CologneNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Cologne Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 8 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 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 a mayor from two candidates and two at-large council members from six candidates.

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

01Wastewater plant and room to grow4 sourced facts

Where it standsCologne's wastewater treatment facility is about 30 years old and needs upgrades to meet state permit standards and to allow growth.

What's on the tableHow to pay for and carry out the wastewater plant upgrade, which limits how many new homes and businesses can connect.

  • The wastewater treatment facility project has a total estimated cost of $22,000,000; $5,000,000 in federal funding was requested. U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer
  • If the project is left unfunded, the city would need significant user rate increases and moratoriums on growth. U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer
  • The council adopted Resolution 25-13 authorizing a 2026 state capital budget request for the wastewater treatment improvement project. City of Cologne
  • In February 2026 the council was told there are enough sewer connections (ERUs) for all lots currently platted, and tabled buying a phosphorus monitoring system that could add 100 or more. City of Cologne · Feb 17, 2026
02Property taxes and the city budget3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe proposed 2026 budget reviewed at the December 2025 hearing contained a 5.9% levy increase, and the council set a 2027 preliminary levy 6.4% above the 2026 levy.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, adopted in December; the final levy can be lower than the preliminary levy but not higher.

03Growth, housing and downtown3 sourced facts

Where it standsNew homes are being built in the Village at Cologne 18th Addition, and the city updated its zoning map in September 2026.

What's on the tableHow and where Cologne grows, including its next comprehensive plan and the future of downtown.

  • The Village at Cologne 18th Addition adds 15 single-family homes on an approximately 38-acre site. City of Cologne · Aug 18, 2025
  • Ordinance 2026-03 amended the zoning map, which had not been updated to match the 2040 Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2018. City of Cologne · Sep 8, 2026
  • The council adopted Resolution 26-10 to take part in the Met Council's Small Communities Planning Program for help preparing the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. City of Cologne
04Data centers2 sourced facts

Where it standsNo data center proposal is pending in Cologne; the Sun Patriot asked every candidate what approach local governments should take toward data centers.

What's on the tableWhat rules and conditions the city would set if a data center were proposed.

  • Jayson Read said Cologne is not currently positioned for a data center because of constraints with the Waste Water Treatment Facility. Sun Patriot · Oct 1, 2026
  • The Sun Patriot asked candidates which factors, such as tax revenue, energy and water use, and impacts on nearby residents, should guide decisions on data centers. Sun Patriot · Oct 1, 2026
05Fire department pay and pensions1 sourced fact

Where it standsIn December 2025 the council set the volunteer firefighter pension benefit at $2,700 per year of service, and a council committee is reviewing fire department pay.

What's on the tableFire department compensation for 2027 and future pension benefit levels.

  • Councilmembers Bruss and Bowers met with a fire department committee to review compensation, with a target of bringing a 2027 compensation package to the council in October. City of Cologne · Sep 21, 2026
2 notes on these statements

Jon Howard and Sean Ulvila did not respond to the Sun Patriot candidate questionnaire. Sun Patriot · Oct 1, 2026

The League of Women Voters of Eastern Carver County presented a Cologne mayor and City Council candidate forum, streamed live from the Cologne Community Room. City of Cologne · Sep 11, 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. Once the wastewater plant can handle more, how fast should Cologne grow?

  2. 2. How should the city handle its property tax levy?

  3. 3. Where should the city focus new business growth?

  4. 4. How should Cologne approach a possible data center?

  5. 5. Should the city raise volunteer firefighter pension benefits?

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 voted8 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Jeri Bowers, Sarah Bruss3 on this ballot

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

  • The City Council includes the Mayor and four other elected Council members. City of Cologne
  • The Council appoints a professional City Administrator, who is responsible to the Council for the administration of all City business. City of Cologne
  • The mayor serves a two-year term and the two at-large council members elected this year serve four-year terms. City of Cologne · Jul 22, 2026
  • The council terms of Carol Szaroletta and Selmer Olson expire in 2026, as does Mayor Matt Lein's term. City of Cologne
  • The City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7:00 p.m. at Cologne City Hall/Community Center. City of Cologne

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