Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Pine Island Mayor & City Council Election 2026
3 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 12 days left
Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's noticeThese 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.
Mayor
1 seatCity Council
Vote for up to 2All Pine Island voters choose one mayor for a two-year term and two council members for four-year terms; the top vote-getters win.
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.
- Governor
- Amy Klobuchar · Democratic-Farmer-Labor
- Lisa Demuth · Republican
- Steven Young · Green
- U.S. Senate
- Peggy Flanagan · Democratic-Farmer-Labor
- Michele Tafoya · Republican
- Marisa Simonetti · Independent
- Rebecca Whiting · Libertarian
- Also statewideSecretary of State · State Auditor · Attorney General · Associate Justice - Supreme Court · Judge - Court of Appeals
- Statewide measures1 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
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.
- Vernon PahlCouncil Member; seat up for election in 20287sourced
- Colton WrightCouncil Member; seat up for election in 20285sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Project Skyway data center4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council approved the land-use applications and a tax abatement agreement for Project Skyway, and a lawsuit over its environmental review is pending.
What's on the tableHow the city handles the project's next steps, permits and agreements as it moves forward.
- The City approved an abatement of about $36.5 million over a 28-year period. City of Pine Island
- The developer must procure and maintain performance bonds of $4 million under the development agreement. City of Pine Island
- The Court will hear cross-motions for summary judgment in the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy lawsuit on November 16, 2026. Pine Island City Council minutes, Oct. 6, 2026 (workshop) · Oct 6, 2026
- Xcel Energy announced an agreement with Google to provide the energy for this development. City of Pine Island
022027 levy and budget3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council certified a proposed 2027 preliminary levy of $4,553,083 and a preliminary budget of $6,988,843 in September 2026.
What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget.
- Resolution 26-40 certified the proposed 2027 preliminary levy at $4,553,083. Pine Island City Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 · Sep 15, 2026
- Resolution 26-41 approved the proposed 2027 preliminary budget at $6,988,843. Pine Island City Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 · Sep 15, 2026
- Staff reported that insurance rates came in at 14% instead of the budgeted 22% increase. Pine Island City Council minutes, Oct. 6, 2026 (workshop) · Oct 6, 2026
03Street projects and assessments3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council ordered $561,730.74 in assessments for the 2026 Street Improvement Project and approved them with revisions after an October hearing.
What's on the tableHow future street and utility projects are paid for, including how much falls on property owners.
- Resolution 26-45 ordered assessments for the 2026 Street Improvement Project in the amount of $561,730.74. Pine Island City Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 · Sep 15, 2026
- Resolution 26-47 approving street assessments passed with revisions for several properties. Pine Island City Council minutes, Oct. 6, 2026 (special meeting) · Oct 6, 2026
- The council approved a Public Facilities Authority grant agreement for up to $1,000,000 to replace about 47 lead and galvanized water service lines. Pine Island City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
04Short-term rentals and cell towers2 sourced facts
Where it standsIn October 2026 the council directed staff to draft ordinances on short-term rentals and on cell towers.
What's on the tableWhether and how to license short-term rentals and where cell towers may go.
- Council directed staff to draft an ordinance allowing short-term rentals at a limited quantity with a license from the city. Pine Island City Council minutes, Oct. 6, 2026 (workshop) · Oct 6, 2026
- Council would prefer cell towers be placed on water towers. Pine Island City Council minutes, Oct. 6, 2026 (workshop) · Oct 6, 2026
3 notes on these statements
One council seat is vacant; in August 2026 the council agreed to wait until after the November election to fill it. Pine Island City Council minutes, Aug. 4, 2026 (workshop) · Aug 4, 2026
The council declared a vacancy in the office of mayor in June 2026 (Resolution 26-28). Pine Island City Council minutes, June 16, 2026 · Jun 16, 2026
Delana Weis, Dominick Pahl, Donald Mack and Tosca Wohl had not responded to the VOTE411 questionnaire when this guide was prepared. VOTE411 (League of Women Voters)
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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. Should Pine Island keep moving forward with Project Skyway, the proposed Google data center?
Key dates
- Election Day (polls at the Pine Island Fire Department, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)City of Pine IslandNov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): Vernon Pahl, Colton Wright3 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The mayor serves a two-year term and council members serve four-year terms. City of Pine Island
- Two City Council seats with four-year terms and the mayor's office, with a two-year term, are on the November 2026 ballot. City of Pine Island
- City Council meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall. City of Pine Island
- The council appointed Brandi Veith Staloch as mayor and declared her council seat vacant in July 2026. Pine Island City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
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