Meet The Candidates 2024

Tara Morem

Candidate for Harmony City Council

1. Tell us about yourself.

I grew up on a farm right outside Preston. After graduation from Fillmore Central, I attended NICC Calmar for cosmetology and began my career with moving to Harmony in 2006 and joining the Dacia’s On Main team. I changed careers in 2010 to better suit our young family and joined the Special Education team at Fillmore Central Schools and have been there since. My husband Kyle and I have two wonderful kids, Zachary and Kylie.

2. Why are you running for office?

Harmony is an amazing place to live. As a part of this community, as a parent, as homeowner I want to make this town the best place it can be to live. I am running to serve our neighbors in this town, work hard on their behalf and give back to the community that I’m proud to call my home.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

My goal is to help everyone in this town have a voice. I want our town to continue to grow, be a place people come to visit, live and raise their families. I will work with fellow community members and council members to represent our amazing town and continue on its growth into the future. 

 

Brad Thacher

Candidate for Harmony City Council

1. Tell us about yourself.

I’m retired, married (Ann), live in Harmony and attended Harmony elementary until sixth grade (class of ‘76).  My family has lived in and around Harmony for generations and currently own multiple properties.  I earned a BS degree in education which I used for secondary and adult education over the years.  I worked at a large corporation in various management positions for 35 years.  I have recently become a director for the Minnesota United Snowmobile Association for a number of locations in SE Minnesota interfacing with multiple state organizations.  

2. Why are you running for office?

As a retiree, I believe the residents who are also retired (almost half of us) should have a voice on the city council.  I want to serve my neighbors and will work hard on their behalf, and address their concerns quickly and effectively.  I’ve attended the majority of council meetings over the last five years, following the issues and our tax rates.  I believe together we can move Harmony forward, not only for our children, but for our grandchildren too. And that’s certainly something worth working for.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

I want to make sure the concerns of the retirees are heard and expressed to all council members.  We need to continue to work on making our town a destination through great businesses, recreational activities, agriculture and natural resources.  We need downtown revitalization, of course, but when people go home, they should feel the same sense of pride. They need to feel safe, and know they have neighbors who care, and a government that is working for them.  We need each other!

 

Mindy Albrecht-Benson

Candidate for Mayor of Lanesboro

1. Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Lanesboro, lived in the Twin Cities most of my adult life and relocated back here six years ago. I have served on the Lanesboro City Council for the past four years and am a member of the Heritage Preservation and Library Boards. I am also the council liaison to Lanesboro Public Utilities. Other community involvement includes the legion auxiliary, meals on wheels and HS volleyball officiating. Professionally, I have a background in project management and data analysis. I am an approachable, open-minded, critical thinker who focuses on making fact-based decisions.

2. Why are you running for office?

I am running for office because I think it’s important to have someone experienced as mayor. I have a solid understanding of current issues the city faces. I also think that my background of growing up here and choosing to relocate here as an adult bring two important perspectives. Lanesboro has full- and part-time residents, business owners and visitors. We have agriculture and the arts. My vision is one of a community that keeps all of these stakeholders in mind when making decisions and planning for the future.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

I would like to see more proactiveness from the council and the city. I would like to see a more actionable comprehensive plan, a solid vision for the future and creative ways to fund the Highway 250 project. I would like to see our population increase and our taxes decrease. The tax burden for our residents is high. Most importantly I would like to implement a plan for better communication with our stakeholders. We are here to represent them and want to know what they think.

 

Don Bell

Candidate for Mayor of Lanesboro

1. Tell us about yourself.

I spent my first six years of life in Lanesboro, except for the two years my family lived in Salzburg, Austria, where my father was stationed in the U.S. Army. We moved to Milwaukee after my father’s untimely death. After high school, I began a career as a technician in the recording and broadcasting industries, working in Milwaukee, New York City and Pittsburgh. I retired in 2010 and moved to Lanesboro with my second family including two young kids. My wife Anna runs our business, Loney Metal Works from our home shop. Our children, Delia and Judson attended Lanesboro Schools.

2. Why are you running for office?

I am running for mayor of Lanesboro because I feel there should be better communication with citizens about the city’s needs and obligations. We need to include residents and businesses in the planning and implementation of infrastructure updates. In the last several years we have built a sewerage plant, reconfigured our power distribution and made improvements to city streets. There is more to do. How that impacts taxation and ongoing debt obligations is important public information.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

What I would like to accomplish as mayor:

1. Improve community engagement (Especially around the Hwy. 250 project)
2. Review city infrastructure projects to date for better public understanding. 
3. Make sure planning and execution of city projects are adequately overseen.

Alicia Pearson

Candidate for Mayor of Lanesboro

1. Tell us about yourself.

I grew up poor in rural Mississippi and have worked tirelessly to lift my family out of poverty. I was the first in my family to attend college and the first to leave the state. With a deep love for education and nearly a decade of experience in clinical operations, I’ve managed complex projects, led teams of 30-plus members, and overseen multi-million dollar budgets. I’m no stranger to overcoming obstacles or putting in hard work, and I truly believe in an even brighter future for Lanesboro and the families who call it home.

2. Why are you running for office?

I’m running for mayor because I never want my family, or anyone else’s, to have to leave Lanesboro. That requires real progress. I believe my research skills and lived experience make me uniquely qualified to lead that charge. I’ve been the kid relying on free school resources, the small business owner working 100-hour weeks, and now, I’m the mother of two sons who deserve the best possible future. Revitalizing our town takes more than simply time in place. It takes new ideas and the will and understanding to make them a reality. I’m ready to make that happen.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

If elected, I aim to ensure that families can thrive using the resources available here, without needing to travel elsewhere. I will reduce unrest by fostering transparency and accountability in government so we can work together for necessary change. My focus is on creating affordable housing to attract young families, building a senior living community, and supporting local businesses. I’ll implement public performance metrics for infrastructure improvements and beyond, ensuring progress is measurable and understandable to the community. Together, we can create a future for Lanesboro that brings steady growth, meaningful opportunities, and a stronger community for everyone.

Joe Cullen

Candidate for Lanesboro City Council

1. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Joe Cullen.  I was raised in Coon Rapids, Minn. I attended Augsburg College where I earned my Bachelor’s in Mathematics and the University of MN where I earned my Master’s in Math Education. After school, I moved to my wife’s hometown of Lanesboro in 2007 when I was hired to teach math at LHS. I also coach three sports there. My wife and I have four children and we love to visit National and State Parks.

2. Why are you running for office?

I was approached and asked to consider running for city council.  I decided this was a great opportunity for me to give back to the community that I love.  Lanesboro is a great town and I want to help it run efficiently, help businesses to excel and families to thrive.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

If I get elected, I will work with the rest of the council and community to come up with a strategic approach plan for the successful execution of the Highway 250 project.  I hope to accomplish this important project with thorough planning to minimize impact to business owners and residents.  Keeping our city an affordable place to live and welcoming to business owners is also very important to me.  I hope to achieve this with careful budgeting and debt management.

 

Sarah Pieper

Candidate for Lanesboro City Council

1. Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Caledonia. My husband and I moved to Lanesboro in 1994 to start our own restaurant, The Old Village Hall, and ran it for 29 years.  I believe in being involved in our community.  I have been on various boards and committees: The Library Board, Buffalo Bill Committee, Downtown Business Committee, Girls Day Out Committee, Lanesboro ACT Board (now Chamber), and chair for an Art in the Park food booth.

I have raised three children here and volunteered for MANY different school activities, fundraisers, and chaperoning. I was Knowledge Bowl advisor for five years.

2. Why are you running for office?

I feel it is important to assist in the growth of our community by serving as an active member and to be part of the process of good government.  The role of a city council member is to serve the community.  I would engage with other committees and organizations to work together.  I believe we can better use electronic media to engage community awareness and participation in determining the best outcome for any new issues to our city and citizens as they arise.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

With the Highway 250 construction coming soon, making sure we can accomplish this as quickly and painlessly as possible through open communication and by thoroughly reviewing all aspects of the project before construction begins.

Continue supporting the independence of our public library.  We have a strong library run by an experienced and able library director with the assistance of a governing library board. I have been fighting and doing research to protect the rights of the Lanesboro Library. This will not stop if I am elected to the city council.

Improve affordable housing to attract new residents.

 

Diane Whalen

Candidate for Mayor of LeRoy

1. Tell us about yourself.

My husband Pat and I have been married 43 years. We moved to LeRoy when my husband retired 10 years ago. We chose LeRoy over other towns because of the beautiful state park, bike trail, library, indoor swimming pool and the quaint vibe we felt every time we came to town. We have six kids, 17 grandchildren and 24 greats. I have a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College and a master’s from UMN. I have been the administrator at Wildwood Grove since January 2022.  Prior to that I worked at L-O schools as ECFE Coordinator/Parent Educator and SAC Director.

2. Why are you running for office?

Moving to LeRoy was one of the best decisions we have made.  I have been so impressed with the generosity of the people in LeRoy and the surrounding area.  Not only are people generous with their money, they are generous with their time.  It would be an honor to serve as the mayor of LeRoy. My goal as mayor would be to invest in the community to make it “shine” like every person in this town shines.  We are in a perfect location to be a bedroom community that offers affordable housing and lots of amenities.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

I would like to lead a discussion with LeRoy residents to listen and learn what they want from their community and then develop a plan to prioritize and implement those things that are most important to them.  I would like to see us invest in our community the same way we take care of our private homes.  Make improvements as needed so we can “sell LeRoy” to potential new residents. There is a need for affordable housing, a daycare shortage, revitalizing downtown and working with the school to help the student performance.

 

Adam Wilder

Candidate for Mayor of Mabel

1. Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Mabel and now live and teach in town, along with my wife Heather. I teach Special Education. My wife teaches English and is also the Dean of Students. We have three children who are in elementary school at Mabel-Canton. I am a member of the Mabel Lions Club and the Mabel Fire Department. I am also the junior varsity football coach, varsity assistant coach for boys basketball, and the junior high baseball coach at Mabel-Canton.

2. Why are you running for office?

The late Jim Westby was the one who got me interested in running for city council, and I was fortunate enough to be elected mayor two years ago. In small communities, I believe one must be an active part of the community to help make progress. To make a difference and be part of this great town and community, I feel that being mayor is one way I can best accomplish this.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

There are a few items I would like to see accomplished. We have some large road and water main projects planned for the next few years. Like any small town, we need more businesses, and I want to continue trying to get more to come to town. Last spring, I was able to go up to the state capitol and speak to our local representative about the possibility of extending the bike trail through our area. I would like to continue to pursue this, as I think it would be a great asset to our community and local businesses.

 

Kelly Sand

Candidate for Mabel City Council

1. Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in the Mabel area all my life. I am married with two grown children and two granddaughters. I graduated from Mabel-Canton in 1980, worked on the family dairy farm until 1986. I then moved to town and went into the construction field and own and operate Sand’s Carwash. I joined the Mabel Fire Department in 1991, where I was the gambling manager for 24 years. For the past 10 years I have also been on the Mabel Ambulance.

2. Why are you running for office?

Running for office has been something I have thought about doing for a while. To get involved in the community and be their voice.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

To keep a good working relationship with the residents and employees of Mabel and to make the best decisions possible. I realize that there are changes that need to be made, but without a voice with another view it all stays the same.

 

 

 

Alison Leathers

Candidate for Mayor of Preston

1. Tell us about yourself.

After growing up in Preston, I obtained degrees from the University of Minnesota and Tennessee State University. While living in Nashville, Tenn., I worked in hotel sales/service and as a graduate research assistant in agricultural leadership. My family and I returned to Minnesota in 2018, and I manage the Cottage House Inn in Lanesboro, Minn. My local board service includes the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, Lanesboro Sons of Norway, Preston Area Community Foundation, and on the fundraising committee of the Preston Historical Society. Serving with others and accomplishing goals together is one of the best parts of rural life.

2. Why are you running for office?

Preston is a beautiful community, and I have a passion to improve upon its strengths and its weaknesses.  As mayor, I will strive to be a leader committed to investing in Preston’s future, to leave it a better community than when I found it. Preston is at a critical point where progress, proactiveness, and collaboration must be its main priorities. We have projects that need to be acted on to ensure sustainability and add vitality in our community. I am excited by the opportunity to work with the community and its vibrant groups to accomplish shared goals.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

One priority is investment in Preston’s future to maintain and improve our infrastructure, utilize technology, and strive for economic, social and environmental sustainability.  Secondly, I am committed to being a visible leader to represent and promote Preston and listen to residents’ ideas and feedback. We must increase transparency in city government and communicate more with our residents. Finally, we must execute our housing study plan and our master riverfront plan while collaborating more with community groups to accomplish these projects and more.

 

Kurt Reicks

Candidate for Mayor of Preston

1. Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Preston and have lived here basically my whole life. I graduated from Preston-Fountain High School. I have a business degree from Minnesota School of Business. I have been married to my wife Brenda for 36 years, have two married sons and daughter-in laws, three granddaughters with another due in March 2025. I was owner the Preston Motor Vehicle for 32 years. I have owned several properties in Preston both business and residential, still owning Golf View Mini-Storage and co-owner of Rustad Office Building.

2. Why are you running for office?

I am the incumbent mayor running for another term. The reason is that I think it is very important to have a good understanding of city government, the financial status and budgeting process of the city, which I have. I have a good working relationship with city staff and city council members, which is very important to complete daily tasks, major or minor city projects, and any issues which effect the city of Preston

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

What I will accomplish as mayor is to keep Preston going in a positive direction. As the current mayor, the city has done many great things, from the new veterans home, housing developments with housing incentives and improvements to city infrastructure.

We are planning for many big projects moving forward, which include repairing the Preston swimming pool, financing a new wastewater treatment plant, as a couple of examples. My goal is to keep working with a great city council, city staff, and the citizens of Preston. Together we can make a great city even a better place to live.

 

Bryan Wilhelmson

Candidate for Mayor  of Spring Grove

1. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Bryan Wilhelmson, but friends and family call me “Goober.” I was born and raised in Spring Grove, graduated high school in 2007 and have spent my entire life here. In 2018, I married Becky Myhre and started my earth moving company, On-Grade Excavating. I help local townships maintain their roads throughout the year with blading, brush maintenance and snowplowing in the winter. Becky and our family have grown from two to four, with our two young boys, Walter (3) and Ole (2). 

2. Why are you running for office?

The city of Spring Grove is losing touch why the city is here in the first place. We are a rural, farming community, not a tourist destination. Attracting visitors is important, but that is not what keeps Spring Grove going. We need to build our future to grow and support the rural community that surrounds us. I want to be part of the solution to help fix the child care shortage we have in our community. Formerly on the Fire Department makes me aware of the training and volunteer numbers that our community needs to keep Spring Grove safe.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

I will work with the council to see if we can make spending cuts to help the taxpayer. I understand that every household is feeling the pinch that our dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to. I feel we need to help our citizens with day-to-day life instead of a vanity project that makes Spring Grove look good to outsiders but takes money out of our young family’s checkbook without giving them more for their hard-earned dollar. I want to see Spring Grove succeed as a strong united community and not a divided one.

Luan Ruesink

Mayor of Spring Valley

1. Tell us about yourself.

I grew up on a dairy farm near Fountain, Minn., and graduated from Wykoff Public School. I hold a bachelor’s degree in paralegal Studies and diploma degree in Medical/Legal Administration. I have worked for Mayo Clinic for 28 years. I am director of Youth Education at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wykoff. I am legally ordained and perform pulpit supply ministry. I am chairperson of the Executive Board for Spring Valley Living. I have been an elected member of the Spring Valley City Council for the past six years and have served as mayor pro tem since 2021.

2. Why are you running for office?

I am running for mayor of Spring Valley so that I may continue my pursuits in Spring Valley being a prime city to live, work, own a successful business and visit. My focus is also to continue to serve as an advocate for all residents and business owners.

3. What do you hope to accomplish if you get elected?

Striving for community growth and expansion of businesses while continuing to make living, working and visiting the city affordable and welcoming has always been and will continue to be a top priority for me. I hope residents allow me the opportunity to continue to make our community a prime destination. Thank you in advance for your support. I hope to welcome your vote in November.