Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fridley City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

3 contests

6 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council Ward 1 · 1 seat

Luke CardonaIncumbentCouncilmember, Ward 1; term listed by the city as 2025-20277sourced
Emily VillanuevaPediatric hematology/oncology social worker at M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver.4sourced

City Council Ward 2 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 3 · 1 seat

Each of the three ward seats is voted on by that ward's residents. The mayor and the at-large seat are not on this ballot.

2 notes on these statements

Ryan Evanson and Ann Bolkcom did not respond to the ABC Newspapers voter guide questionnaire by its deadline. ABC Newspapers

The Aug. 11 primary narrowed Ward 1 to Emily Villanueva and Luke Cardona, and Ward 2 to Ryan Evanson and John Brillhart. ABC Newspapers

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Dave OstwaldMayor; term listed by the city as 2025-20294sourced Patrick VescioCouncilmember-at-Large; term listed by the city as 2025-20294sourced

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesLicense plate readers (Flock), Property tax levy, Response to federal immigration enforcement Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

License plate readers (Flock)

Where it standsThe city is continuing its Flock license plate reader program with added restrictions; the council heard public comment on July 27, 2026 and took no vote.

What's on the tableWhether to renew or end the Flock contract and what rules govern data sharing.

The city disabled immigration-related searches of its data on Jan. 27, 2026 and limited sharing to Minnesota law enforcement on Feb. 3, 2026. City of Fridley · Aug 19, 2026
On July 20, 2026 the city disabled network access for any agency with a 287(g) agreement. City of Fridley · Aug 19, 2026
The Public Safety Director's statement says the city has decided to continue the program with additional restrictions. City of Fridley · Aug 19, 2026
After public comment on July 27, 2026, the mayor said the council would continue discussing the topic. Fridley City Council minutes, July 27, 2026 · Jul 27, 2026

Property tax levy

Where it standsThe 2026 levy rose 5.92%; on Sept. 14, 2026 the council approved a proposed 2027 levy as a ceiling, with final adoption scheduled for December.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, and how much of staff's proposed increase to keep.

The final 2026 levy includes a 5.92% increase, about $139 more per year in city property taxes for a median-value home. ABC Newspapers
The Finance Director said the proposed amounts are the ceiling and that the council will consider the final budget and levy on Dec. 14, 2026. Fridley City Council minutes, Sept. 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 2026
The Finance Director said personnel costs are 80 percent of the budget. Fridley City Council minutes, Sept. 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 2026

Response to federal immigration enforcement

Where it standsThe council issued a joint statement on March 2, 2026 about Operation Metro Surge, saying decisions on immigration policy rest with state and federal leaders.

What's on the tableWhether the city adopts any formal policy on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement beyond its public statements.

The joint statement says the council will advocate to state and federal leaders and help facilitate community conversations. City of Fridley · Mar 2, 2026
The city restricted immigration-related searches of its license plate reader data in early 2026. City of Fridley · Aug 19, 2026

Development and the commercial tax base

Where it standsIn December 2025 the council created TIF District #27 for the reuse of a vacant property.

What's on the tableWhether to approve further tax increment financing and development assistance.

The council approved creating TIF District #27 unanimously on Dec. 22, 2025. Fridley City Council minutes, Dec. 22, 2025 · Dec 22, 2025
Councilmember Evanson said on Sept. 14, 2026 that growth in the commercial and industrial tax base would lessen the tax impact on single-family homes. Fridley City Council minutes, Sept. 14, 2026 · Sep 14, 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. What should Fridley do about its Flock license plate reader contract?
2. How should the council set the city property tax levy?
3. How should Fridley respond to federal immigration enforcement?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Early voting at the Fridley Civic Campus beginsCity of Fridley · Sep 11, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Election DayCity of Fridley · Sep 11, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Dave Ostwald, Patrick Vescio3 on this ballot

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

The City Council consists of the Mayor and four Councilmembers: one at-large and one for each of three wards, all elected to four-year terms. City of Fridley
The Ward 1, 2 and 3 seats on the ballot carry four-year terms from Jan. 1, 2027 to Dec. 31, 2030. City of Fridley · Sep 11, 2026
Council meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. City of Fridley

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

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.