Nisswa City Council · Nov 3, 2026
Jesse
Zahn
Jesse Zahn, the incumbent, is running for Nisswa City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 4 candidates are running for 2 seats.
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The race · City Council
- 01Bobbi Kochevar
- 02Darel Murphy
- 03John Ryan
- 04Jesse ZahnYou’re reading
Background
- About
- CEO of Conductor Power, a utility-scale solar contractor, and a Nisswa City Council member since 2022.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Nonpartisan
The official candidate list shows Jennifer Carnahan and Andy Schaefer for Mayor, and Bobbi Kochevar, Darel Murphy, John Ryan and Jesse Zahn for Council Member (Elect 2). Minnesota Secretary of State
Council Member Mark Froehle is not running for reelection; Jesse Zahn is. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026
Jesse Zahn did not respond to the KAXE candidate questionnaire. KAXE · Sep 28, 2026
On the record: Jesse Zahn
19 sourced01Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for City Council in Nisswa in 2022 (won).
Own statementMinnesota Secretary of State · Nov 8, 2022Link
02Candidate questionnaire1 sourced position
Did not respond to the KAXE candidate questionnaire.
Own statementKAXE · Sep 28, 2026Link
03Property taxes2 sourced positions
Says he has pressed for a lower levy each year and proposed the plan behind the 0.28% levy decrease for 2026.
Year after year, Jesse has pressed for a lower levy”
Own statementRe-Elect Jesse Zahn (campaign site)Link
Voted yes on the final 2026 tax levy of $3,721,786, a 0.28% decrease from the prior year (passed unanimously, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Dec 16, 2025LinkHow the council voted
04Local sales tax2 sourced positions
as summarized in the council minutes; not a direct quote
Argued that a local sales tax would use high tourist traffic to fund a community asset that benefits visitors more than residents (Oct. 2025).
Own statementCity of Nisswa · Oct 21, 2025Link
Voted yes on rescinding the council's earlier approval of advancing a local option sales tax (passed unanimously, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Dec 16, 2025LinkHow the council voted
05Economic development3 sourced positions
Says he pushed to establish and seat Nisswa's first Economic Development Authority.
Pushed to establish and seat Nisswa’s first Economic Development Authority”
Own statementRe-Elect Jesse Zahn (campaign site)Link
Voted yes on directing the city attorney to draft a resolution for an Economic Development Authority (passed unanimously, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Dec 16, 2025LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on the mayor's appointments to the new Economic Development Authority (passed 4-0, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Jul 21, 2026LinkHow the council voted
06THC sales1 sourced position
Voted yes on allowing the city liquor store, Spirits of Nisswa, to sell THC products (passed 4-1, Nov. 2025).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Nov 18, 2025LinkHow the council voted
07Censure1 sourced position
Voted yes on adopting the resolution concerning Mayor Jennifer Carnahan's conduct (passed unanimously, Jan. 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Jan 20, 2026LinkHow the council voted
08Lake access3 sourced positions
Voted no on allowing Grand View Lodge one seasonal structure at the public access corridor from April to October (failed 2-3, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · May 12, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted no on the planning director's full recommendation on Grand View Lodge's shed and barricades at the public access (failed 2-3, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · May 19, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on keeping the city's barricades and signage at the Grand View Lodge public access as is (passed 5-0, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · May 19, 2026LinkHow the council voted
09Roads1 sourced position
Voted yes on issuing $3,645,000 in general obligation street reconstruction bonds, Series 2026A (passed 5-0, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · May 19, 2026LinkHow the council voted
10Liquor store lease2 sourced positions
Voted no on Option 2 for the Spirits liquor store lease, a new extension at $21.00 per square foot (failed 2-2, May 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · May 19, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted yes on making no changes to the Spirits liquor store lease (passed unanimously, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Jul 21, 2026LinkHow the council voted
11Consultants2 sourced positions
Voted yes on the Delaney Consulting statement of work extension (failed 2-2, July 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Jul 21, 2026LinkHow the council voted
Voted no on the six-month scope of work extension with Delaney Consulting (passed 3-1, Aug. 2026).
Council voteCity of Nisswa · Aug 18, 2026Link
Every claim links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works
Jesse Zahn: their words and their votes on the same issue
Economic development
In their words
Says he pushed to establish and seat Nisswa's first Economic Development Authority.
On the record
Voted yes on directing the city attorney to draft a resolution for an Economic Development Authority (passed unanimously, Dec. 2025).
Dec 16, 2025 ·City of Nisswa · Dec 16, 2025
Voted yes on the mayor's appointments to the new Economic Development Authority (passed 4-0, July 2026).
Jul 21, 2026 ·City of Nisswa · Jul 21, 2026
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