Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Eden Prairie Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · Unopposed

Ron CaseIncumbentMayor · term ends Dec 31, 202614sourced

City Council · Vote for up to 2

Tony ArndtSenior application director in the private sector. Eden Prairie duty crew firefighter since 2017 and head election judge since 2018.8sourced
Brad CanhamAdjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas and CEO of Marketvines, a marketing and strategy firm; formerly worked at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Co-founded Eden Prairie Local News in 2020 and was its founding editor.10sourced
Tina CulbertsonSmall business owner since 2005; describes herself as a retired teacher and community volunteer. Board member of a local children's theater company.4sourced
Mark FreibergIncumbentCouncil Member · term ends Dec 31, 202613sourced
Greg LehmanRE/MAX real estate agent whose career includes positions at U.S. Bank and Children's Hospital. Former Eden Prairie School Board member and graduate of the Eden Prairie Citizens Academy.7sourced
Kathy NelsonIncumbentCouncil Member · term ends Dec 31, 202614sourced
Dirk TedmonExecutive director of strategic growth and engagement for Eden Prairie Schools since 2022, with 15 years in public-sector communications, including the Office of Presidential Correspondence in the Obama White House. Past president of the Minnesota School Public Relations Association board.8sourced

Three of the five council seats are on this ballot: the mayor, elected directly (Ron Case is unopposed), and two at-large council seats, which go to the top two vote-getters among seven candidates.

2 notes on these statements

Tina Culbertson did not attend the Sept 17 League of Women Voters forum because of a prior family commitment; her opening and closing statements were read for her. Eden Prairie Local News · Oct 1, 2026

Brad Canham co-founded Eden Prairie Local News and was its founding editor until August 2021; the outlet says he is not on its staff or board. Eden Prairie Local News · Aug 19, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

PG NarayananCouncil Member · term ends Dec 31, 20288sourced Lisa ToomeyCouncil Member · term ends Dec 31, 20288sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz6 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesProperty taxes and the 2027 budget, Fire department staffing, Housing and redevelopment Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Pre-registration deadline (you can still register at the polls)

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Property taxes and the 2027 budget

Where it standsOn Sept 1, 2026 the council set a preliminary 2027 levy increase of 2.9% and a proposed budget of $70.2 million. The final vote is Dec 1, 2026.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget in December, and the 2028 levy and budget the following year.

The proposed levy would raise the city tax on a median-value home ($492,800) by about $40 a year. City of Eden Prairie news · Sep 9, 2026
Nearly 70% of the proposed budget increases support public safety initiatives. City of Eden Prairie news · Sep 9, 2026
The city manager said the 2.9% is a ceiling and recommended the council not go lower. Eden Prairie Local News · Sep 10, 2026
Residential property is now 64.2% of the city's taxable value, up from 57.8% ten years ago. Eden Prairie Local News · Sep 10, 2026

Fire department staffing

Where it standsThe fire department is adding full-time staff with help from a federal SAFER grant, aiming eventually to staff all four stations around the clock.

What's on the tableWhether to keep funding the expansion as the grant's share falls and the city takes on the full cost.

A 2024 Citygate study found an average of 11 minutes 48 seconds from dispatch call to arrival on scene. Eden Prairie Local News · Dec 2, 2025
The grant pays 75% of the new staff costs for two years, 35% in the third year, and nothing in the fourth. Eden Prairie Local News · Dec 2, 2025
The fire chief projected 8 to 10 years before all four stations are staffed 24 hours a day. Eden Prairie Local News · Dec 2, 2025
The council accepted the SAFER grant on its consent calendar, 5-0, on Oct 21, 2025. City Council minutes · Oct 21, 2025

Housing and redevelopment

Where it standsThe council has been rezoning older office and industrial land for housing, and the city is starting its 2050 Comprehensive Plan.

What's on the tableLand-use guidance in the 2050 Comprehensive Plan, and approvals and financing for individual housing projects.

Roers Companies plans a 195-unit apartment building replacing an office building at 6436 City West Parkway. City Council minutes · Oct 21, 2025
In the Roers project, 39 units are planned as affordable at 50% of area median income and 10 more at 80% as required by city code. HRA meeting minutes, Jan 6, 2026 (in Sept 1, 2026 council packet, p. 43) · Jan 6, 2026
Prairie Bluff Commons converts 28 acres of office land to 166 townhome lots and 16 single-family lots. City Council minutes · Jun 16, 2026
The council hired a consultant on July 14, 2026 to help prepare the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. City Council minutes · Jul 14, 2026

Eden Prairie Center

Where it standsThe mall's former JCPenney space has been closed since 2024 and the developer, Hines, has no firm redevelopment plan.

What's on the tableWhether to create a tax increment financing (TIF) district to help pay for a redevelopment, which state law now allows until Dec 31, 2028.

The 2026 Legislature extended the deadline to establish a TIF district at the mall from Dec 31, 2026 to Dec 31, 2028. Eden Prairie Local News · May 22, 2026
The city's community development director said any TIF-assisted project would need to align with multiple city priorities. Eden Prairie Local News · May 22, 2026
If the plan includes apartments, it would need to meet the city's affordability goals. Eden Prairie Local News · May 22, 2026

Data centers and license plate readers

Where it standsThe council adopted data center rules in July 2026. Police use Motorola license plate readers, which some residents have questioned.

What's on the tableWhether to change the data center rules if a proposal comes, and what limits to set on police license plate reader data.

The council adopted the data center ordinance on second reading, as part of a 5-0 consent calendar vote on July 14, 2026. City Council minutes · Jul 14, 2026
The rules limit data centers to I-General industrial zones with a 700-foot buffer from homes, and require city water in a closed-loop system. Eden Prairie Local News · Jun 24, 2026
Police keep license plate reader data for 60 days unless it is tied to a criminal investigation. Eden Prairie Local News · Sep 4, 2026
Police share the data only with a criminal case number and justification, including with federal agencies. Eden Prairie Local News · Sep 4, 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. The council set a preliminary 2027 levy increase of 2.9% and will vote on the final levy Dec 1. What should it do?
2. Should Eden Prairie keep hiring more full-time firefighters as the federal grant runs down?
3. Eden Prairie requires some affordable units in new apartment buildings. What should the city do next on affordable housing?
4. How should the city approach the future of Eden Prairie Center?
5. Should Eden Prairie ban data centers?
6. Eden Prairie police use license plate readers and keep the data for 60 days. What should the city do?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Pre-registration deadline (you can still register at the polls)Minnesota Secretary of State · Jan 22, 2026Oct 13, 2026
Early in-person direct ballot voting begins at City CenterCity of Eden PrairieOct 16, 2026
Election Day (polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)City of Eden PrairieNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): PG Narayanan, Lisa Toomey3 on this ballot

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

The City Council is a mayor and four council members, all elected at-large to four-year terms; each has one equal vote. City of Eden Prairie
Voters elect the mayor directly. Council elections are held in even-numbered years. City of Eden Prairie
On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: mayor and two at-large council seats, for terms from Jan 1, 2027 through Dec 31, 2030. City of Eden Prairie
City Council and mayoral elections are nonpartisan. Eden Prairie Local News · Oct 1, 2026

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