Rochester, MNVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Rochester City Council Ward 5 · Nov 3, 2026

Shaun C. Palmer

Candidate for City Council Ward 5 (incumbent)

8 candidates · 4 seats12 sourced positions

Shaun C. Palmer, the incumbent, is running for Rochester City Council Ward 5 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Ruchi Gupta.

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Pre-registration deadline (you can still register at the polls) · Tue, Oct 13, 2026

Ward 5 council member, first elected in 2018; certified building official and retired City of Rochester building inspector. Past chair of the Olmsted County Environmental Commission.

Campaign website
palmerward5.org/rochester-ward-5

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Where Shaun C. Palmer stands: positions on the record

Budget and taxes3 sourced positions

  • Moved to cut the 2027 preliminary levy by $400,000 (failed 3-4) and voted no on the $124.9 million preliminary levy (passed 6-1), Sept 2026.

    Council voteCity of Rochester · Sep 21, 2026

  • As reported by the Post Bulletin (LWV forum, Sept 29, 2026); not a direct quote unless quoted

    Said that next year the city could get by without raising the property tax levy beyond growth.

    “Basically, next year, we could get by without raising our property tax levy at all, and keep it to the growth we have coming”

    Forum answerPost Bulletin · Sep 29, 2026

  • Voted no on the 2026 budget and $118.3 million property tax levy (passed 6-1, Dec 2025).

    Council voteCity of Rochester · Dec 1, 2025

Sports and recreation complex2 sourced positions
Historic preservation1 sourced position

  • Voted yes on overturning the denial of a certificate of appropriateness for an addition at 309-317 Broadway Avenue (passed 4-3, Aug 2026).

    Council voteCity of Rochester · Aug 17, 2026

Immigration enforcement1 sourced position

  • Voted yes on reaffirming Rochester as a compassionate city (passed 7-0) and no on directing the city attorney to coordinate amicus briefs on immigration enforcement (passed 4-3), Feb 2026.

    Council voteCity of Rochester · Feb 2, 2026

Housing1 sourced position

  • Says the current housing focus should be fostering home ownership.

    “We have seen considerable success in developing apartments, but the current focus is on fostering home ownership.”

    Own statementPost Bulletin candidate Q&A · Jun 5, 2026

Street design1 sourced position

  • Voted no on a two-way cycle track design for Elton Hills Dr NW (failed 3-4) and yes on three lanes with parking on both sides (passed 6-1), July 2026.

    Council voteCity of Rochester · Jul 20, 2026

Trash collection1 sourced position

  • As reported by the Post Bulletin (LWV forum, Sept 29, 2026); not a direct quote unless quoted

    Opposes switching to city-run garbage service.

    “I would not be in favor of doing municipal garbage service, because the people I represent are not in favor of that”

    Forum answerPost Bulletin · Sep 29, 2026

Past candidacy2 sourced positions

What Shaun C. Palmer said vs. how Shaun C. Palmer voted

Budget and taxes

In their words

  • Said that next year the city could get by without raising the property tax levy beyond growth.

    Sep 29, 2026 ·As reported by the Post Bulletin (LWV forum, Sept 29, 2026); not a direct quote unless quoted ·Post Bulletin · Sep 29, 2026

On the record

Also running for City Council Ward 5

All 8 Rochester candidates →

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