clear, easy-to-read reporting showing where taxpayer dollars are going, how spending is changing, the cost of major projects, debt obligations, and how proposed spending will affect taxpayers.
Finally, public comment needs to matter. Residents should have meaningful opportunities to speak, ask questions, and provide input before major decisions are made. Public engagement should not simply be a procedural requirement completed at the end of the process.
To me, taxpayer transparency comes down to a simple principle: no surprise agendas, open meetings, no NDAs, no backroom decision-making with major corporations, understandable financial reporting, and genuine opportunities for public comment.
The people of Lakeville are paying the bills, and they deserve a government that conducts the public's business in public.