Apple Valley, MNVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Apple Valley Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Mayor · Unopposed

City Council · Vote for up to 2

Voters are choosing the mayor and two City Council members, all for four-year terms; the mayor is unopposed.

3 notes on these statements

Clint Hooppaw is the only candidate who filed for Mayor. City of Apple Valley

Tom Melander said he would not seek another term on the City Council. Sun ThisWeek

Apple Valley's minutes record vote tallies without naming how each member voted, so positions here show who moved or seconded motions. Apple Valley City Council minutes, Sep 10, 2026 (in Sep 24 agenda packet) · Sep 10, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Ruth GrendahlCouncilmember; won re-election in November 2024 to a four-year term4sourcedLisa HiebertCouncilmember; won a four-year term in November 20244sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesData centers, Property tax levy, Parks referendum bondsKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Early in-person voting begins

Fri, Oct 16, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsA moratorium passed in July 2026 restricts new data centers while the city studies how to plan for and regulate them.

What's on the tableWhat rules, if any, apply to future data center proposals after the study.

  • The council passed Ordinance No. 1158, a moratorium on new data centers, their expansion and development of property for one during an interim use study (July 2026). Apple Valley City Council minutes, Jul 9, 2026 · Jul 9, 2026
  • The council unanimously denied a comprehensive plan amendment that would have guided nearly all of the property southwest of County Road 42 and Pilot Knob Road to mixed-business campus use. Sun ThisWeek
  • The council unanimously denied a preliminary plat, site and building plan and conditional use permit for a proposed data center campus on March 26, 2026. Sun ThisWeek

Property tax levy

Where it standsThe council set a preliminary 2027 levy increase of 8.93% in September; it can be lowered but not raised before final adoption in December.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 budget and property tax levy.

Parks referendum bonds

Where it standsThe city continues to issue bonds under the 2023 parks referendum, with a $14.3 million sale planned for December 2026.

What's on the tableHow quickly remaining referendum bonds are issued and what they add to the tax levy.

  • Voters approved authority in 2023 for up to $73.25 million in park bonds, in addition to $6.5 million for redeveloping Redwood Park and Pool. Sun ThisWeek · Sep 18, 2026
  • The city issued $16.3 million in 2024 and $29.4 million in 2025, and the bond sale date for 2026 bonds was set as Dec. 10. Sun ThisWeek · Sep 18, 2026
  • Delaying issuance of 50% of park bonds from 2027 to 2028 was one main driver in reducing the levy from the initial amount. Sun ThisWeek · Sep 18, 2026

2050 Comprehensive Plan and housing

Where it standsThe city has started its 2050 Comprehensive Plan update, which covers land use, housing and the Mixed Business Campus area.

What's on the tableHow the updated plan guides housing, redevelopment and land use.

Backyard chickens

Where it standsThe council voted in January 2022 not to allow backyard chickens on properties not zoned for agricultural use.

What's on the tableWhether to revisit the ban on keeping chickens on residential lots.

  • The City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 13, 2022 not to amend city code to allow backyard chickens on properties not zoned for agricultural use. Sun ThisWeek · Jan 20, 2022
  • The council last took formal action on backyard chickens before that in 2014, when it affirmed a ban on chickens and other farm animals at residential properties. Sun ThisWeek · Jan 20, 2022

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 Apple Valley do about data centers?

  2. 2. How should Apple Valley approach new housing?

  3. 3. What should Apple Valley do about backyard chickens?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Ruth Grendahl, Lisa Hiebert3 on this ballot

5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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