Lake CityNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Lake City Council Election 2026

3 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 4 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Last day to vote early in person (Nov 2): 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 citywide choose three of six candidates for four-year council seats; the mayor is not on this ballot.

Last day to vote early in person · Nov 2

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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.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01City budget and property tax levy4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council set a preliminary 2027 levy about 8.5% above 2026; the final levy, set in December, can go down but not up.

What's on the tableFuture city budgets and levies, including how to absorb rising health insurance and capital costs.

02Street and utility projects and borrowing4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn 2026 the city sold $6.23 million in bonds for the North Garden Street rebuild and the Roschen Lift Station.

What's on the tableWhich street and utility projects come next and how to pay for them: bonds, levies or utility rates.

03City electric system upgrades3 sourced facts

Where it standsEngineers are designing Phase 1 of the electric system improvements, with construction planned for 2027.

What's on the tableWhether to award construction contracts and buy materials for the electric upgrades, and at what cost.

04Housing and downtown loan programs3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city runs grant-funded downtown housing loans and its own revolving loan and facade improvement programs for businesses.

What's on the tableWhether to keep, expand or limit city housing and business loan programs.

05Underwood Park ice rinks3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city applied for a DNR outdoor recreation grant to rebuild the Underwood Park rink into two rinks with a warming house and lighting.

What's on the tableWhether to go ahead with the rinks if the grant is awarded, and how to pay the local match.

3 notes on these statements

Council member Robert Newsome resigned effective Sept. 21, 2026; the council declared the vacancy and planned to appoint a replacement on Oct. 26, 2026. City of Lake City · Sep 28, 2026

The Oct. 26, 2026 special meeting agenda lists an appointment to fill the vacant council position for the remainder of the four-year term. City of Lake City · Oct 26, 2026

Justin Hawryluk is an owner of the Lake City Graphic; the paper said it set an editorial policy for its election coverage because of his candidacy. Lake City Graphic · Jul 22, 2026

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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. How should Lake City pay for big street and utility rebuilds?

  2. 2. Should the city move ahead with major upgrades to its electric system?

  3. 3. Should the city use loans and grants to improve housing?

  4. 4. Should the city lend money to help local businesses improve their buildings?

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 voted8 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Megan Kramer, Cindy McGrath, Brian Quinn3 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

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

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