PaynesvilleNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Paynesville Mayor & City Council Election 2026

3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

Find your match: 5-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
Early voting at Paynesville City Hall begins (Oct 27): 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 council members on Nov 3, 2026. Jean Soine is the only candidate for mayor; five candidates seek the two council seats. Council members Megan Brick and Donna Allee serve through 2028.

Early voting at Paynesville City Hall begins · Oct 27

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

01Property tax levy and budget4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council set a 2027 preliminary levy of $1,740,248 and a Truth in Taxation hearing for December 14, 2026.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 tax levy and budget, and whether to set money aside for downtown redevelopment.

02Downtown redevelopment4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city owns two downtown buildings it plans to demolish, and the Ad Hoc Downtown Committee wants a dedicated redevelopment fund.

What's on the tableWhether and how much to put into a downtown redevelopment fund, and whether to buy more buildings.

03New library2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city, Friends of the Library and the Paynesville Area Foundation are splitting early design costs for a new library.

What's on the tableHow much city money to put toward the library project, and when.

04Housing and apartments3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council approved a letter of intent with WinMart Investments for a 48-unit apartment building at 605 Lake Ave.

What's on the tableWhether to sign a purchase and development agreement, including the buyer's request for TIF.

05Nuisance ordinance2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council adopted Ordinance No. 63, 3rd Series, replacing the city's nuisance chapter, on a 4-1 vote in August 2026.

What's on the tableHow the new nuisance rules are enforced, and whether to change them.

062027 street improvement project3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe 2027 street and utility project is estimated at $4,185,240, with an improvement public hearing scheduled for October 12, 2026.

What's on the tableWhether to order the project, how to fund it, and the final assessments in 2027.

2 notes on these statements

Mayor Shawn Reinke is not on the candidate list; Jean Soine is the only candidate for mayor. Minnesota Secretary of State

The Paynesville Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum for city council and township supervisor candidates on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Paynesville Area High School Auditorium. WJON · Oct 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 Paynesville's final 2027 tax levy stay at the $1,740,248 preliminary amount?

  2. 2. Should the city buy and clear downtown buildings to attract a developer?

  3. 3. Should the city keep putting its own money into planning a new library?

  4. 4. Should the city move ahead with a 48-unit apartment building on city land at 605 Lake Ave.?

  5. 5. Should Paynesville keep the nuisance ordinance it adopted in 2026?

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 voted13 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): Donna Allee, Megan Brick3 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.