Albert LeaNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Albert Lea Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Election Day; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These 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.

Voters citywide choose the mayor; each council seat is chosen by the voters of its ward. Wards 3 and 6 have one candidate each.

Election Day; polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. · Nov 3

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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.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

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.

What the next council decides

01City Hall remodel and property taxes3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn February 2026 the council voted 3-4 against awarding the City Center Building remodel contract, so the project did not go ahead.

What's on the tableWhether to bring a smaller or later building project back, and how to pay for it.

02Economic Development Authority2 sourced facts

Where it standsOn June 22, 2026 the council unanimously established an Economic Development Authority and appointed itself as its board.

What's on the tableHow the new authority is used alongside the Port Authority and the HRA, including any levy or staffing for it.

03Songbird Trail bids2 sourced facts

Where it standsOn June 22, 2026 the council voted 4-3 to award a trail contract to Ulland Brothers, less the gravel portion.

What's on the tableLocal funding for the trail with Freeborn County and whether further sections are built.

04Animal control ordinance2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council approved a rewritten animal control ordinance 5-2 on June 8, 2026, after allowing up to four dogs and cats combined.

What's on the tableHow the new rules are enforced, including nuisance, running-at-large and feeding-station provisions.

05Housing and the strategic plan2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council's 2026-2030 strategic plan lists housing as one of five goals and was on the Sept. 14, 2026 agenda for approval.

What's on the tableWhich housing targets, incentives and local funding the city pursues in budgets.

3 notes on these statements

Reid Olson withdrew his candidacy for re-election to Ward 4 on June 4, 2026, so Charles Alkula and Joey Neely are on the Ward 4 ballot. City of Albert Lea · Jun 4, 2026

Brian "BJ" Anderson is the only candidate for Ward 6. Minnesota Secretary of State

Tiffany Fearing and Rich Murray are the two candidates for Mayor; Larry Baker and John Caucutt are the two for Ward 2. Minnesota Secretary of State

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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. 1. What should the city do about remodeling the City Center Building?

  2. 2. How should the city carry out economic development?

  3. 3. Should the city pay its share of the Songbird Trail at the higher bid prices?

  4. 4. How should the city handle limits on pets per household?

  5. 5. How should the city encourage new housing?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted4 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Albert Lea is runWho runs Albert Lea, and what it costsWho the city manager is, council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Keith Van Beek, Rachel Christensen5 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • Five of the seven council seats are on the Nov. 3 ballot: mayor and Wards 2, 3, 4 and 6. KIMT
  • The mayor and the Ward 2, 4 and 6 seats carry four-year terms. KIMT
  • Ward 3 is a special election for the remaining two years of a four-year term after Jason Howland resigned. KIMT
  • The council meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month, with work sessions at 5:30 p.m. and regular meetings at 7 p.m. City of Albert Lea
  • Council minutes list the mayor in roll-call votes alongside the six ward councilors. City of Albert Lea · Feb 23, 2026

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