Columbus City Council · Nov 3, 2026

Scott
Wendell

Scott Wendell, the incumbent, is running for Columbus City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 4 candidates are running for 2 seats.

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Nov 3Election Day

The race · City Council

About: Environmental health and safety consultant and manager, and a member of the Columbus City Council. He lists 22 years working for local cities and past service on the Columbus Planning Commission.
Occupation (from candidate statement): Nonpartisan

Karen M. Fleming and Scott Wendell took part in the League of Women Voters forum for City Council; Joshua Bautch and Jacob Salkowicz did not respond to the invitation. League of Women Voters Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids Area: 2026 Candidate Forums

Scott Wendell was appointed to the council seat Ron Hanegraaf left when he became mayor. City of Columbus · Jan 22, 2025

12 sourced

01City Hall3 sourced positions

Voted yes on Resolution 26-18 adopting a Capital Improvement Plan and giving preliminary approval to up to $5.3 million in bonds for a new City Hall (passed 5-0, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Jul 22, 2026 Link How the council voted
as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Said he had favored renovating City Hall but now supports a more appropriately sized new building.
Own statementCity of Columbus · Jun 24, 2026 Link
Voted yes on Resolution 26-24 calling a Feb. 9, 2027 special election on bonds for a new City Hall (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Sep 9, 2026 Link How the council voted

02Property taxes3 sourced positions

Voted yes on Resolution 26-28 setting the 2027 preliminary property tax levy (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Sep 9, 2026 Link How the council voted
Voted yes on Resolution 25-20 approving the final 2026 budget (passed 5-0, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Dec 10, 2025 Link How the council voted
Says the city can use savings from paying off bonds early for infrastructure and keep property taxes low.
We are in the unique position of paying off bonds early and being able to use some of the money saved from this for those infrastructure project improvements thus keeping our property taxes as low as possible.”
Own statementForest Lake Times · Sep 24, 2026 Link

03Rural land use4 sourced positions

Voted no on a variance for the shared-access easement of a two-lot subdivision at 14561 Furman Street NE (passed 3-2, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Jul 8, 2026 Link How the council voted
Voted no on the final plat for LaMeyer Estates, a two-lot subdivision at 14561 Furman Street NE (passed 4-1, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Jul 22, 2026 Link How the council voted
as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote
Said he voted against the LaMeyer Estates final plat because he did not believe it fit the Comprehensive Plan goal to remain rural.
Own statementCity of Columbus · Jul 22, 2026 Link
Voted yes on a conditional use permit for a church, Fishing for Life, at 8220 Lake Drive NE (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Jun 10, 2026 Link How the council voted

04City staff1 sourced position

Voted no on the Performance Review Policy and Procedure and Merit Pay Plan (passed 3-2, Aug. 2025).
Council voteCity of Columbus · Aug 13, 2025 Link How the council voted

05Past candidacy1 sourced position

Ran for Columbus City Council in 2024 as a nonpartisan candidate (lost).
Own statementMinnesota Secretary of State · Nov 5, 2024 Link

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

In their words

Said he had favored renovating City Hall but now supports a more appropriately sized new building.
Jun 24, 2026 ·as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote ·City of Columbus · Jun 24, 2026

On the record

Voted yes on Resolution 26-24 calling a Feb. 9, 2027 special election on bonds for a new City Hall (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Sep 9, 2026 ·City of Columbus · Sep 9, 2026

In their words

Says the city can use savings from paying off bonds early for infrastructure and keep property taxes low.
Sep 24, 2026 ·Forest Lake Times · Sep 24, 2026

On the record

Voted yes on Resolution 25-20 approving the final 2026 budget (passed 5-0, Dec. 2025).
Dec 10, 2025 ·City of Columbus · Dec 10, 2025
Voted yes on Resolution 26-28 setting the 2027 preliminary property tax levy (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Sep 9, 2026 ·City of Columbus · Sep 9, 2026

In their words

Said he voted against the LaMeyer Estates final plat because he did not believe it fit the Comprehensive Plan goal to remain rural.
Jul 22, 2026 ·as recorded in the City Council minutes; not a direct quote ·City of Columbus · Jul 22, 2026

On the record

Voted yes on a conditional use permit for a church, Fishing for Life, at 8220 Lake Drive NE (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Jun 10, 2026 ·City of Columbus · Jun 10, 2026
Voted no on a variance for the shared-access easement of a two-lot subdivision at 14561 Furman Street NE (passed 3-2, July 2026).
Jul 8, 2026 ·City of Columbus · Jul 8, 2026
Voted no on the final plat for LaMeyer Estates, a two-lot subdivision at 14561 Furman Street NE (passed 4-1, July 2026).
Jul 22, 2026 ·City of Columbus · Jul 22, 2026

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