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Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Hutchinson Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 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.

Your houseWhat does your Hutchinson house pay?A typical Hutchinson house pays about $8,600 a year. Enter your address for your own number: property tax from the county's record, water, trash and energy, and the money dates ahead.

The candidates

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

Every voter in Hutchinson votes for mayor and for each of Seat 1 and Seat 2; council members are elected at large to four-year terms and the mayor to a two-year term.

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

01Data center and future data center rules4 sourced facts

Where it standsA 7,500-square-foot data center at 1025 5th Avenue SE has final city approval, and some residents have asked the council for a moratorium on future ones.

What's on the tableWhether the council pauses or changes the rules for any future data center proposals.

  • The City Council approved final permits for the data center at its Aug. 26, 2025 meeting; the site is at 1025 5th Avenue SE in the I-2 zoning district. City of Hutchinson
  • Data centers are allowed only in the I-1 and I-2 industrial districts, and only through a conditional use permit. City of Hutchinson
  • The city says it has provided no financial incentives or assistance to the project. City of Hutchinson
  • City Administrator Matt Jaunich said a moratorium would only pause future data centers, not the one already approved. Ingstad Media
02City property taxes and the levy4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city's 2026 budget fact sheet puts the city property tax on a $275,000 median-value home at about $1,490, up $60 from 2025.

What's on the tableHow much the city raises in property taxes and how it balances that against services.

  • A median-value home of $275,000 pays approximately $1,490 in city property taxes in 2026, an increase of $60 from 2025. City of Hutchinson
  • Hutchinson's city tax rate is ranked 2nd lowest in McLeod County and 8th out of 19 comparable regional centers. City of Hutchinson
  • Approximately 44% of General Fund operations are funded by property tax dollars. City of Hutchinson
  • The council approved the preliminary 2026 levy in September 2025; the finance director put the total proposed levy at about $10.14 million. Ingstad Media
03Sleeping on downtown sidewalks2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council has amended its nuisance ordinance to bar lying down or sleeping on public sidewalks.

What's on the tableHow the city enforces the ordinance and what other responses it supports.

  • The amendment responds to complaints from downtown business owners about homeless people. Ingstad Media
  • The ordinance now says no person shall lie down on or sleep upon a public sidewalk, curb, or an object placed upon a public sidewalk, with exceptions including a medical emergency or a permitted parade, festival or similar event. Ingstad Media
04Public input on major projects2 sourced facts

Where it standsResidents kept raising concerns at council meetings after the data center was approved.

What's on the tableHow much notice and public discussion the council seeks on large projects.

  • The Planning Commission held public hearings on April 15, 2025 (zoning amendment) and Aug. 19, 2025 (conditional use permit) for the data center, each noticed under state law. City of Hutchinson
  • Some residents continued to voice concerns at a Tuesday council meeting, and Mayor Gary Forcier read a statement and pointed to a city FAQ page. Ingstad Media
2 notes on these statements

The official 2026 primary election results list Peterson with 424 votes and Lee with 352 votes. City of Hutchinson

Tim Burley holds Council Seat 1 and Dave Sebesta holds Council Seat 2; both current terms expire in 2026. City of Hutchinson

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    Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.New · How Hutchinson is runWho runs Hutchinson, and what it costsWho the city manager is, council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.Your houseA typical Hutchinson house pays about $8,600 a yearProperty tax, water, trash and energy, line by line for your address, plus the savings most owners miss.

    Key dates

    The seat math

    2 stay (not up this year): Chad Czmowski, Patrick May3 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

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