2026 Election: Mendota Heights Mayor

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We talked with Stephanie Levine and John Maczko, the candidates running for Mendota Heights mayor. 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 Mayor is a non-partisan position elected to a two-year term. The mayor represents all of Mendota Heights.

Who’s running:

• Stephanie Levine – Incumbent first elected in 2020, Levine is a former actuary.
• John Maczko – Current Council member first elected in 2024, Maczko is a civil engineer and retired firefighter/fire chief.

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?

Stephanie Levine: As mayor for almost six years, I have an established record of accomplishments and will continue these priorities into a fourth term.

1. Continue providing efficient and effective city services
   Our city boasts outstanding Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks & Recreation and Natural Resources Departments – and I’m not saying that just because I’m the Mayor!  We maintain excellent parks, fields, miles of trails and public infrastructure while faithfully stewarding our natural resources. 
2. Continue listening to residents – and to the experts who serve our city
   Good decisions begin with listening.  I will continue listening to residents and responding to their concerns.  I also will continue listening to our staff, engineers, public-safety professionals and other experts.  My approach is to gather the best information, weigh competing needs, and work collaboratively toward solutions that will serve our community now and into the future.
3. Continue using taxpayer dollars prudently and responsibly
   Financially, our city is strong, with taxes are among the lowest in the county and a AAA bond rating- rare for a city of our size.  Maintaining financial strength requires disciplined budgeting, strategic capital investments, and planning for aging infrastructure.  The Municipal Campus Project is one example:  addressing needs now helps avoid a future crisis and higher costs later.  I will continue pursuing state and county partnerships and diversifying city revenues while making strategic investments.

My background in finance and strong relationships at the local, state and federal levels help me continue moving Mendota Heights forward.

John Maczko:

1. Authentic resident and business engagement. We need to identify community needs by truly listening to residents and businesses. Mendota Heights has a history of listening, but I believe we have moved too far toward an attitude of “we know best.” We need to remember that we serve our community. With the most pressing need being the City Hall/police campus, I would establish a citizen-led committee to assess needs, conditions and options. This provides an opportunity for residents with expertise and interest to serve meaningfully.
2. Fiscal responsibility. The City’s total budget increased approximately 36% from 2021 to 2026. Residents face higher property taxes, gas and electric franchise fees, utility rates and street assessments, in addition to county, school district and state taxes, alongside inflation in day-to-day needs such as food and housing. Government must control its spending, distinguish needs from wants, and provide essential services efficiently. Some residents can absorb higher costs; others simply cannot. Uncertainty in state and federal funding makes fiscal discipline even more important. We must establish priorities and avoid commitments our residents cannot sustainably support. A statistically valid survey would provide resident input on these priorities.
3. Protecting local control. State and Metropolitan Council proposals threaten local authority over zoning and land use through one-size-fits-all approaches. These decisions could permanently and significantly affect how Mendota Heights looks and feels. We need to be active at the Legislature and support the League of Minnesota Cities in maintaining local control. Cities know best what their residents need and want.

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

John Maczko: Change is difficult, and for it to be accepted, it takes time, involvement and reaching out to those it affects. While the Council is elected to make decisions, council members should not assume that getting elected gives them the sole authority to make decisions based on their beliefs alone. The Council should ensure that the people we serve are brought into the discussion through meaningful, transparent engagement and that we receive input from a good cross-section of the community. Our citizens value open space, safe streets, excellent services and LOW taxes. Mendota Heights is situated close to both downtowns and the airport, with many opportunities conveniently nearby. We need to preserve these characteristics, continue to enhance our open space and focus on preserving our natural environment. From a land-use perspective, we are, for all practical purposes, developed, and residents like what we have become. We have to be very careful not to destroy what we currently have and focus on preserving it. Local land use and zoning are being challenged at the state and Metropolitan Council levels by efforts to limit local city control.

Stephanie Levine: “Change is the only constant” – but it is hard!  Many residents grew up here, remember the past fondly, and feel a deep sense of nostalgia for our community.   We must work through change together, treating our neighbors with respect and kindness, even when we disagree, and move forward once decisions are made. 

At the same time, Mendota Heights must evolve.  Legislative changes, the Met Council, and regional influences affect our city.  We must accommodate young families, active seniors and remain inclusive of all ages and abilities.   

We must be climate resilient, protecting our land, water, wetlands, native plants and air while reducing emissions incorporating EVs and improving efficiency.

Reliable cell coverage is a public-safety issue.  The City Council is funding an independent study after the previous proposal was found to be noncompliant with city code, with a commitment to ensure that residents are informed well before the permitting process begins.

I understand that some residents want to engage earlier in major decisions.  With the Municipal Campus Project, information was available publicly throughout the process, but availability alone does not mean people will see or absorb it.  We can improve how we communicate.  I invite residents to attend Coffee with Council, participate in listening sessions or email me directly.  I generally respond within 24 hours. 

Mendota Heights is a gem for many reasons, but first and foremost because of our residents.  I am committed to leadership that centers on our residents and help create a future that we move towards, together.

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?

Stephanie Levine: Leadership means preserving what residents love about our city, while planning thoughtfully for its future.  That requires listening to every voice, carefully stewarding taxpayer dollars, and making difficult decisions based on facts, expert guidance and long-term value.

The need is clear: The facilities were always meant to be expanded and renovated, and we now have significant space, safety and security deficiencies.  If we fail to act, we risk our ability to maintain the Mendota Heights Police Department that our community deeply values.

The Council began with a thorough process: a space study, community engagement, guiding principles and expert advice from ICS Consulting.  We examined every reasonable option – renovating, relocating, separating Police and City Hall, and building new.  Ultimately, renovation was eliminated because it would cost approximately 78% of new construction, well above the 60%-70% threshold where municipal construction guidance favors building new.

We then weighted current needs against future needs.  In December 2025, the Council voted unanimously to pursue a new building with future need at $33.1 million.  Following additional community input and a $4 million state grant, the project was scaled back to a new building, future ready.

Good stewardship does not mean spending the least possible today, nor does it mean building more than we need.  It means investing wisely – neither overbuilding nor underbuilding – so future generations are not forced to solve the same problem at a greater cost.  Our responsibility is to respect taxpayers and secure the future of our city for ourselves and the next generation.

John Maczko: I think it is absolutely imperative that for a project to be successful, it has to meet the needs of the agency as well as be supported by those who will be paying for it. They are not separate. We have not done a good job of involving citizens in the process. I don’t believe we have made the case to show the need for an approximately $33 million city campus, and we have not yet given appropriate consideration to the alternative of modifying or adding to the existing City Hall campus to provide adequately for our police facilities and future city government needs.

We have issues that need to be addressed, but I do not believe the options have been fully explored. Residents are not opposed to addressing problems, but they want to be part of the solution, not just told what the solution is—particularly if they see other options without good information showing why those options are not viable. We need to pause the current project and put together a citizen advisory committee to review where we are and the information we have, and make a recommendation to the Council. The current project has been staff- and councilmember-driven without sufficient community involvement, and residents are the ones paying for it. We can all make better decisions with good involvement. I think the recent cell tower process at Wentworth Park shows that we, the Council, don’t know everything. 

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?

John Maczko: The ICE operations that happened earlier this year were a complete failure. That was clearly the responsibility of the enforcing agency, in this case the federal government. As a society, it is important that we have rules and laws that govern what is important to us. Laws are made through the legislative process, enforced by the executive branch and interpreted by the judiciary.

As Mendota Heights Police Chief McCarthy explained on February 4, Mendota Heights police, like most local police departments, are not authorized to enforce federal civil immigration law. She also explained that local police cannot interfere with lawful federal operations. She emphasized that residents should continue to call police when they need assistance and that the department’s responsibility is to protect public safety.

Under the City’s policy, the Mendota Heights Police Department focuses on public safety and enforcement of state law and local ordinances. The City does not engage in federal civil immigration enforcement and places limits on cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

I supported Mendota Heights Police Department Policy 412 regarding immigration violations on February 4, 2026, when the City Council adopted Resolution 2026-11 reaffirming our city’s existing policy on immigration. I believe that the Police Department did an excellent job following it in a difficult time.

Stephanie Levine: Mendota Heights is “one bridge away” from two downtowns and the Whipple building is just across the Mendota Bridge.  Public safety was our priority, and the Mendota Heights Police Department (MHPD) took the lead, focusing on safety, communication and education.

When ICE operations impacted our community, the city was not given advance notice.  Information often came from bystanders, 911 calls or those directly impacted. Despite the uncertainty, our Police Chief and her staff led with skill and compassion.  Mendota Heights has a strong tradition of community policing, and I believe that trust paid off. I am so thankful for our police officers and first responders.

The city also helped with meal distribution and food collection and provided funding to our schools to support families.  When residents asked how they could help, MHPD provided guidance through a City Council presentation and public information meetings. 

Predicting a crisis is impossible, preparing for one is not. I was a new mayor during the George Floyd murder and a and a seasoned mayor during the ICE operations.  The lesson is clear: we need highly trained staff who act with integrity and compassion.  We need clear processes and policies.  We need relationships with schools, businesses and community partners before a crisis occurs.

I am proud of how Mendota Heights responded, and we should continue strengthening that model.

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?

Stephanie Levine: Thanks for the question!  People sometimes assume the council and I run the city, and I’m glad to clarify.  We are elected to set city policy, budgets and determine the strategic direction of the city.   We do not police, fight fires or plow.  We hire the city administrator, who hires the professionals to execute the community’s vision.

I rate her performance based on outcomes: Is the city operating effectively and financially sound? Is she growing in her role? Is she responsive to Council and community concerns?  Is city hall a positive workplace?

By those measures, she gets a high rating.

Our staff is “able and stable”. When many communities struggle to recruit and retain employees, Mendota Heights boasts outstanding police officers, staff and a rock-star police chief.  Our volunteer paid-on-call Fire Department continues to thrive when many are becoming full-time. We have a AAA bond rating, consistently strong financial audits, and one of the lowest tax rates in the county.  None of this happens by accident.

Cheryl brings expertise in housing, advocacy and we benefit from her role as chair of the Noise Oversight Committee at the MSP Airport.

She responds promptly to Council and residents, and our community regularly shares positive feedback.  Culture can be difficult to measure, but when you call City Hall, someone answers – and when you walk in the door, you’re greeted with a friendly smile.

And what other city gives kids “snackle boxes”?  If you don’t know what that is, ask Cheryl!

John Maczko: Mendota Heights operates under the statutory Plan A form of government, which is the most common in Minnesota. Under this form of government, the city administrator is appointed by the Council, and administrative duties are shared by the Council and the administrator. Some duties are delegated, such as overseeing daily operations and implementing Council policy, while others are retained by the Council, such as employee hiring and appointments. This differs from West Saint Paul’s charter-based council-manager form of government, which gives its city manager greater responsibility for running the city.

As to rating the city administrator, I don’t feel it is appropriate to comment, good or bad, in this forum. The City Council collaboratively provides feedback in annual performance reviews. Although an evaluation may be conducted in a closed meeting, the Council must summarize its conclusions at its next open meeting.

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?

John Maczko: The current Mendota Heights proposed budget will be presented on September 15. There has been a lot of discussion during the process, and we have worked hard to keep costs down in light of the current situation. I support the budget being proposed and look forward to residents’ thoughts. I would also like to direct you back to the first question and my second point about fiscal responsibility. I believe that residents understand that there are needs a city has to meet: police and fire protection, street maintenance, sewer and water services, and parks. When times get tight, it is the area of wants that often comes into question. People sometimes disagree on what is a want versus a need. Some feel paying more is not a problem for them, while others really can’t afford it. The City Council needs to weigh all input in making its decisions. We need to be careful that we are not making Mendota Heights unaffordable by taxing longtime residents out of their homes and making affordable homes unaffordable.

Stephanie Levine: Mendota Heights boasts low taxes, high property values and excellent city services.  In 2027, taxes will still be considerably lower than surrounding cities, even after expected increases.  Given current economic conditions and expected tax increases at the county and school district, the City Council and staff are working hard to ease the tax burden on our residents.

Recent tax increases are no larger than in the past.  In fact, if you look back over the past 10 years, the largest increase was in 2019 (9.8%) and the smallest was in 2021 (4.3%, my first budget).  Tax increases have ranged around 5%-6% annually, and recent increases have been in line with historic averages.  About half our budget goes to public safety and about 60% of our budget is salaries and benefits.  The biggest driver of tax increases is inflation.  We have also invested in community priorities:  natural resources, park amenities, recreation programming, and more. 

We ease the property tax burden on our residents through county and state partnerships, including the two recent bonding allocations from the state – a first in Mendota Heights history.  These investments benefit our residents without increasing taxes. 

As we continue through the budgeting process, line by line, I urge residents to get involved.  Residents have direct impact on our decisions.  Some recent examples include the Cell Phone Study, Lake Augusta Outlet Study, and a National Resources Management Plan for Valley Park.  We trimmed budget items that the council felt were not necessary in 2027.

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?

• Stephanie Levine: Yes, through Libby. I used it August 25 and love historical fiction.  I downloaded Stephanie Dray’s newest novel, The Women of Chateau Lafayette. 
• John Maczko: Yes, in March to reserve audiobooks for a family trip to Florida.

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

• John Maczko: September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026: 22 Council meetings and 23 Council workshops.
• Stephanie Levine: 100%.  I’ve attended every City Council meeting since becoming mayor in 2021.

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

• Stephanie Levine: Yes.  I mentor students at Two Rivers High School.  I’m often told I “don’t look like a mayor”- which opens new possibilities for students.
• John Maczko: Other than my hours of City Council meetings and workshops, no.

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

• John Maczko: Yes, but housing affordability has no easy answer. Mendota Heights is a desirable place to live, so demand is high, keeping property values high.
• Stephanie Levine: Yes. Make it easier to update older homes, limit short-term rentals that drive up costs, and preserve Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing.

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

• Stephanie Levine: Of course! it’s the most fun part of my job as your mayor!  Favorites include Touch a Truck, Heights Fest and Music in the Park.
• John Maczko: Yes: Fire Prevention Open House, Ivy Hills Playground ribbon cutting, Night to Unite, Parks Celebration and Touch-a-Truck.

6. Do you support more pedestrian and bike access?

• John Maczko: Yes, particularly connecting neighborhoods to parks and amenities.  Dodd and Delaware are critical missing links.  The planned Dodd Road underpass will remove a large barrier.
• Stephanie Levine: Yes.  Our biggest need is along Dodd Road. Creative solutions need to be explored to improve access while preserving yards. 

7. What’s your favorite local park?

• Stephanie Levine: Marie Park. We loved our first home near the park so much that proximity to Marie was one of the criteria for our current home.
• John Maczko: Mendakota and Friendly Hills.

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

• John Maczko: This is not a priority for me. My only comment is that a flag should unite a community, not be divisive.
• Stephanie Levine: Yes

9. Who is someone that inspires you?

• Stephanie Levine: Denise from Marie Park pickleball.  After a debilitating stroke, she relearned coordination just as I was learning to play.  Evolving together was fun and inspiring.
• John Maczko: My mother and father. They taught me to never give up, to work hard, to have strong faith and that family is everything.

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

• John Maczko: I monitor social media but seldom post to the community.
• Stephanie Levine: Yes, I primarily use social media to share information with residents.  As mayor, I also must follow the Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law.

More Information

• East Metro Voter’s Guide
• Heights Highlights Fall Issue
• Town Square Television Candidate Forum (Sept. 23)

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

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