Maplewood, MNVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Maplewood Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5

council seats up

2 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.

Mayor · 1 seat

City Council At-large · Vote for up to 2

Three of five seats are on the ballot: the mayor and two at-large council seats. Voters citywide choose one mayor and up to two council candidates.

2 notes on these statements

Council member Chonburi Lee advanced from the Aug. 11 primary to face Mayor Marylee Abrams in the November mayoral race; Diana Longrie was eliminated. Pioneer Press · Aug 11, 2026

Kathleen A. Juenemann is the incumbent in the council race; Leslie Lienemann, Mike Hang and Terri Mallet are challengers. Pioneer Press · Aug 30, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Rebecca CaveCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20281sourcedNikki VillavicencioCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20281sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesProperty taxes and the city levy, St. Paul police gun range on Linwood Avenue, Joint police and fire training centerKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Pre-registration deadline (you can still register at the polls)

Tue, Oct 13, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Property taxes and the city levy

Where it standsThe council set a preliminary 2027 levy increase of 9.8% and will finalize the levy in December.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and how the city balances costs against the tax burden.

  • The council cited investing in city buildings and better funding for Fire-EMS services in setting the 9.8% preliminary levy increase; the number can go down but not up. City of Maplewood
  • Mayor Abrams says residential property taxes are rising at an alarming and unsustainable rate. East Metro Voter Guide

St. Paul police gun range on Linwood Avenue

Where it standsIn May 2026 the council passed a resolution opposing continued use of the outdoor gun range, which the county owns and St. Paul leases.

What's on the tableHow hard the city presses Ramsey County and St. Paul over the range as new homes are built next to it.

Joint police and fire training center

Where it standsCandidates say the city is seeking legislative funding for a joint police and fire training center.

What's on the tableWhether and how Maplewood pursues funding for the center.

  • Kathleen Juenemann says Maplewood is pursuing legislative funding to build and expand a joint police and fire training center. East Metro Voter Guide
  • Terri Mallet says a local option sales tax could help fund a future joint police and fire training center. East Metro Voter Guide

Housing and rent control

Where it standsCandidates describe city housing efforts including a Home Improvement Loan Program adopted this spring.

What's on the tableWhether the city takes up rent control or other housing measures.

  • Mayor Abrams says the city adopted a Home Improvement Loan Program this spring to help refurbish aging housing stock. East Metro Voter Guide
  • Terri Mallet says the city is building new Habitat for Humanity homes and starting a low interest loan program for homeowners. East Metro Voter Guide

Parks and recreation programs

Where it standsTwo candidates say recreation and nature programs were cut and want them restored.

What's on the tableWhether the city restores or expands recreation and nature programs in its budget.

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 Maplewood ease rising costs for homeowners?

  2. 2. What should Maplewood do about the St. Paul police gun range on Linwood Avenue?

  3. 3. Should Maplewood push for a joint police and fire training center?

  4. 4. Should Maplewood adopt local rent control?

  5. 5. Should the city restore and expand recreation and nature programs?

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): Rebecca Cave, Nikki Villavicencio3 on this ballot

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

  • The city operates under the council-manager plan: a mayor and four council members, elected at large to staggered four-year terms. City of Maplewood
  • The council appoints a professional, full-time city manager. City of Maplewood
  • The mayor and two council seats, all four-year terms, are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. City of Maplewood

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