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The 2022 general election is on Tuesday, November 8 and includes city races for West St. Paul, county commissioner and county attorney races, state house and senate races, state-wide offices, and our representative in Congress. Here’s your voter’s guide for West St. Paul.
- How to Vote
- What’s on the Ballot
- West St. Paul Election
- Dakota County Election
- Minnesota Legislature Election
- State-Wide & Federal Offices
- Judicial Offices
- Thanks for Participating in Our Democracy
How to Vote
The West St. Paul city website has details on where and how to vote. You can also vote early with an absentee ballot, either by mail or by stopping at the Dakota County offices, starting on September 23. Remember that redistricting created new legislative and city ward boundaries, which means your polling place may have changed.
What’s on the Ballot
Use the Secretary of State’s ballot tool to see your sample ballot.
We’ll add candidate questionnaires, forums, and additional info below as it becomes available.
Printable Voter’s Guide
For a quick glance at the candidates check out our printable voter’s guide. Notice that it is three pages, with legislative and county races on the additional pages. (See our explanation for including yes/no questions.)
West St. Paul Election
Here in West St. Paul, the mayor and one council seat in each of the three wards are on the ballot. Use this city map to find out which ward you live in (note that there were recent changes to the wards).
Mayor
This is an uncontested race.
- Dave Napier (incumbent) (campaign site)
City Council Ward 1
- Pat Armon (campaign site)
- Kimetha “KaeJae” Johnson (campaign site)
City Council Ward 2
This is an uncontested race.
- John Justen (incumbent) (campaign site)
City Council Ward 3
- Wendy Berry (incumbent) (campaign site)
- Jake Nelson (dropped out, but will still appear on the ballot)
Candidate Q&As:
- Positive change: How will you make West St. Paul better?
- Top priorities: What are your two to three top priorities and how will you address those issues?
- Housing: How will you better engage renters and bring the entire community together? Do you support more housing?
- Budget: Do you support the proposed property tax increase?
- Public safety: What additional changes or improvements would you support to increase public safety?
- City manager: Since the 2021 hiring of Nate Burkett as city manager, what do you think of the changes he’s implemented and the direction of the city in general?
West St. Paul Candidate Forums:
Other Resources:
- Pioneer Press
- East Metro Voter’s Guide
- Vote411: Ward 1 / Ward 3
- St. Paul Voice (see page 6)
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Dakota County Election
There are several races in Dakota County, including county commissioner, county attorney, and county sheriff (all four-year terms). While attorney and sheriff are county-wide positions, commissioners represent districts and West St. Paul is in District 2.
County Attorney
- Kathy Keena (incumbent) (campaign site)
- Matt Little (campaign site)
Candidate Q&As:
- Philosophy: What’s your guiding philosophy as it relates to the criminal justice system?
- Criminal justice reform: What proactive efforts and policies do you support?
- Public safety: What trends do you see today and how will you keep the community safe?
- Mental health: How do you see mental health impacting the criminal justice system and what will you do about it?
- Abortion: If new abortion restrictions are enacted, will you enforce them? Will you cooperate with out-of-state agencies where abortion is restricted?
- Drug policy: What needs to change about how the county attorney approaches drug policy?
County Attorney Forums:
Other Resources:
Resources From the Primary Election:
- Our Q&As: Role of the county attorney, top priorities, criminal justice reform, and public safety.
- League of Women Voters Forum
- Pioneer Press
- Star Tribune
County Sheriff
This is an uncontested race.
- Joe Leko (campaign site)
County Sheriff Forums:
County Commissioner District 2
- Joe Atkins (campaign site)
- Jimmy Francis (campaign site)
Candidate Q&As:
- Public safety: What’s the status of crime in Dakota County and what changes or improvements would you support?
- Finances: Do you support operating without debt and minimizing property tax increases?
- Roads: Is Dakota County doing enough to maintain infrastructure and handle traffic? Are there proactive steps you would take to better improve roads and traffic?
- Libraries: Do you support banning books, dropping overdue fines, and expanding library services?
- Parks: Do you support continued investment and what kind of improvements do you support?
- Elections: How will you protect the integrity of elections while also ensuring access to the ballot for all eligible voters?
County Commissioner Forums:
Other Resources:
Resources From the Primary Election:
- Our Q&As: Top issues, housing, public safety, and creating positive change.
- St. Paul Voice (see pages 8-9)
- Pioneer Press
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor District 2
This is an uncontested race.
- Laura Zanmiller (incumbent) – We interviewed Zanmiller in 2020 about what this position entails.
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Minnesota Legislature Election
Due to redistricting, West St. Paul is now divided into two separate legislative districts.
House District 53A
- Mary Frances Clardy (DFL) (campaign site)
- Brent Jacobson (Legal Marijuana Now) (campaign site)
- Todd Kruse (GOP) (campaign site)
Senate District 53
- Matt Klein (DFL) (incumbent) (campaign site)
- Chris Rausch (GOP) (campaign site)
House District 65B
- Kevin Fjelsted (GOP) (campaign site)
- María Isa (DFL) (campaign site)
Senate District 65
- Paul Holmgren (GOP) (campaign site)
- Sandy Pappas (DFL) (incumbent) (campaign site)
Candidate Q&As
- Top priorities: What are your two to three top priorities and how will you address those issues?
- Representing West St. Paul: How will you address the needs and concerns of West St. Paul residents?
- Budget: How do you think the budget surplus should be used?
- Cooperation: How will you work across the aisle to ensure legislation can pass?
- State funding: What will you do to ensure West St. Paul gets its fair share of state funding?
- Partisan divide: What do you make of the ongoing culture wars and what role would they play in your work as a legislator?
Legislative Forums:
- League of Women Voters: District 65 / Senate 53
- Town Square TV: District 53 / District 65
Other Resources:
- East Metro Voter’s Guide: Senate 53 / House 53A / House 65B
- Vote 411: Senate 53 / Senate 65 / House 53A / House 65B
- Pioneer Press: Senate 53 / Senate 65 / House 53A / House 65B
- St. Paul Voice (see page 2)
State-Wide & Federal Offices
State offices—including governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and auditor—as well as the second congressional district will also be on the ballot.
MPR News has simple voter’s guides for each office that cover a range of issues: governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, and second congressional district.
Judicial Offices
The back of the ballot includes judicial races. Only one of them is contested:
First District Court 11
- Matthew Hanson (campaign site)
- Charles Webber (incumbent) (campaign site)
Resources
Thanks for Participating in Our Democracy
No matter who you’re supporting, be sure to get out there and vote.
If you think our civics could be a little more civil, you’re not alone. Learn more about a book, Better Politics, Please, inspired by politics in West St. Paul and written by two West St. Paul residents.
Our local election coverage only happens thanks to our generous supporters. Consider joining them with monthly or annual support and help keep your community informed.
West St. Paul Reader 
As always, your coverage of the elections is so helpful. Thank you!