Park RapidsNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Park Rapids Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 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

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. Pat Mikesh and Liz Stone are running for mayor; Tim Little and Tom J. Conway are the only candidates for the two council seats.

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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

01Special assessments3 sourced facts

Where it standsPark Rapids charges property owners special assessments for street and utility improvements under a written policy, and in June 2026 the council put a review of that policy on its task list.

What's on the tableWhether to change how property owners are charged for street and utility projects.

  • The city's policy says improvement costs shall, whenever possible, be assessed against the properties that receive special benefit from the improvement. City of Park Rapids
  • Under the policy, the maximum term of any assessment is 20 years. City of Park Rapids
  • At a June 23, 2026 strategic planning session, the city administrator said she would like the special assessment policy updated by the end of the year if possible. City of Park Rapids · Jun 23, 2026
022027 budget and levy4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council adopted a preliminary 2027 levy of $4,018,188, with a 5% increase in the general fund levy.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, which may be lowered but not raised from the preliminary amount.

03Heartland Heights3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city is backing the Heartland Heights subdivision with a developer's agreement and a bridge loan of up to $500,000 to the Heartland Lakes Development Commission.

What's on the tableHow the city handles the loan, the new streets and the services the subdivision will need.

04Second Street Stage and food trucks3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council created an event protection area around Second Street Stage events, after food truck owners and the Downtown Business Association disagreed over vendor terms.

What's on the tableWhether to pass a food truck ordinance and how to manage vendors at downtown events.

05City Hall entrance remodel2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council approved a remodel of City Hall's public entrance, estimated at $200,000 to $250,000 and paid from city reserves.

What's on the tableOversight of the remodel's cost as it is built.

06Highway 71 redesign2 sourced facts

Where it standsMnDOT plans to reconstruct the Highway 71 corridor through Park Rapids in 2032 and is weighing medians and compact roundabouts.

What's on the tableWhich Highway 71 design concept the city supports when MnDOT asks for formal feedback.

1 note on these statements

Pat Mikesh did not respond to the KAXE Election Guide questionnaire. KAXE · Sep 28, 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. Should Park Rapids change how it charges property owners for street and utility projects?

  2. 2. Should the city lend money to help finish the Heartland Heights housing development?

  3. 3. Should the city keep a zone around Second Street Stage where only event-affiliated vendors are allowed?

  4. 4. Should the city spend up to $250,000 in reserves to remodel City Hall's public entrance?

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 voted4 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

    The seat math

    1 stay (not up this year): Jeremy Engholm3 on this ballot

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

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