WatervilleNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Waterville Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 5 council seats are on the ballot, with 10 candidates running. Updated Oct 21, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 3 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

Find your match: 3-question quizSee who is on your ballot

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Election Day (Nov 3): 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 choose the mayor from two candidates, two council members from five candidates, and one council member in a special election from three candidates. One council member stays on.

Election Day · Nov 3

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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

01Property taxes and the 2027 levy3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn September 2026 the council set the proposed 2027 levy at 7%, $1,529,448, by a 4-1 vote.

What's on the tableThe final 2027 levy and budget, and how much of the city's reserves to use.

02Moving the library3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe 2027 budget includes $250,000 for moving the library and demolition, and council members favor moving the library into City Hall.

What's on the tableWhether and how to remodel space in City Hall for the library, and how to pay for it.

03Police costs and the school resource officer3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council is weighing police staffing in the 2027 budget and has formed a committee to negotiate the school's share of the school resource officer's cost.

What's on the tableHow many officers to fund and how much the school district should pay toward the school resource officer.

04Old city buildings and City Hall debt4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city sold the former police station and is refinancing the new City Hall through a lease-purchase agreement; the old Fire Hall and old City Hall are not sold.

What's on the tableWhether to sell the old Fire Hall and old City Hall, and where any sale money goes.

3 notes on these statements

The official candidate list shows Bill Conlin and Tim Kinniry for Mayor; Elizabeth Bybee, Scott Potter, Dave Sender, Troy Tolzman and Ronald (Rat) Van Houdt for Council Member (Elect 2); and Steve Cofield, Brady Fisher and Jennifer Grobe in the special election for Council Member. Minnesota Secretary of State

The Waterville Chamber of Commerce invited all City Council and mayoral candidates to a 2026 Meet the Candidates event. Waterville Chamber of Commerce

All City of Waterville voters vote at the new City Hall, 205 North 1st Street. City of Waterville

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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. How much should Waterville's city property tax levy go up for 2027?

  2. 2. How should the city handle the library's move into City Hall?

  3. 3. How should the school resource officer be paid for?

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 voted6 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): Tim Smith4 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

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