Empire City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Marla
Vagts
Marla Vagts, the incumbent, is running for Empire City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 3 candidates are running for 2 seats.
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The race · City Council
- 01Josh Gunderson
- 02Eric HansonIncumbent
- 03Marla VagtsYou’re reading
Background
- About
- Empire City Council member whose current term expires Dec. 31, 2026.
Eric Hanson and Marla Vagts did not submit answers to the Pioneer Press candidate questionnaire. Pioneer Press · Oct 5, 2026
Josh Gunderson, Eric Hanson and Marla Vagts had not responded to the VOTE411 questionnaire. League of Women Voters VOTE411
On the record: Marla Vagts
13 sourced01Mayor and council pay2 sourced positions
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said she supports phasing in higher council pay because Empire is well below average and council members bring value to the community.
Own statementEmpire City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026Link
Voted yes on raising mayor and council pay to $300 a month in 2027 and $350 a month in 2028 (failed 2-2-1, Sept. 2026).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026LinkHow the council voted
02Mayor's term2 sourced positions
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said that since council terms are four years, it makes sense for the mayor's term to be four years.
Own statementEmpire City Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026Link
Voted yes on making the mayor's term four years starting with the 2028 election (passed 3-2, Sept. 2026).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026LinkHow the council voted
03Budget and levy2 sourced positions
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-9A, adopting the proposed tax levy collectable in 2027 (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on Resolution 2025-12A, adopting the tax levy collectable in 2026 (passed 5-0, Dec. 2025).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Dec. 9, 2025 · Dec 9, 2025LinkHow the council voted
04Growth and development2 sourced positions
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said the Siewert property concept plan has too many caveats that she has concerns about.
Own statementEmpire City Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026Link
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-1B, adopting the Northwest Empire AUAR (passed 5-0, Jan. 2026).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026LinkHow the council voted
05Staff pay study1 sourced position
Voted yes on accepting Abdo's proposal for a position classification and compensation study (passed 4-1, Dec. 2025).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Dec. 9, 2025 · Dec 9, 2025LinkHow the council voted
06Telecommunications tower1 sourced position
Voted yes on approving a site plan for co-location on an existing telecommunications tower, with the slatted fence left for a later zoning amendment (passed 3-1, Feb. 2026).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Feb. 24, 2026 · Feb 24, 2026LinkHow the council voted
07Traffic safety1 sourced position
Voted no on keeping the speed limit on 197th Street W. from Biscayne Ave. to State Highway 3 at 30 mph (passed 4-1, July 2025).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, July 22, 2025 · Jul 22, 2025LinkHow the council voted
08Water tower2 sourced positions
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-1C, approving a minor subdivision and variance for the proposed water tower parcel (passed 5-0, Jan. 2026).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on moving forward with Bolton & Menk for the 2027 water tower rehabilitation project (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteEmpire City Council minutes, Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Marla Vagts: their words and their votes on the same issue
Council pay
In their words
Said she supports phasing in higher council pay because Empire is well below average and council members bring value to the community.
Sep 8, 2026 ·as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote ·Empire City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on raising mayor and council pay to $300 a month in 2027 and $350 a month in 2028 (failed 2-2-1, Sept. 2026).
Sep 8, 2026 ·Empire City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026
Mayor's term
In their words
Said that since council terms are four years, it makes sense for the mayor's term to be four years.
Aug 18, 2026 ·as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote ·Empire City Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on making the mayor's term four years starting with the 2028 election (passed 3-2, Sept. 2026).
Sep 8, 2026 ·Empire City Council minutes, Sept. 8, 2026 · Sep 8, 2026
Growth and development
In their words
Said the Siewert property concept plan has too many caveats that she has concerns about.
Aug 18, 2026 ·as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote ·Empire City Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-1B, adopting the Northwest Empire AUAR (passed 5-0, Jan. 2026).
Jan 13, 2026 ·Empire City Council minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026
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