Empire Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Melanie
Lee
Melanie Lee, the incumbent, is running for mayor of Empire in the Nov 3, 2026 election, unopposed.
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Background
- About
- Mayor of Empire, with a current term that expires Dec. 31, 2026.
Melanie Lee is the only candidate on the ballot for Mayor. Minnesota Secretary of State · Nov 3, 2026
On the record: Melanie Lee
15 sourced01Mayor and council pay2 sourced positions
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said it is reasonable for Empire to be closer to the average of peer cities in council pay, and recommended phasing that in over two years.
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 term1 sourced position
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
04Water tower3 sourced positions
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said she is concerned about the increased costs of waiting until late 2027 to bid the new water tower project.
Own statementEmpire City Council minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026Link
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
05Growth and development2 sourced positions
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said she was not supportive of the Siewert property concept plan because there are too many variables.
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
06Fire service1 sourced position
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Said the city understands the need to hire full-time firefighters but was frustrated that Empire was not included in Farmington's discussion of it.
Own statementEmpire City Council minutes, Dec. 9, 2025 · Dec 9, 2025Link
07Telecommunications tower1 sourced position
Voted no 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
08Staff 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
09Traffic safety1 sourced position
Voted yes 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
10Past candidacy1 sourced position
Ran for Mayor of Empire in 2024 (won).
Own statementMinnesota Secretary of State · Nov 5, 2024Link
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Melanie Lee: their words and their votes on the same issue
Council pay
In their words
Said it is reasonable for Empire to be closer to the average of peer cities in council pay, and recommended phasing that in over two years.
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
Water tower
In their words
Said she is concerned about the increased costs of waiting until late 2027 to bid the new water tower project.
May 12, 2026 ·as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote ·Empire City Council minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
On the record
Voted yes on Resolution 2026-1C, approving a minor subdivision and variance for the proposed water tower parcel (passed 5-0, Jan. 2026).
Jan 13, 2026 ·Empire City Council minutes, Jan. 13, 2026 · Jan 13, 2026
Voted yes on moving forward with Bolton & Menk for the 2027 water tower rehabilitation project (passed 5-0, Sept. 2026).
Sep 22, 2026 ·Empire City Council minutes, Sept. 22, 2026 · Sep 22, 2026
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