The City Council is the legislative branch of the government. Any new laws, tax changes, and appointments must be approved by them. The council is made up of 6 members and the Mayor who each serve for a 4 year term.
Candidates:
Thelma Estrada
Davin Sokup
Find all the 2022 Election Results Here
Davin Sokup
Q. Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of.
A. Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals
Q. What qualifies for the office your running for?
A. I believe I have a unique set of qualifications that make me a good fit for this role. First, I was born here and grew up in both Northfield and Faribault, and my family has been in Rice County for several generations. While by no means is that required to run for this office, it gives me context and perspective that I find really helpful when talking about issues in town. I have also worked mostly in the service industry and in the trades as a carpenter and woodworker, and I think having blue collar work experience is something we need more of in elected bodies. For the last couple of years though, I've been working at the Minnesota Senate and doing a lot of work around housing, which lead me to seek and be appointed to the Northfield Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. Through those roles, I have developed a particular interest in housing and zoning policy and would like to focus in those areas as a policy maker in Northfield. The last thing I'd add to this list is that I'm part of the LGBTQ+ community. I'd be the first transgender person elected to the Northfield City Council, which would be personally meaningful, but would also lend a unique perspective to the council.
Q. What inspired you to run for office?
A. I was inspired to run for this office because I believe the next twenty years of development in Northfield will have a large impact on who calls Northfield home, and I'd like to be part of that work. I think the policy makers during that time need to be engaged in both the community and at the state level, to be focused on housing issues, and come from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. This is an exciting time to get involved at the local level, and I'm inspired by the challenge and opportunity.
Q. What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
A. I'd like to help enact policies that address housing and density, allowing for a wider range of housing options in Northfield.
Q. What does being a leader mean to you?
A. Leadership takes so many forms, but when thinking about this role specifically, I think being a good leader involves letting your work speak for itself and bringing others along with you. The city council has a large work load, a councilor should be leading by being committed and dedicated to that work, while also knowing it takes more than one person to accomplish anything. I think being an effective leader would mean inspiring others to commit to the work as well, and getting it done.
Thelma Estrada
Q. Please list any current political offices you hold. Please list any previous political office you've held.
A. Library Board
Q. What qualifies for the office your running for?
A. I have worked with the community such as been a property manger, customer service and done some voluntary work as well. I'm currently a student at Inver Hills Community College perusing a degree in Paralegal.
Q. What inspired you to run for office? If you running for reelection why do you want to stay in office?
A. I want to give back to the community that has welcomed my family and I. I want to be the voice for the community to fight for fairness in all aspect of our community. I want to also help with keeping our community united in this hard time that our nation is facing.
Q. What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
A. I would like to accomplish having affordable housing, having more safety in our road and crosswalk, use our tax's payer moving wisely.
Q. What does being a leader mean to you?
A. Been a leader mean a lots of responsibility and been a good role model to our young future generation.
Logan Wells is the Election Guide Editor. You can contact him here.
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