Howard LakeNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Howard Lake Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

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

Voters elect a mayor and two council members on Nov 3, 2026. Pete Zimmerman and Jeffrey Haltli are running for mayor; Neil Weber and Geoffrey Welles are the only candidates for the two council seats. Council members Gene Gilbert and Tom Kutz serve through 2028.

Election Day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

What the next council decides

01Water treatment plant and utility rates4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city is building a new water treatment plant, and in August 2026 the council adopted utility rate resolutions needed to close on state financing.

What's on the tableHow water and sewer rates are set from 2027 on, and how the plant's debt is paid.

022027 property tax levy and budget4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council approved a preliminary 2027 budget and levy, with the Truth in Taxation hearing set for December 7, 2026.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 tax levy and budget, including how much goes to capital projects.

03New housing developments4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council approved the Lake Golf Estates Third Addition plat, planned unit development and a development/TIF agreement.

What's on the tableWhether and on what terms to approve more housing, such as the Terning Trails twinhomes, and whether to use tax increment financing.

04Memorial Park and the ballfield3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe Howard Lake Orphans baseball team asked the city to help fund repairs at the Memorial Park ballfield, and the city began a full park assessment.

What's on the tableHow much city money, if any, goes to Memorial Park ballfield repairs.

1 note on these statements

Neil Weber and Geoffrey Welles are the only candidates for the two council seats; council members Jason Deiter and Al Munson are not on the candidate list. Minnesota Secretary of State

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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. Should the city keep approving new housing developments like Lake Golf Estates?

  2. 2. Should the city use tax increment financing (TIF) to help housing developers?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted4 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Gene Gilbert, Tom Kutz3 on this ballot

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

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