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Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Brainerd Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 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 · 11 days left

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Election Day (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 and the at-large member; Ward 2 and Ward 4 are chosen by their wards. Each contest fills one seat, and only the at-large contest has more than one candidate.

Election Day · 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.

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

What the next council decides

01Fire station remodel and city spending3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council approved a $5,994,282.76 total project cost for the fire station remodel and approved the capital improvement plan and a bond-issuance resolution.

What's on the tableThe next council inherits the bonded project and decides on later spending requests, including fire department equipment.

02YMCA funding request3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council took no action on the YMCA's request in April 2026, and the referendum question remained unresolved in June.

What's on the tableWhether the city contributes about $4 million to a YMCA project, puts the question to voters, or declines.

03Riverside Drive orderly annexation2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council has twice acted on the orderly annexation agreement in 2026, most recently directing staff to bring it back after further review.

What's on the tableWhether and on what terms parcels connected to city utilities can be annexed.

04Stormwater study1 sourced fact

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council voted to deny three options from the stormwater study and take no action.

What's on the tableWhether to pursue any stormwater study options in future years.

052027 levy and budget2 sourced facts

Where it standsAt an August 31, 2026 workshop the proposed 2027 levy was $8,211,222, a 10.44% increase over 2026; the preliminary levy was due by September 30 and the final by December 31.

What's on the tableWhether the final 2027 levy stays near the proposed increase or is reduced before it is set by December 31, 2026.

3 notes on these statements

Dave Badeaux, Kelly Bevans, Dolly Wussow, Wayne B. Erickson and Johnathan Miller are the five candidates on the November ballot; the mayor, Ward 2 and Ward 4 contests each have one candidate. Minnesota Secretary of State

Kelly Bevans's term as Ward 2 member ends December 31, 2026. City of Brainerd

KAXE says it contacted each at-large candidate at least twice, and received no response from Wayne B. Erickson. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026

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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. The fire station remodel contract came in at about $6 million. What should the council do?

  2. 2. The YMCA has asked the city for $4 million toward a new facility. What should the city do?

  3. 3. What should the council do with the Riverside Drive orderly annexation agreement?

  4. 4. What should the council do about the options in the city's stormwater study?

  5. 5. Should the Fire Department seek an aircraft rescue firefighting truck from the federal excess property program?

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 voted6 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Brainerd is runWho runs Brainerd, and what it costsThe city administrator earns $155,958. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Jeff Czeczok, Tad Erickson, Mike O'Day, Kevin H. Stunek4 on this ballot

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

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