Fremont, NEVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fremont City Council Election 2026

4 of 8

council seats up

4 contests

5 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 Ward 1 · 1 seat

City Council Ward 2 · Unopposed

City Council Ward 3 · Unopposed

City Council Ward 4 · Unopposed

Fremont voters choose one council member in their own ward; the other four council seats are not on this ballot.

3 notes on these statements

Only Ward 1 has more than one candidate: Mark Legband and Scott Thomas. Blair Horner (Ward 2), Mark W. Jensen (Ward 3) and Lori Schmidt-Lathrop (Ward 4) are the only names listed for their wards. Dodge County Clerk · Sep 16, 2026

Paul Von Behren won the Ward 1 council race in 2022. Dodge County · Nov 8, 2022

The Nov. 3 ballot also carries a City of Fremont proposal to raise the local sales and use tax rate by one-half of one percent. Dodge County Clerk · Sep 16, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Sally GanemCouncilmember, Ward 4; elected November 202410sourcedTJ Marsh8sourcedJeff PetersonCouncilmember, Ward 1; elected November 202410sourcedDev SookramMayor; serves until a new mayor is chosen in 20282sourcedJames VaughanCouncilmember, Ward 3; elected November 20247sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz3 questions · answers stay on your phoneSeat the CouncilPick winners, see the councilWhat council decidesFire stations and the half-cent sales tax, Public comment rules, Economic development and city landKey datesDeadlines and vote centers

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Next date

First day of in-person early voting at the county clerk or election commissioner office

Mon, Oct 5, 2026

TodayAll key dates

What the next council decides

Fire stations and the half-cent sales tax

Where it standsOn Nov. 3, 2026, Fremont voters decide whether to add a half-cent to the local sales tax for 20 years, with fire station construction the first project listed.

What's on the tableThe council will carry out the vote's result, including bond financing, fire station construction and an agreement with another local government.

Public comment rules

Where it standsThe council revised its public comment section of the city code in Ordinance 5755, passed in September 2026 after debate over accepting documents from the public.

What's on the tableThe next council will set how open public comment and public documents are handled at meetings.

Economic development and city land

Where it standsThe council has voted on an industrial loan amendment, a land purchase and a rail grant application this year, with split results.

What's on the tableThe council will decide whether the city lends, buys land or applies for grants on behalf of private economic development partners.

Blight, rezoning and group homes

Where it standsIn 2026 the council declared one area blighted and substandard, approved rezonings and approved a youth group home permit.

What's on the tableThe council will keep deciding which areas are declared blighted, which parcels are rezoned and which permits are granted.

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 the council accept documents handed in by the public during meetings?

  2. 2. Should the city apply for a federal rail grant on behalf of a private rail company?

  3. 3. Should the council declare the 23rd and North Cedar Street area blighted and substandard?

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

5 stay (not up this year): Sally Ganem, TJ Marsh, Jeff Peterson, Dev Sookram, James Vaughan4 on this ballot

8 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 5-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →

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