South St. Paul, MNVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

South St. Paul City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

6 candidates

Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Voters citywide choose three at-large council members; the mayor and the other three council seats are not on this ballot.

3 notes on these statements

Seven candidates filed for the three council seats; the field was narrowed to six for the November 3, 2026 ballot: Gusta Carr, Brian Ducklinsky, Margaret Durenberger, Tyler Fehrman, Joseph Kaliszewski and Matthew Thompson. City of South St. Paul

Council Member Tom Seaberg's term expires January 1, 2027. City of South St. Paul

Margaret Durenberger did not respond to the West St. Paul Reader candidate questionnaire. West St. Paul Reader · Sep 28, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Pam BakkenCouncil Member; term ends January 1, 20292sourcedJimmy FrancisMayor; term ends January 1, 2029bio onlyLori HansenCouncil Member; term ends January 1, 20292sourcedTodd PodgorskiCouncil Member; term ends January 1, 20293sourced

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decides2027 property tax levy, Public works building and pool, Flock license plate camerasKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

2027 property tax levy

Where it standsThe preliminary 2027 City levy is $20.66 million, up 11.49% from 2026; the council is to adopt the final levy in December.

What's on the tableHow much of the preliminary levy to keep or cut before the final budget and levy are adopted.

  • The preliminary City levy is $20.66 million, a 11.49% change from the 2026 levy. City of South St. Paul
  • The estimated City tax on an average residential property would change from about $1,694 in 2026 to $1,904 in 2027. City of South St. Paul
  • The final levy may be lower than the preliminary levy but cannot be higher than the amount certified in September. City of South St. Paul
  • The City Council will continue reviewing the proposal before the final budget and levy are adopted in December. City of South St. Paul

Public works building and pool

Where it standsThe Northview pool was demolished in September and the new aquatic center is estimated for completion in May 2028; the public works replacement is in design.

What's on the tableHow the city funds and phases the Public Works Central Maintenance Facility and the Northview Family Aquatic Center, including bond debt repaid from property taxes.

  • The total estimated cost of the Northview Family Aquatic Center is $10.25 million, with $4.15 million in state bonding funds and city bonds planned for the rest. West St. Paul Reader · Oct 5, 2026
  • Completion of the new aquatic center is estimated for May 2028. City of South St. Paul
  • A facility assessment found repair and replacement costs at the existing public works facility would exceed $6,500,000. City of South St. Paul
  • Funding for the public works facility will come through cash reserves, municipal property sales proceeds and municipal bonds paid back with property tax revenues. City of South St. Paul

Flock license plate cameras

Where it standsThe police department uses Flock Safety cameras, which keep captured images for 30 days.

What's on the tableWhether South St. Paul continues, limits or ends its Flock camera program.

Redevelopment and housing

Where it standsThe council approved a purchase agreement for property on Hardman Avenue North in July 2026 as part of the Hardman Triangle plan.

What's on the tableWhich redevelopment projects get city support, and whether subsidies or housing incentives are part of them.

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. What should the council do with the preliminary 2027 property tax levy?

  2. 2. How should the city handle the new public works building and aquatic center?

  3. 3. Should South St. Paul keep using Flock license plate cameras?

  4. 4. Should the city use subsidies and incentives to attract redevelopment?

  5. 5. Should the city work to add more affordable housing?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Pam Bakken, Jimmy Francis, Lori Hansen, Todd Podgorski3 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • South St. Paul has a seven-member City Council consisting of a mayor and six council members elected at large for four-year terms. City of South St. Paul
  • City elections are held every two years, with staggered terms for council members. City of South St. Paul
  • The City Council sets local policy, while the city administrator, appointed by the council, executes those policies and oversees daily city operations. City of South St. Paul

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