2026 Election: Mendota Heights City Council

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We talked with candidates running for Mendota Heights City Council. Our candidate questionnaire covers priorities, taxes, city hall, and more.

• More: See our full voter’s guide for information on other local races.

Race profile: Mendota Heights City Council is a non-partisan position elected to a four-year term. There are two seats on the ballot so voters will choose two candidates. These are at-large seats representing all of Mendota Heights.

Who’s running:

• Neil Garlock – A former mayor, Garlock is a retired police officer and current bus driver at Shepard Road Airport Parking.
• John Larrive -(no website) – Larrive did not respond to our questionnaire.
• Sally Lorberbaum – Incumbent first elected in 2022, Lorberbaum has worked as a math teacher, training manager, and a project manager.
• Jerome Mulvihill – Works as an engineer.
• Michael Oxley – Works as an assistant vice president at U.S. Bank.
• Will Stein – Has worked as a professional engineer for two state departments of transportation, a large private engineering firm, and the Federal Highway Administration.

Editor’s note: Mulvihill missed our deadline for candidate responses, but we’re including them anyway to be helpful to voters. Oxley had multiple responses that were over the word limit. We gave him ample opportunity to rewrite his responses to be within the word limit, but by press time he did not, so those responses are cut off at the word limit and noted as such. Mulvihill and Oxley both did not provide a photo.

Candidate Questions

We asked the candidates a series of six questions and asked them to respond in 250 words or less. The questions cover priorities, change, city hall, immigration response, city administration, and taxes.

Priorities: What are your two to three top priorities and how will you address those issues to actually accomplish something?

Neil Garlock:

Fiscal Responsibility: We must control a conservative city budget and maintain low city property taxes. In comparison to other cities, Mendota Heights has always been known as a city that has been responsible when it comes to providing services at a very reasonable cost. We must closely monitor every need for the residents and provide them at an affordable cost. The residents of Mendota Heights expect quality services and it is our obligation to provide them. As a previous 2-term mayor, I was always concerned about running a very efficient city government ensuring the residents were receiving our best.

Promoting Public Safety: Mendota has always been a city that has delivered the highest quality of service when it comes to police and fire. We must continue to attract employees of the highest quality and retain them. We will do that by providing adequate facilities, equipment and training. Each police officer and fire fighter must be provided the appropriate tools so they can perform their specific tasks. It is extremely important that they feel appreciated and this must be promoted at all levels.            

Sally Lorberbaum:

Safety and Security: Community’s safety and security is my top priority. Technology changes every day. Our city services require improvements to ensure residents and businesses thrive in a safe and secure environment. I am committed to:

• Providing our police and fire fighters with the environment and tools they need to provide top-tier community policing, security, and fire-fighting responses
• Delivering reliable cell phone coverage. Our City must hire a consultant to identify viable location options and solutions that have minimal visibility and maximum coverage.
• Ensuring aircraft use agreed upon flight paths to contain noise. We must maintain a strong relationship with airport management, monitor flight paths, and be alert to proposed changes

Fiscal Responsibility: I support a balanced budget that reflects the needs of the city and respects the financial limitations of our residents.

• A budget, balancing current expenses with revenue
• Building reserves to address long-term strategic plans
• Preservation of our historically low taxes
• Responsible actions that maintain the City’s AAA bond rating
• Continual comprehensive evaluation of costs associated with the remediation of our police station and city hall

Planning, Development and Community Building: Experience matters. I am committed to showing up and listening to the needs and opinions of our residents. My focus includes:

• Life-cycle housing options
• Evolving traffic patterns
• Maintenance of facilities, parks, trails, ponds, creeks, and lakes
• Expanded age-appropriate social connections
• Supporting local businesses and encouraging new businesses to move to our city
• Strong relationships with our state, county, neighbor cities, and school district representatives and community leaders.

Jerome Mulvihill: My top priorities are keeping Mendota Heights affordable, maintaining strong city services, and doing a better job of listening to residents. We need to be careful with taxpayer money while continuing to invest in police, fire, roads, parks, and other essential services. That means asking good questions, considering our options, and making sure residents are getting good value for what they spend. I also want residents to feel they are part of the process. They may not always agree with the final decision, but they should know their concerns were heard and considered. I am running because I am willing to listen, do the homework, ask questions, and work with others to make good decisions for Mendota Heights.

Michael Oxley: This is a fascinating time to answer this question. We do not know what will carry over to the newest council. My first priority would be to address anything that spilled over to the new council in 2027 and figure out if these projects are even necessary. 

Depending on what occurs with the city hall project, I would want to be on top of that project immediately. As of this writing, we do not have an idea of what the Dakota County tax increase will look like and we don’t know if the city hall project is going forward. The way the city has been operating appears to show that this project is moving forward. My understanding is that the price tag appears to keep going up for city hall every day. If given the opportunity, I would look at reconsidering this project. – If the city hall project, for whatever reason, doesn’t continue in its current format, I would want to immediately address the Police facility. Police Enforcement is the identity of a city. Those officers are out representing our city. I want them to be in the best/safest situation possible.

Will Stein: First, I support moving forward with new construction for the municipal campus project. It is not sensible to remodel and add on to the existing building for 77% of the cost of new construction. With the remodel/addition alternative, unanticipated construction costs are more likely to arise as compared to new construction. I also oppose getting into additional cycles of design for new or previously-considered alternatives, which only adds design fees and construction cost due to delay. I have experience with modern, efficient technologies that can be evaluated to keep ongoing costs such as heating and cooling as low as possible.

Second, restore the City’s natural resources. I have been a member of the City’s Natural Resources Commission since its inception in 2022 and am currently serving as Chair. Great progress has been made since the Commission was founded but more work is needed including restoration of Valley Park and progress on the water quality problem at Augusta Lake.

Third, begin a conversation on how to “leave the ladder down” for young people who want to own or rent a home. Many young people feel frustrated about the prospects of owning their own home, especially in Mendota Heights. Even if there are only small areas for possible growth, these should be explored. And even small amounts of growth, where appropriate, broaden the tax base which helps with the needs of the City (including the Municipal Campus project) and the School District.

Change: How do you think Mendota Heights should handle change moving forward? What should be preserved and what needs to evolve and grow? 

Sally Lorberbaum: Elected officials need to listen to the opinions of our residents and meet the changing needs of the city, while respecting the financial limitations of our residents. I promise to listen.

Preserve

• Opportunities for residents to provide input on financial decisions that impact property taxes.
• Maintain our volunteer on-call fire fighters and our Mendota Heights police department.
• Mendota Height police’s “community policing” attitude.
• City ordinances written to protect the character of our neighborhoods. We must keep our current:
  • Minimum lot size within each zoning district.
  • Restrictions on the number and type of structures permitted on a single lot based on lot size, setbacks and zoning district.
• Keep our four resident-led commissions: Planning, Natural Resources, Park & Recreation, and Airport Relations Commission

Evolve and grow:

• Provide ongoing evaluation of our recreational programs’ costs, benefits, and attendance.
• Focus groups and valid surveys should be used to gather new policies, natural resources initiatives, and programming ideas
• City council work sessions and council meetings should be recorded for playback and their minutes should be made available to residents.
• Identify locations where we can add housing, while maintaining the special character of our city.

Jerome Mulvihill: Mendota Heights is a great community, and we should protect the things that make it special— our neighborhoods, parks, natural areas, strong public safety, and small-community feel. At the same time, we have to plan for the future. Buildings age, roads need work, and housing needs change. Change is not automatically good or bad. The question is whether it makes sense for Mendota Heights. When a decision could significantly affect a neighborhood or taxpayers, residents should be involved early in the discussion.

Michael Oxley: Growth is an interesting way of putting it. 

Mendota Heights has had ~11k people for the last quarter century. Unless a lot of our corporate buildings are closed. Those corporate buildings would have to be rezoned. There is nowhere else to build. We are at capacity for buildable land at the moment. If circumstances change and we are seeing a growth opportunity, I would need to see the information before making a decision on addressing the potential growth/change. 

Will Stein: The police department has an excellent relationship with the community and we should move forward with our own police department rather than merging services with Dakota County or a larger city like Eagan. This choice requires investing in a new building so that the police department has the modern facilities, equipment, security, and training that they need.

A potential area for evolution and some growth that I’d like to create more conversation around is how to “leave the ladder down” for young people who want to own or rent a home. It is true that there are limited areas for growth in Mendota Heights. There is no large Thompson Reuters campus like in Eagan. There is no Ford Plant site like in St. Paul. But even if the opportunities in Mendota Heights are smaller and fewer, that doesn’t mean that there are zero opportunities for growth. On a smaller scale than Eagan or St. Paul there may be some opportunities to convert under-utilized office buildings or light industrial areas to housing that is focused on giving some of our hard-working young people a chance if they would like to come back and live here. In addition to helping young people get started, small amounts of growth, where appropriate, broaden the tax base which helps with the needs of the City (including the Municipal Campus project) and the School District. There will likely be more pressure from the State and National level for local governments to do more on housing.

Neil Garlock: The best way to handle change moving forward is to maintain open lines of communication with the residents of Mendota Heights. The city council should listen closely to residents and operate in their best interests. The council must put their personal interest aside and carefully consider the interests of future generations.

City hall: New city hall and police facilities have been a flash point over the past year with an initial $33 million cost and Council looking to cut costs. How will you balance the needs of the city and the cost for residents?

Sally Lorberbaum: We need more information to ensure we make the correct decisions. At this time, we don’t know:

• The results of the soil borings, which will tell us the condition of the soil at various site locations, and the need and cost of pilings at these locations
• Viable office locations that could serve as temporary office space if we build at our current location
• The cost of relocating to another building for 18 to 24 months. This includes lease payments, extending fiber to the building, remodeling within the temporary building, and moving costs to and from the temporary building
• The extent of mold that remains behind repaired walls
• The cost and the extent of work necessary to place a moisture barrier between the soil and concrete
• The cost of enhancing ball fields so that the number of fields and their quality will remain the constant before and after the construction.

We need to continue to:

• Reduce the cost and size of the proposed building to meet immediate needs.
• Design the building to allow for future expansion.
• Confirm that CJN will be housed in our building, determine their rent and lease length, so we can determine if B3 and sustainability requirements will be included into the building design.

Jerome Mulvihill: City Hall and the Police Department have real needs that must be addressed. Our police officers and city employees deserve a safe, functional place to work. I support taking another look at remodeling and expanding the existing building and comparing that option fairly with a new facility. That comparison should include construction, financing, maintenance, and long-term operating costs. If a new building is truly the best option, the City should be able to clearly explain why. The goal should be to meet our needs without asking taxpayers to spend more than necessary.

Michael Oxley: I would ask the residents why we need such an expensive complex? With question #2, our population has maintained at 11k for a quarter century. There are cities around Minnesota that have built City Halls at far less of a cost than what is being proposed in Mendota Heights. The reason why these cities built their projects is due to expected development. (See Lake Elmo, Waite Park, etc.) We aren’t growing. That’s not a bad thing, it just means we have to be cognizant of how we spend tax dollars with our limited space and ability to grow.

Will Stein: I support new construction for the municipal campus project but I am sensitive to the costs of new construction. Our household has two kids in college (soon to be three) and the high cost of living, particularly housing, is a real problem. The City should do everything possible to prevent cost overruns which is one of the reasons I do not support the remodel/addition alternative where unanticipated construction costs are more likely to arise as compared to new construction.

Modern, efficient technologies should be evaluated on the City project and used if they are cost effective. Ongoing costs, such as heating/cooling, should be kept as low as possible and this can be more easily accomplished with new construction. The $4 million in bond funding that was received from the State can be used to ensure that ongoing operating costs of the new building are as low as possible.

A final cost consideration that I oppose is getting into additional cycles of design for new or previously-considered alternatives. This only adds design fees and construction cost due to delay.

Neil Garlock: I have personally spoken at a previous city council meeting.  I am not in favor of the demolition of the current building. I believe the building can be renovated and can be bought up to current building standards. As a retired Mendota Heights police sergeant with 24 years of service, I spent many years in the lower level of the municipal building. I realize there are issues in the police area but I believe it can be renovated. I also know the police department has a huge need for more space. I would expand the police department area and meet their future needs. I believe the renovation and expansion building would be a huge savings to the residents of Mendota Heights.

Immigration: Minnesota saw significant impacts from the increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations earlier this year, including closed businesses, students missing school, protests, and law enforcement conflicts. How do you rate the city’s response and what should the city do in future conflicts?

Jerome Mulvihill: The City’s primary responsibility is public safety. Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, while our local police should remain focused on enforcing the laws within their authority and keeping our community safe. It is also important that residents trust the Police Department and feel comfortable reporting a crime, asking for help, or speaking with an officer. The City should follow the law, communicate clearly, and avoid turning every national political issue into a local political fight.

Michael Oxley: This is a federal issue. The city needs to issue a policy so that our brave officers have a clear understanding of how they can effectively do their jobs during this tumultuous time.

Will Stein: I think the City and the Police Department responded well to a situation that was not of their making and was poorly and wrongly executed at the national level. The best solution is for reforms to be passed and implemented at the national level to ensure that future conflicts don’t happen again and that immigration laws are enforced in ways that respect the humanity of people. In situations like this, the City should meet any legal obligations but retain focus on public safety for the citizens of Mendota Heights.  An atmosphere where people feel safe to exercise their right to free speech and to peacefully protest should be maintained.  It was a sad and tragic moment in our history but through it all there were examples of brave and generous acts of kindness for people in need from our schools, places of Worship, and many caring neighbors. 

Neil Garlock: The impact of immigration enforcement in the city of Mendota Heights in the past year was very minimal. I know the city policy states that Mendota Heights police department is not legally authorized to enforce federal immigration laws and can not interfere with lawful federal operation. The department’s responsibility is to protect public safety. But I am in favor of legal immigration.

Sally Lorberbaum:

• The city council voted unanimously to give $10,000 to Independent School District 197 Community Food Support Operations for distribution at schools within the district to families in need. We acted quickly because families required immediate assistance.
• Our police department posted communications stating what the police would and would not do in situations involving ICE.
• Members of the community were given the opportunity to watch recordings of ICE incidents to better understand their experiences and view what others saw.
• The police department’s phone number and email address were widely distributed.
• Collection boxes for food and other necessities were placed at the entrance to city hall and the contents were brought to local sites for distribution.
• Our police chief, residents, workers, and those who travel on roads thru our city were given an opportunity to speak at a city council meeting regarding actions taken and recommendations if similar situations occurred in the future.  

The City’s response was good. Our police acted according to the law. We helped those who needed assistance, explained the “why” behind police actions, and recommended future responses. Next time we will respond faster, because we have learned from the situation.

City administrator: In Mendota Heights the Council and mayor don’t run the city—that task is delegated to the city administrator. How do you rate the current city administrator and city operations in general?

Michael Oxley: I have no comment. I think the city operates very well. I haven’t found a reason to be concerned with the administrative side of the city.

Will Stein: I rate the current City Administrator and city operations highly.  Through my work on the Natural Resources Commission, I have gotten the opportunity to work with the City Administrator, the Assistant City Administrator, the Natural Resources Manager, the Public Works Director, and other City staff.  One initiative that grew out of the Commission’s work was an Energy Action Plan that offers Mendota Heights residents, businesses, and the City itself a path forward to save energy, lower emissions, and reduce energy costs. City staff and community members collaborated with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program on this work.  City staff do a lot of behind-the-scenes work on projects like this and also participate in many evening meetings.

I met with City staff as part of my preparation for running for City Council.  I requested a list of dates of all public outreach that has been conducted to date on the Municipal Campus project.  The list was long and included hard-copy information via mail, e-newsletters, social media, City website, video updates, in-person open houses, in-person facility tours, and monthly project office hours.  With this volume and diversity of outreach, it still seems to be a challenge to reach everyone with busy lives and an onslaught of information and media coming at them.  With the goal of improving City operations, I would support more evaluation and feedback from the community on the optimal ways to receive information and provide input.

Neil Garlock: Because I personally do not work with the city administrator, I will not comment on job performance. The city council is responsible for her annual evaluation. But I have heard no comments of concern.

Sally Lorberbaum: Our city administrator and staff are wonderful. They frequently receive regional recognition awards for their work.

• Our city administrator is experienced, knowledgeable, and patient. She is an excellent communicator, and has a “can do” attitude that is contagious. She consistently crafts meeting agendas that ensures our city meets required timelines.
• Staff is knowledgeable, skilled, and have built working relationships with each other and their counterparts in neighboring cities. They attend trainings to grow their knowledge and are requested speakers at professional conferences.
• Staff works well as a team, helping one another, collaborating, and stepping in to work long hours when someone else is unavailable and the work needs to get done.
• Residents feel comfortable calling our staff directly with questions and, based on past experiences, know they will receive prompt and accurate answers, and their suggestions will be seriously considered.
• Our public works department is phenomenal. Residents know that our streets will be plowed to the curb multiple times during and after a snow fall. People move to our city because our streets get plowed.
• We have low staff turnover. Due to the positive reputation of our city staff and our work environment, we receive numerous applications when job openings occur. Unlike many other cities, our police department is staffed at full capacity.

Jerome Mulvihill: I respect the work Cheryl Jacobson and our city staff do. Running a city is complicated, and Mendota Heights has many dedicated employees. The administrator manages day-to-day operations, while the City Council sets policy, establishes priorities, approves spending, and represents residents. Those roles need to remain clear. I would like to see greater transparency and more complete information presented before major decisions are made. Council members should not micromanage staff, but they should ask difficult questions, set clear expectations, and hold the administration accountable for carrying out Council policy. The relationship should be professional and respectful, with elected officials ultimately accountable for policy decisions.

Taxes: Property taxes are always a concern, but this year they’ve drawn headlines. Do you support the current property tax proposal for Mendota Heights? How do you balance local government needs with what residents can bear?

Will Stein: I do support the current property tax proposal.  In 2026, Mendota Heights had the 4th lowest tax rate of the cities in Dakota County.  Lakeville, Rosemount, and Eagan—cities with a lot more area for growth—are the three with lower tax rates.

We should not rest on that but rather continuously evaluate ways to save money and find efficiencies.  An idea to potentially save the City money that I personally brought forward was a study of the use of geothermal technology to heat and cool the City’s public works building. The study is looking at 1) technical feasibility and 2) whether or not it is cost effective. After receiving City Council approval to apply, the City was awarded a $130,000 grant with zero local match (zero match is not common, in my experience). Five test holes were drilled to a depth of 250 feet to determine if the soils/geology are suitable. The economic analysis and full report are expected to be completed later this year. For no cost to the City beyond staff resources, the City Council will have clear and thorough information on whether or not this is a smart idea. In my opinion, if it’s a money saver, it should be pursued. If it’s not, it should wait until research/innovation brings the cost down further. Regardless, this is a good example of bringing an idea to the table that has the potential to save the city money on an ongoing basis as energy costs rise.

Neil Garlock: Mendota Heights has always been known for its low city property taxes. Like every other city, Mendota Heights has had to increase taxes to meet the city’s needs in the past. The city council must carefully examine each line item in the city’s budget when setting the levy each year. The challenge in the future will be increasingly hard and tough decisions will have to be made.

Sally Lorberbaum: As of the submission of this questionnaire, our 2027 property tax proposal is being developed. I have been and will remain an active participant at the meetings. I support a balanced budget that reflects both the needs of the city and respects the financial limitations of our residents.

• Our process must be transparent. I encourage residents to attend and provide input.
• Each purchase is considered on its own merit. Is it a want vs. a need? I prioritize low-cost, high-value, long-term purchases.
• I ask questions and visit sites to more deeply understand the urgency of each request.
• I keep in mind that increased property taxes may create a serious burden on some residents. At the same time, I am mindful of reality:
  • Inflation is increasing costs. Equipment prices are rising. We must pay our staff a competitive wage.
  • Dakota County is planning to raise property taxes this year.
  • School district 197 will have a referendum on the November ballot.

My goal is to identify and approve the lowest property tax that will provide our residents and businesses with the services they need, the high quality of life they expect, and continued low taxes. I am committed to finding a solution that our community can support.

Jerome Mulvihill: Good city services cost money, but every tax increase should be justified. Before raising taxes, the City should ask what we truly need, what can wait, whether there are less expensive alternatives, and whether taxpayers are receiving good value. We also need to recognize that increases affect residents differently. A few hundred dollars can be a significant burden for seniors, young families, and people on fixed incomes. The goal is not the lowest tax levy at any cost. It is the lowest responsible levy that provides the services residents genuinely need.

Michael Oxley: I think this next election is very important for Mendota Heights. A number of our neighbors just had their roads reassessed/redone ($500/yr), we have a Dakota County tax increase of anywhere from 14-21% (~$150-200/yr), a school levy, and the potential of this new city hall project being added on. ($350-450/yr) That is a lot to take in at one time. 

We shouldn’t burden taxpayers. We should be cognizant of all of our neighbors’ circumstances.

We are a city of 11,000 people. We can’t control inflation. We can voice our opinion about Dakota County taxes. 

What we can control is Mendota Heights tax increases. If elected, I wouldn’t pile on my neighbors when they are already getting it from other avenues.

Lightning Round

We asked candidates a series of 10 simple questions and asked them to respond briefly in 25 words or less.

1. Do you have a library card? When did you last use it?

• Neil Garlock: No
• Sally Lorberbaum: I used my card in August, attended Wentworth Library’s re-opening, donated books to the library in May, and visited four libraries last fall.
• Jerome Mulvihill: Yes. I have a library card and use occasionally.
• Michael Oxley: No, but my wife does and I go there all the time on the way for my daily Target run.
• Will Stein: Yes. June 23, 2026. A few recent book recommendations:  Abundance (Ezra Klein/Derek Thompson), Gales of November (John Bacon), Do Hard Things (Steve Magness).

2. How many City Council meetings have you attended in the past year?

• Sally Lorberbaum: Perfect attendance! I attended every City Council meeting from September 2025 thru August 2026, attending 3 closed meetings, 23 regular meetings, and 18 work sessions.
• Jerome Mulvihill: I have attended several City Council meetings over the past year and have spoken publicly about my concerns with the current Municipal Campus plan.
• Michael Oxley: In person, 4.
• Will Stein: I attended one regular meeting and one work session. I watched several meetings online specific to the Municipal Campus.  Attended all Natural Resources Commission meetings.
• Neil Garlock: 4

3. Have you volunteered in your community in the past year? Where?

• Sally Lorberbaum: I serve on the board of local and regional non-profits. I also helped with a Day on the Hill event for an Interfaith non-profit organization.
• Jerome Mulvihill:  I have remained engaged in our community, and my decision to run for City Council is part of my desire.
• Michael Oxley: I have coached baseball and softball for Two Rivers Atheltic Association for the last 5-6 years. Although not in our community, per say, I do [Editor’s Note: Cut for going over word limit.]
• Will Stein: Orchestra pancake breakfast (Two Rivers), Tree planting (Delaware Avenue), Prairie restoration (Three Rivers Park District), Transitional housing relocation (Eagan), Blood donations (Memorial Blood Center)
• Neil Garlock: Chairman of the Northern Dakota County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon- 6 cities.  President of the West St Paul Police K9 Foundation.

4. Do you support more affordable housing in your city?

• Jerome Mulvihill: I support looking for reasonable opportunities for housing while protecting existing neighborhoods and the character of our community.
• Michael Oxley:  I would need to see what is being represented. Section 8 housing gets confused with affordable housing. I would need to see the affordable housing [Editor’s Note: Cut for going over word limit.]
• Will Stein: Yes.  We should talk about how to “leave the ladder down” for our young people and make it easier for them to own/rent a home.
• Neil Garlock: Yes, I support it
• Sally Lorberbaum: I support more affordable housing in our city. It is, however, up to each building owner to determine the unit rental prices in their buildings.

5. Have you attended city events in a non-campaign capacity in the past year? Which ones?

• Michael Oxley: Yes, I went to the food truck bit at Mendakota. Great time.
• Will Stein: Officer Patrick Memorial Event, Tree sale (delivering for friends), Food Truck Fest, Glow Pickleball, Music in the Park, River to River Greenway ribbon-cutting (Sept 14)
• Neil Garlock: Race director Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K -June 6 Conducted the Officer Scott Patrick Memorial Event – July 30
• Sally Lorberbaum: Attendance includes MH Firefighters’ dinner, Night to Unite in ten neighborhoods, Scott Patrick memorial, a playground opening, Touch-a-Truck, Heights Fest, and a Taylor Swift celebration.
• Jerome Mulvihill: The city events I have attended in the past year have been in connection with my campaign for City Council.

6. Do you support more pedestrian and bike access?

• Will Stein: Yes.  Most of my career has been in highway design/safety so I can offer a lot on this topic.  Highway 62 is a real barrier.
• Neil Garlock: I support more
• Sally Lorberbaum: Yes. Pedestrian and bike access connects neighbors, and promotes group outings and healthy exercise. The benefits must be weighed against construction and maintenance costs.
• Jerome Mulvihill: Yes, where practical. I support improving connections and safety when roads are rebuilt, while considering cost, existing neighborhoods, and available right-of-way.
• Michael Oxley: We aren’t Saint Paul. We built the trails so people can bike around the town and not get hit on 110. What I would support [Editor’s Note: Cut for going over word limit.]

7. What’s your favorite local park?

• Neil Garlock: Wentworth Park
• Sally Lorberbaum: My favorite park is Rogers Lake, where my grandchildren learned to fish. It has a playground, a skate park, a picnic shelter and a dock.
• Jerome Mulvihill: Marie Park. Many neighborhood hockey games in my youth.
• Michael Oxley: My favorite local park is Ivy Hills Park. My grandmother lived in that neighborhood for most of her life.
• Will Stein: Since serving on the Natural Resources Commission, I have grown to appreciate Valley Park and its truly special/unique natural features.

8. Do you support displaying the new state flag at city buildings?

• Sally Lorberbaum: I support displaying the flag that has been authorized as the official state flag.
• Jerome Mulvihill: I believe that decision should reflect the views of Mendota Heights residents.
• Michael Oxley: I think that the new state flag was chosen on by our elected officials. Elected officials are not immune to error. When decisions are made, [Editor’s Note: Cut for going over word limit.]
• Will Stein: Yes.  I support everyone proudly flying the U.S. flag, the official Minnesota state flag, and the flags of Minnesota sports teams.
• Neil Garlock: Current one OK – really like the old one

9. Who is someone that inspires you?

• Sally Lorberbaum: Mister Rogers demonstrated how to be kind, listen to others, respectful, show feelings matter, and teach self-worth. “We like you just the way you are.”
• Jerome Mulvihill: My wife, Carol, inspires me because of the way she cares for our family.
• Michael Oxley: My Dad.
• Will Stein: My wife Pam because she always looks outside of herself to find ways to help others and tries to brighten someone’s day.
• Neil Garlock: Marine Corps Drill Instructor – SSGT Mitchell

10. Do you use social media to connect with the community?

• Jerome Mulvihill: I have a website, http://www.JeromeMulvihillforMH.com
• Michael Oxley: Too much. But, yes.
• Will Stein: Yes.  Please see my Facebook page:  Will Stein for Mendota Heights City Council
• and my Instagram account: @will4council
• Neil Garlock: I do monitor – don’t comment
• Sally Lorberbaum: While I occasionally read social media, I rarely post. I prefer showing up, listening to residents, and following up by addressing their concerns directly.

More Information

• East Metro Voter Guide
• Heights Highlights Fall Issue
• Pioneer Press: City Hall Project Debate Intensifies Election
• Pioneer Press: Candidate Q&A
• St. Paul Voice
• Town Square Television Candidate Forum

See our full local voter’s guide for information on more races and candidates.

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