Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Chanhassen Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

7 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · 1 seat

Balakrishna ChintaginjalaSenior SAP Basis administrator at CACI with 26 years in information technology. He served on Chanhassen's Environmental Commission in 2015 and 2016.4sourced
Jerry McDonaldCouncilmember; term ends December 31, 2026 (filed for mayor)4sourced
Mark von OvenCouncilmember; term ends December 31, 2026 (filed for mayor)5sourced

City Council · Vote for up to 2

Three of the five council seats are on the ballot: the mayor and two at-large council seats. The terms of Mayor Elise Ryan, Councilmember Jerry McDonald and Councilmember Mark von Oven end in 2026.

4 notes on these statements

The terms of Mayor Elise Ryan, Councilmember Jerry McDonald and Councilmember Mark von Oven expire at the end of 2026. Elise Ryan is not on the city's list of candidates. City of Chanhassen

Jerry McDonald and Mark von Oven are sitting councilmembers who filed for mayor, so they appear under the mayor contest. City of Chanhassen

Paul Haik did not answer three questions in the Carver County Local News questionnaire: top priorities, building an informed citizenry, and engaging the community. Carver County Local News · Oct 2, 2026

The League of Women Voters of Eastern Carver County held a Chanhassen mayor and council candidate forum on Sept. 24, 2026; the city posted a replay. City of Chanhassen · Sep 25, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Josh KimberChanhassen councilmember appointed in January 2023 who runs a marketing consulting agency based in Chanhassen. He served on the Parks and Rec task force from 2022.3sourced Haley SchubertChanhassen councilmember elected in 2020 and logistics and quality manager at Quantum Controls in Chanhassen. She served on the Park & Recreation Commission from 2019 to 2020.2sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesProperty taxes and the city levy, The Community Center, The 2050 Comprehensive Plan and growth Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter pre-registration closes at 5 p.m.

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Property taxes and the city levy

Where it standsThe council approved a preliminary 2027 levy on Sept. 14; final budget and levy adoption is scheduled for December.

What's on the tableHow large the 2027 levy is within the preliminary limit, and which budget items are cut or kept.

Staff's early 2027 General Fund draft was about $17.99 million, a 6.3% increase over 2026, with a projected levy increase of 7.1%. City of Chanhassen · Aug 31, 2026
Staff estimated a $102 annual increase in city property taxes for a home valued at about $650,000 under that draft. City of Chanhassen · Aug 31, 2026
The finance director forecast a 7.1 percent levy increase, largely due to debt service on the Civic Campus and Community Center. Chanhassen City Council minutes, Sept. 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 2026

The Community Center

Where it standsThe council awarded the remainder of the Community Center project to RJM Construction in August 2026.

What's on the tableHow the project is completed and paid for, and how the existing Recreation Center and future debt are handled.

Council members supported a project budget of up to $82.5 million at a July 13 work session. City of Chanhassen · Jul 13, 2026
The financing plan includes $40 million in 20-year local option sales tax bonds and taxable Economic Development Authority lease revenue bonds. City of Chanhassen · Jul 13, 2026
The plan keeps the estimated impact for a $600,000 home at approximately $17 per month. City of Chanhassen · Jul 13, 2026
The council voted 4-0 on Aug. 10 to award Bid Package #2 to RJM Construction. Chanhassen City Council minutes, Aug. 10, 2026 · Aug 10, 2026

The 2050 Comprehensive Plan and growth

Where it standsThe city is drafting its 2050 Comprehensive Plan, and its community survey was open until Oct. 6, 2026.

What's on the tableHow the plan guides housing, parks, trails, roads and land use as the city grows.

The plan is described as a roadmap guiding decisions about housing, parks, trails, roads, infrastructure and natural resources. City of Chanhassen

Commercial and industrial development

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council gave early feedback on a light industrial concept for about 30 acres at 1371 Pioneer Trail.

What's on the tableWhether to amend the Comprehensive Plan and rezone land that is currently guided for office uses.

The concept would require a Comprehensive Plan amendment and rezoning because the property is guided for office-related uses. City of Chanhassen · May 18, 2026

Fire Department staffing and station

Where it standsThe council began a series of Fire Department planning sessions on Aug. 31, 2026.

What's on the tableFuture decisions on fire staffing, facilities and service levels.

A previous assessment estimated a station remodel could cost more than $24 million. City of Chanhassen · Aug 31, 2026
The proposed 2027 budget includes four additional firefighters, contingent on receiving a federal SAFER grant. City of Chanhassen · Aug 31, 2026

City manager transition

Where it standsCity Manager Laurie Hokkanen has accepted the city manager position in Edina; her final full-time day in Chanhassen is Dec. 4.

What's on the tableThe council will choose an interim manager and a search firm, and then the permanent city manager.

A permanent city manager is currently expected to be hired in April or May. City of Chanhassen · Sep 28, 2026

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 Chanhassen set its annual property tax levy?
2. What should the city do about the Community Center?
3. How should the 2050 plan handle growth?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Absentee voting beginsCarver CountySep 18, 2026
Voter pre-registration closes at 5 p.m.Carver CountyOct 13, 2026
Early voting beginsCarver CountyOct 16, 2026
General Election DayCarver CountyNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Josh Kimber, Haley Schubert3 on this ballot

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

Chanhassen uses the Optional Plan B form of government, with a council of a mayor and four council members. City of Chanhassen
Council members are elected at large and serve 4-year terms on a staggered schedule. City of Chanhassen
The council appoints the city manager. City of Chanhassen
Council meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. City of Chanhassen
Filing for mayor and council ran July 14 to July 28, 2026. City of Chanhassen

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

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.