Meet the Candidates: Chanhassen City Council

Four candidates are vying for two seats on the Chanhassen City Council: Josh Kimber, Nora Nashawaty, Haley Pemrick Schubert, and Andrew E. Soudbash.

Each candidate in contested races was asked the same set of questions by the Patriot, and were asked to limit their responses to 100 words or less. Unedited responses from the candidates can be found below.

Early voting in Minnesota opened on Sept. 20, and Election Day is Nov. 5. Find your local polling place online at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

Question 1: What prompted you seek election (or re-election) to office?

Josh Kimber: I am seeking re-election to continue building on the progress we’ve made in making Chanhassen a stronger, more vibrant community. My focus is on maintaining our excellent quality of life, supporting local businesses, and ensuring thoughtful development that aligns with our values. I’m committed to fostering a community where residents feel connected and engaged, and where families and businesses can thrive. Serving on the council has been a privilege, and I believe there is more to do to keep Chanhassen moving forward in a positive direction. It would be an honor to continue working for our community’s future.

Nora Nashawaty: My decision to run for City Council started with my concern that the right turn lane outside of my neighborhood was being used illegally and dangerously as a passing lane. Learning that there are ways to address this through the City opened my eyes to the ability of Council to address issues that matter to many of us: housing accessibility and affordability, safety, walkability, and sustainability in our developments. I believe that the City Council needs to engage better with the community so that resident concerns are acknowledged during Council decision-making, and I plan to bring that to Council.

Haley Pemrick Schubert: The Chanhassen community is part of who I am as a lifelong resident. Chanhassen continues to see a lot of growth and I want to continue supporting small, locally owned businesses in our town to make it a place people want to live and visit. We have made strides in the last few years to make the city more business friendly through different council decisions and actions. I’d like to keep the momentum of strategic growth and building moving forward as we review the comprehensive plan and zoning throughout the city as a whole, not just the downtown.

Andrew E. Soudbash: As someone who is still relatively in his youth, I wish to inspire not only my peers but also my students by showing them that not only do their voices matter but they too can make a difference just by standing up for what they believe in. after having many fellow residents of Chanhassen bringing me their grievances of our current administration I felt I had to do something by bringing back the people voice. After all, if you can do something to help, why wouldn’t you?

Question 2: What is your long-term vision for the community?

Kimber: My long-term vision for Chanhassen is to build a strong community through smart development while maintaining fiscal responsibility. I want to preserve the small-town charm that makes our city special, while ensuring we grow in a way that benefits both current and future residents. This means investing in infrastructure, parks, and public safety, supporting local businesses, and carefully managing our budget to keep taxes reasonable. By fostering thoughtful growth and protecting our community’s values, we can ensure Chanhassen remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family for generations to come.

Nashawaty: I dream of a more inclusive, vibrant Chanhassen as soon as the next few years. I see the plans of our City’s Strategic Plan for a “Community for a Lifetime,” and it is my goal to bring that to fruition. I envision a City that will support residents in all walks of life, and give them the opportunity to thrive. More concretely, I hope to see a community center, housing, and recreation options that meets resident needs, with continued growth in local businesses to meet the needs of the growing population.

Pemrick Schubert: My vision is for the city to have a more resident friendly and active downtown area. I’d like to see a more active and engaged citizenry across the board to create a greater feel of community and living out being a “Community for Life”. Having lived here my whole life, even with all the change, I am excited to live out this mantra and raise my children here to have the same passion for this community and serving it. I also envision continued improved strategy when it comes to infrastructure maintenance and replacement as it’s been a focus of conversation at council.

Soudbash: I want to bring back the people's voices by making the council chambers more inviting for people to air their grievances and express their desires for change. In doing the prior we can build a city that is more structured to the community we serve. Ultimately, I wish to be the champion of the people and inspire future generations of council members to be fiscally responsible and have good moral standing among their constituents, after all, they are here to serve the community, not themselves.

Question 3: If elected, how would you handle balancing economic development with maintaining a sense of community?

Kimber: Balancing economic development with maintaining Chanhassen’s sense of community is a challenge I’ve successfully addressed during my time on council. We’ve consistently worked with developers to ensure their proposals align with the character of our city by requesting thoughtful changes that benefit both residents and small businesses. By fostering strong relationships with developers, we can guide projects that enhance our community without compromising its unique charm. My focus remains on smart growth that respects Chanhassen’s values while promoting economic vitality, ensuring that development serves the best interests of our residents now and in the future.

Nashawaty: Chanhassen’s sense of community is based in the intimate relationships we build with neighbors and businesses. As this city expands, we should support efforts to increase opportunities for engagement between residents, organizations, and businesses, such as during city-wide celebrations and through local organizations. Some programs may benefit from more widespread recognition or small amounts of funding. I love meeting merchants at the Farmer’s Market and building relationships at Community of Belonging’s events, and would love to see both thrive. We should also support efforts for the new local newspaper, as it is a primary source of information for many residents.

Pemrick Schubert: Chanhassen is in a fun position now since we still have new growth and development as we build out the remaining land available and, at the same time, are starting to move towards re-development of other areas. We are lucky to have many unique restaurants and small businesses here. With the re-development, we are focusing on making the city more walking friendly and ensuring we have spaces for more retail and restaurants on ground level to help promote that. The new civic campus will also create a centralized meeting location for residents of all ages to gather and grow the sense of community.

Soudbash: This question has been bouncing around a lot lately. As someone who teaches Environmental Science, I feel and am continuing my education in Business I am uniquely qualified to handle both tasks. By looking at how construction can affect the local economy and property value, as well as balancing visual impairment caused by construction, I can maximize efficiency and keep our city beautiful! In simpler terms, I’m not going to clear-cut areas like our prior administration and be more fiscally responsible. In doing this, Chanhassen will continue being a great place to live for generations.

Question 4: What do you believe is the best way to address aging infrastructure and acquiring the funding to replace/update that infrastructure?

Kimber: The best way to address aging infrastructure is through proactive planning and prioritization. We must continually assess city assets and ensure a plan is in place to maintain or replace them as needed. For roads, the past council made a wise decision by establishing a franchise fee for road replacement. While it may not be perfect for everyone, the city remains responsive to resident feedback and makes adjustments. In regards to the Rec Center, its current limitations led to a proposal for a new facility, funded through a local option sales tax, reducing the financial burden on residents.

Nashawaty: Prioritizing infrastructure updates and community engagement are key to addressing aging infrastructure. Infrastructure updates require funding, and residents are rightfully worried when it may increase their taxes. Currently in Chanhassen, home assessments are part of a proportional sharing system: repairs are paid for in part by taxes and in part by those who benefit from the specific improvement through assessments. This process works partly because it engages impacted homeowners. There is room for improvement in the process - what are the mechanisms by which the City can make exceptions for those who can’t afford improvements but truly need them?

Pemrick Schubert: Part of what makes Chanhassen a desirable place to live is the safety of our neighborhoods, the cleanliness of our city, and the beautiful neighborhood and local parks we have throughout. We strive to strategically finance those services and amenities at a level the residents have come to expect while still being fiscally responsible. All capital and department budgets plan 5 years out and we look at how best to prioritize all spending across a wider time frame instead of each year as it comes to help balance and keep the budget steadier and prevent big swings one way or another from year to year.

Soudbash: In the past Chanhassen has scheduled all its infrastructure repairs on election years to bolster support for incumbents on the council; however, I believe this is insulting to the average citizen. Seeing as every person who lives in this city has the right to roads and infrastructure that works. My goal is by being more fiscally responsible, by being less political and more community orientated we can spread the construction and costs out more improving overall infrastructure and improving financial responsibility in in our city.

Question 5: What in your background/experience best qualifies you for office?

Kimber: My experience as a small business owner and working with small and medium-sized businesses has given me a deep understanding of managing limited budgets while achieving significant results. This perspective allows me to approach city matters with fiscal responsibility and a focus on impact. Additionally, my time on the council has provided valuable insight into how to navigate complex issues and make informed decisions that benefit residents. By applying what I’ve learned from past projects and proposals, I’m committed to ensuring that future developments are fair, balanced, and aligned with Chanhassen’s needs and values.

Nashawaty: I’ve never been one to sit back when I see a need: I’ve spent the last fifteen years running support and advocacy organizations, even on a national level. I know how to manage budgets in the hundreds of thousands, set and meet organizational goals, and how to develop teams to their highest potential. Due to my science background, I know how to analyze data to make informed decisions. Most importantly, I know how to listen and engage - which I do every day when I counsel patients - and I plan to bring that to Chanhassen City Council.

Pemrick Schubert: I have 4 years experience in this role as well as serving 2 years on the Chanhassen Parks and Rec Commission prior to that. My record shows that I listen to all sides as well as look at potential long term affects prior to making any decisions. Working in manufacturing also requires a unique lens for creative cost cutting, driving efficiencies, and reducing waste which has helped me with discussions and decision making the last 4 years on City Council. I have also been an active Rotarian in Chanhassen for the last 14 years.

Soudbash: I have been working in Environmental Education for the past 3 years. I have learned a lot about how to listen to my students take what they say and bring their inspirations into my lessons. By listening to those around you can build a community that is better suited towards everyone. My promises to the citizens of Chanhassen are as follows: I promise to be your champion and bring what you want to the council, and I promise to listen to what you have to say. I promise to be a friend in the council everyone can talk to.