Westgaard announces he won't seek re-election to Elk River City Council

Ward 2 Elk River City Council Member Matthew Westgaard announced Monday night at the council’s April 1 regular meeting he will not be seeking re-election this fall.

“I wanted all of you to know, first and foremost, from me, it’s an election year and I will not be seeking re-election,” he told fellow council members and staff. “It has been 16 years on the council, 20 years total including planning commission. I have enjoyed my time. It’s not that I dislike it, but I also do think there comes a time where there needs to be some new voices and opinions. It’s a good time in my career and personal life and everything else to step aside and step down. I wanted you to know first.”

Westgaard said he has had lots of conversations with people over the years who are interested, and he wanted to give residents of Ward 2 a heads up and “not wait until the last minute and then say I am not going to run.”

Filings open on May 21.