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Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Cloquet Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 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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General 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.

Four contests are on the ballot: mayor and the Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 3 council seats, one seat each. Only the mayor and Ward 2 contests have more than one candidate.

General 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.

What the next council decides

012027 property tax levy3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council set a preliminary 2027 levy of $4,378,688, up 7.96%, on September 15, 2026; the final levy can be lowered but not raised.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, after the December 7 Truth in Taxation hearing.

02Project labor agreements2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city requires project labor agreements on public projects over $175,000 but no longer requires them on private projects.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, expand or drop the city's project labor agreement rules.

03Police chief recruitment2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council held a September 15, 2026 work session on recruiting a new police chief.

What's on the tableWho leads the police department and how it is staffed and budgeted.

04Data centers2 sourced facts

Where it standsCarlton County commissioners voted in July 2026 to advance a proposed one-year interim ordinance pausing data center construction in the county.

What's on the tableWhether Cloquet takes a position on or adopts its own rules for data centers.

05Housing2 sourced facts

Where it standsHousing was named as a top issue by Cloquet candidates in KAXE's election guide.

What's on the tableHow the city addresses housing costs, availability and blighted homes.

  • Sheila Lamb listed housing issues including blighted housing among the three biggest issues the city faces. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026
  • Robert Peacock listed housing costs and availability among the three biggest issues the city faces. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026
6 notes on these statements

Sheila Lamb and Dave Hallback advanced from the August 11 primary to the mayor's race; Roger Maki is not seeking reelection. Pine Journal · Aug 11, 2026

Brenda Carlson is the only candidate for Ward 1 and Iris Keller is the only candidate for Ward 3. City of Cloquet

Chris Swanson holds the Ward 1 seat by appointment to the remainder of a term that expires in 2026. Pine Journal

Sheila Lamb holds the Ward 2 seat now and is running for mayor; Erik Abrahamson and Robert Peacock are the Ward 2 candidates. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026

KAXE did not receive a response from Dave Hallback or Erik Abrahamson to its candidate questionnaire. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026

Lyz Jaakola is named Elizabeth Jaakola in the Pine Journal's March 2023 report on the project labor agreement vote. Pine Journal · Mar 21, 2023

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Who matches you?

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  1. 1. Should the city require project labor agreements on projects it funds?

  2. 2. What should the city do about police staffing?

  3. 3. What should Cloquet do about data center development?

  4. 4. What should be the council's main housing priority?

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 voted1 council decision, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Lyz Jaakola, Kerry Kolodge, Lara Wilkinson4 on this ballot

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

  • The council is made up of a mayor and six council members; one member is elected at large and five are elected from the city's five wards. City of Cloquet
  • The mayor has no more voting power than a city councilor and presides over council meetings. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026
  • The mayor and the Ward 1, 2 and 3 council seats on the November 3, 2026 ballot are four-year terms. City of Cloquet
  • Regular council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6:00 p.m. City of Cloquet

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