Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Aitkin City Council Election 2026
2 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 12 days left
Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
City Council
Vote for up to 2- Joshua GaffaneyU.S. Army infantry veteran, honorably discharged in 2015, now continuing his education at CLC. He describes himself as a lifelong problem solver with volunteer experience.4sourced
- Julie MillerIncumbentSpecial education teacher in the Aitkin Public School District and a current Aitkin City Council member. She has served on the council for 13 years, not consecutively.12sourced
- Leeann MoriartyOptician at the Eyecare Center of Aitkin and a former Aitkin City Council member.4sourced
- Annie RootCaretaker and carpenter who also cleans and restores headstones. She is a graduate of Aitkin High School and the University of Minnesota, with housing management and development experience.4sourced
Voters choose two council members from four candidates, citywide. The mayor and two other council members are not on the ballot this year.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- Governor
- Amy Klobuchar · Democratic-Farmer-Labor
- Lisa Demuth · Republican
- Steven Young · Green
- U.S. Senate
- Peggy Flanagan · Democratic-Farmer-Labor
- Michele Tafoya · Republican
- Marisa Simonetti · Independent
- Rebecca Whiting · Libertarian
- Also statewideSecretary of State · State Auditor · Attorney General · Associate Justice - Supreme Court · Judge - Court of Appeals
- Statewide measures1 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
- Justin CartieCouncil Member; term ends Dec. 31, 20285sourced
- Jason HenkeCouncil Member; term ends Dec. 31, 20287sourced
- Gary TibbittsMayor; term ends Dec. 31, 20281sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Property taxes and the 2027 budget3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn September 2026 the council adopted a preliminary 2027 levy 8.93% higher than 2026, and staff plan to look for reductions before the final vote in December.
What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, set after the Truth-in-Taxation hearing on Dec. 7, 2026.
- The proposed preliminary levy increase is 8.93%, or $195,077 more than in 2026. City of Aitkin · Sep 21, 2026
- The council set the Truth-in-Taxation budget hearing for Dec. 7, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Aitkin Public Library. City of Aitkin · Sep 21, 2026
- After adopting the preliminary budget, city staff will work to reduce it wherever possible until final adoption in December. City of Aitkin · Sep 8, 2026
02Aging streets, sewers and utilities3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is building a new wastewater treatment facility and adopted a five-year utility improvement plan in February 2026.
What's on the tableWhich planned street and utility projects to fund next, and how to pay for them.
- The five-year plan includes the Air Park Drive sewer lining, the Ripple River siphon replacement, Third St NW, Second St NW and NE, and Minnesota Ave. S utility projects. City of Aitkin · Feb 17, 2026
- Visu-Sewer's low bid of $278,714 for the Air Park Drive sewer lining was $150,000 less than the engineer's estimate. City of Aitkin · Jul 20, 2026
- Because clarifier mechanisms were delivered 3-4 months late, the wastewater treatment contractor asked to move substantial completion to June 1, 2027, at no cost. City of Aitkin · Sep 8, 2026
03Housing2 sourced facts
Where it standsA new apartment complex on Bunker Hill Drive held its grand opening in September 2026, and the council approved a three-unit residential building at 321 4th St NW in July 2026.
What's on the tableWhether and how the city should help add or repair housing.
- The Planning Commission said the 321 4th St NW project would add workforce housing and single-level lifecycle housing. City of Aitkin · Jul 20, 2026
- The county assessor said apartment values had the largest increase in 2026, partly from the new apartment building on Bunker Hill Drive. City of Aitkin · Apr 20, 2026
04Short-term rentals2 sourced facts
Where it standsCity code does not allow short-term rentals, and staff drafted rules for the council to consider in September 2026.
What's on the tableWhether to allow short-term rentals in city limits, and how many.
- City staff drafted short-term rental language based on Crosby and Isle ordinances. City of Aitkin · Sep 8, 2026
- The Planning Commission discussed capping short-term rentals at 10; the council discussed support for adding them and recommended a cap of 5. City of Aitkin · Sep 8, 2026
05Growing the tax base1 sourced fact
Where it standsAitkin's property tax base shifted toward apartments in the 2026 assessment.
What's on the tableWhether to pursue annexation, new development or other ways to spread costs over a larger tax base.
- Since last year, the residential homestead class share of the tax base fell by 1% and the apartment share rose by 1%. City of Aitkin · Apr 20, 2026
2 notes on these statements
The official candidate list shows Joshua Gaffaney, Julie Miller, Leeann Moriarty and Annie Root for Council Member (Elect 2). Minnesota Secretary of State
Council Member Chris Dotzler's current term runs from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2026. City of Aitkin
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. How should Aitkin set its final 2027 property tax levy?
2. What should the city do about housing?
3. How should Aitkin grow its tax base?
Key dates
- Early voting by absentee ballot, by mail or in person beginsMinnesota Secretary of State · Jan 22, 2026Sep 18, 2026
- Pre-registration deadline for the General ElectionMinnesota Secretary of State · Jan 22, 2026Oct 13, 2026
- Election DayMinnesota Secretary of State · Jan 22, 2026Nov 3, 2026
The seat math
3 stay (not up this year): Justin Cartie, Jason Henke, Gary Tibbitts2 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The council is made up of the mayor and four council members. City of Aitkin · Jan 5, 2026
- The mayor serves a four-year term, currently from January 6, 2025, to December 31, 2028. City of Aitkin
- Council meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. at the Aitkin Public Library. City of Aitkin · Oct 5, 2026
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