MelroseNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Melrose Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 5 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 3 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

Find your match: 3-question quizSee who is on your ballot

No sign-in. Your answers stay on your device. We never endorse anyone.

Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
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 at-large council members on Nov 3, 2026. Joe Finken is the only candidate for mayor; four names are on the ballot for the two council seats. Council members Tony Klasen and Mark Niehoff were elected in 2024 and are not on the ballot.

Election Day · Nov 3

Take your ballot with you

Candidates, positions and key dates in one email, sent now.

Your cheat-sheet comes right away. You'll also get a reminder before Election Day, the results, then what your council decides next. Unsubscribe anytime. No ads, never sold.

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

01Former Jennie-O plant site4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city has acquired the former Jennie-O turkey processing plant site downtown and received a state DEED grant to help pay for demolition and redevelopment.

What's on the tableHow the site is demolished and redeveloped, and whether to use tax increment financing for it.

02Main Street sidewalks3 sourced facts

Where it standsBids for the Main Street sidewalk project came in from $333,777 to $648,971, and in July 2026 city staff said all bids would be rejected and the work delayed to next year.

What's on the tableHow much to budget for the sidewalk project and when to rebid it.

03Housing and business growth2 sourced facts

Where it standsA 34-unit rental townhome project is being built on Railroad West, and developers are considering the former Jennie-O site.

What's on the tableHow actively the city uses its programs and financing to support new housing and businesses.

04City budget and levy3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted a 2026 total property tax levy of $1,674,000, a $144,000 increase in the general levy from 2025.

What's on the tableThe 2027 budget and property tax levy.

2 notes on these statements

The Star Post reported that Sarah Dyrseth, who filed for City Council, has chosen not to run, but her name may still be on the ballot. The Star Post · Oct 14, 2026

Joelene Wieling resigned from the City Council; the term would have expired on December 31, 2026. City of Melrose · Aug 20, 2026

No sign-in · answers stay on your phone

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 lead the redevelopment of the former Jennie-O plant site?

  2. 2. How should the council approach new housing and business growth?

  3. 3. How should residents take part in council decisions?

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 voted7 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): Tony Klasen, Mark Niehoff3 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

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.