Forest Lake, MNVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Forest Lake Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

2 contests

5 candidates

Updated Oct 4, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council · Vote for up to 2

Voters choose the mayor from two candidates and two of the council's four members from three candidates.

3 notes on these statements

Blake Roberts, Leif Erickson and Kevin Miller are the sitting mayor and councilmembers whose terms end December 31, 2026. City of Forest Lake

Hanna Valento announced she will move outside city limits, and the council expected to declare her seat vacant at its October 12, 2026 meeting; an appointee would serve until a successor is elected in 2028. City of Forest Lake · Sep 29, 2026

Candidates for Mayor and City Council At-Large were taken from the Minnesota Secretary of State filing list; filing closed July 28, 2026. Minnesota Secretary of State

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Jeff LarsonCouncilmember; term ends December 31, 20283sourcedHanna ValentoCouncilmember; term ends December 31, 20283sourced

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesPublic Works facility and how to pay for it, Utility franchise fees, 2027 levy and new city hiresKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

Get your Forest Lake ballot cheat-sheet

Candidates, positions and dates in one email, sent now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Public Works facility and how to pay for it

Where it standsThe council accepted a schematic design in April 2026 and is weighing how to fund a facility estimated at $35 million.

What's on the tableWhether to build the facility, and how to split its cost among property taxes, utility franchise fees and water and sewer rates.

Utility franchise fees

Where it standsStaff modeled phased franchise fee increases to cover facility debt; the council reviews fee schedules annually.

What's on the tableWhether to raise gas and electric franchise fees, and by how much.

2027 levy and new city hires

Where it standsStaff proposed a 2027 budget of about $16.2 million; the preliminary levy must be certified by Sep 28 and the final levy is set in December.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and whether to fund five proposed new positions.

Parks plan and parkland fees

Where it standsThe council adopted the Parks Master Plan in August 2026 and directed staff to gather more information on a parkland dedication fee.

What's on the tableWhich park projects to fund and whether to raise parkland dedication fees on new development.

Housing and development

Where it standsThe council gave non-binding feedback in July 2026 on a proposed detached-townhome development and enacted a data center moratorium.

What's on the tableHow much housing and which types to approve, and under what lot and street standards.

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. 1. What should Forest Lake do about a proposed $35 million Public Works facility?

  2. 2. Should the city raise gas and electric franchise fees?

  3. 3. How many of the five proposed new city positions should the 2027 budget fund?

  4. 4. How should the city approach park investment through 2040?

  5. 5. How should the city approach housing affordability?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Jeff Larson, Hanna Valento3 on this ballot

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

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

Take your ballot with you

Who is on your ballot, where each candidate stands, and the dates that matter, in one email you can carry to the polls. Sent right now.

One email now. We only email again if you ask. No ads, never sold.

See something wrong? Report an error

Something wrong or missing? Tell us what and where, with a link to a source if you have one. Reports feed the next verification run.