Elk River City Council Ward 1 · Nov 3, 2026
Cory Grupa
Candidate for City Council Ward 1 (incumbent)
Cory Grupa, the incumbent, is running for Elk River City Council Ward 1 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Shelly Binsfeld.
Voter pre-registration closes for the general election · Tue, Oct 13, 2026
Ward 1 member of the Elk River City Council, whose term expires Dec. 31, 2026.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Nonpartisan
Mayor John Dietz is not seeking re-election, and Council Member Jennifer Wagner is not running for another term in Ward 4, so those two seats are open. Cory Grupa is the incumbent in Ward 1. Elk River Star News
Where Cory Grupa stands: positions on the record
Data centers3 sourced positions
Seconded the motion directing staff to prepare findings denying a request to add data centers as a conditional use in the I-1 district (carried 5-0, July 2026).
Council voteElk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
Moved the motion directing staff to review and prepare a 12-month moratorium on data center projects (carried 5-0, July 2026).
Council voteElk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
Said at the July 6, 2026 meeting that the data center proposal is not the right fit for this time or location and that he does not support the ordinance amendment.
Own statementElk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
Property tax levy1 sourced position
as reported by the Elk River Star News; not a direct quote
Said he wanted to make sure items previously identified for removal stay out of the 2027 budget, as reported by the Elk River Star News.
Own statementElk River Star News
Business park zoning1 sourced position
Seconded the motion adopting Ordinance 26-15 allowing medical facilities, printing and publishing, and repair services as permitted uses in the Business Park district (passed 4-1, June 2026).
Council voteElk River City Council minutes, June 15, 2026 · Jun 15, 2026
What Cory Grupa said vs. how Cory Grupa voted
Data centers
In their words
Said at the July 6, 2026 meeting that the data center proposal is not the right fit for this time or location and that he does not support the ordinance amendment.
Jul 6, 2026 ·Elk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
On the record
Seconded the motion directing staff to prepare findings denying a request to add data centers as a conditional use in the I-1 district (carried 5-0, July 2026).
Jul 6, 2026 ·Elk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
Moved the motion directing staff to review and prepare a 12-month moratorium on data center projects (carried 5-0, July 2026).
Jul 6, 2026 ·Elk River City Council minutes, July 6, 2026 · Jul 6, 2026
Also running for City Council Ward 1
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