Where do the candidates stand: Waseca City Council

There are eight candidates running for three City Council positions in Waseca.

The candidates include: incumbent Stacey Schroeder and challenger Adam Jensen in Ward 1; incumbent Gary Conrath and challenger Nick Meister in Ward 2 (challenger Marty Johnson informed the County News that he has elected to withdraw his name from the race, though his name will still appear on the ballot); incumbent Mark Christiansen and challengers Theresa Riecke, Chad Schlueter and Koby Wright in Ward 3.

The Waseca County News asked the candidates where they stand on some important local topics and issues, and their responses are recorded here. Ward 2 candidates.

Gary Conrath did not respond ahead of the publishing of this article; all candidates also had the chance to submit headshots.

How are you connected with and/or involved in the local community/communities you’d be covering, and/or what local government experience do you have?

Stacey Schroeder (Ward 1)

Age: 49

Occupation: Independent Cosmetologist at Kroeger’s Koncept Salon in Waseca

Education: WHS class of 1993 Cosmetology Training Center, Mankato

As a council member for the past two years, I have actively engaged with local governance, contributing to policy-making and community initiatives. My 15 years of past service in the police reserves have deepened my understanding of public safety and community needs. Additionally, my involvement with Community Education Advisory Council, Airport Board, Discover Waseca Tourism and Lakes Association has equipped me with insights into local initiatives and community development. This extensive experience enables me to effectively represent and advocate for the needs of our residents, ensuring their voices are heard and valued in local decision-making processes.

Adam Jensen (Ward 1)

Age: 40

Occupation: Service Sales Representative Cintas Corp

Education: High School

I have four active children in my care enrolled in each public school Waseca offers. I have a career spanning 16 years, during that time I have negotiated countless multi-year city and municipal bids for contracted services to the betterment of both city/taxpayer and vendor alike. I have great understanding in working within city budget margins while also maximizing benefits to day to day operations.

Nick Meister (Ward 2)

Age: 45

Occupation: Construction Contractor

Education: Waseca High School

I was born here in Waseca and have lived here most of my life. I’ve done a good amount of construction work in our community over the years. I have three kids in hockey which has me involved in the community. I’ve not had the chance to be a part of local government but realized now is the perfect opportunity to get out and use my voice. I see what our community needs and have a different outlook than most. I have a good way of opening others eyes to show them a different perspective. I see the bigger picture.

Mark Christiansen (Ward 3)

Age: 54

Occupation: Supply Chain Specialist at Hiniker Co.

Education: B.S. in Finance and accounting from Mankato State University

In 100 words or less, how are you connected with and/or involved in the local community/communities you’d be covering, and/or what local government experience do you have?

As the current Waseca City Council Ward 3 Councilor, I have served on many committees throughout the city. I have volunteered at my church, the Waseca Marching Jays, Waseca Boy Scout Troop 85 and am the current Treasurer of the Waseca Arts Council. My position as council member has also carried over to city committees from Planning commission to the EDA to a current Park Board committee member.

Theresa Riecke (Ward 3)

Age: 52

Occupation: Certificate Center Representative

Education: AAS in Veterinary Technology; BA in Elementary Education; Masters in Special Education

My deep roots in the Waseca community stretch back generations, as my ancestors first arrived in May of 1856. After growing up, graduating from high school and college, I left for a time. The pull of Waseca proved too strong and I returned in 2004 to make this my home. I have a personal, lifelong connection to Waseca that deepens by commitment to serving and bettering this community.

Chad Schlueter (Ward 3)

I have lived in the city of Waseca for the past 10 years. I have two children that attend Waseca public schools, my son who is in eighth grade and daughter who just started kindergarten. Both of my children are active in their respective sports: Hockey, Football and Gymnastics. My wife has worked for MNPrairie County Alliance for 8 years now. I served in the Army for eight years and now in Law Enforcement for the past 10 years with 8 of those years as a sworn peace officer.

Koby Wright (Ward 3)

Age: 30

Occupation: Business owner

Education: WHS + self-education

I’ve lived in Waseca for the better part of 15 years, planting my roots here after graduating from WHS in 2012. My involvement in the community is more monetary than hands on due to my busy schedule. I donate to various local organizations and programs which I’d like to keep private as I don’t do it for recognition. I have no formal government experience but as an entrepreneur I know how to work a budget and plan for the future.

Why are you running, and what are the most significant issues and/or topics you want to address?

Schroeder: I am running again as to continue to address key issues pivotal for Waseca’s growth, particularly expanding housing to align with the Waseca Vision 2030 and the needs identified by potential industrial partners. We must attract and retain young families and talented individuals to revitalize our community and spur economic growth after two decades of stagnation. Furthermore, I advocate for establishing a joint government commission to ensure our local initiatives remain front and center with our congressional leaders. This collaboration can foster strategic partnerships, boost funding, and promote policies that support sustainable development, thereby enhancing Waseca’s future viability and livability. My commitment is to unite our efforts toward creating a thriving, inclusive city that appeals to families and businesses alike.

Jensen: I am running, because I want to be more active in our community. I would like the opportunity to take my skill set and common sense approaches and applying them to short and long term goals of our city. I aspire to assist in helping our city grow while finding ways to mitigate our tax burden, improve our way of life, and also to help make the best expense savings decisions for tax payers of Waseca.

Meister: I have a different outlook and perspective on how to grow the community. With many years of building on a larger scale, I see the needs of this community and others around us. We need more housing and businesses in our community. We need this town to grow in order to sustain what we currently have. We keep going backwards. Things need to change.

Christiansen: I am a long-term resident of the city of Waseca. I was raised here, graduated high school, got married and raised my family. Most of my professional career I have worked in Waseca before taking on new opportunities. I am running for the simple reason that I am truly invested in this community and I want to make it a better place for all Waseca residents. Waseca is a great place to live and raise a family. Growth and infrastructure are the two most discussed topics at the city level other than taxes. Waseca needs to increase population for schools, businesses and the quality of life opportunities that surround us.

Riecke: To prioritize the critical issue of housing and retail revitalization in our community. The lack of affordable, accessible housing options has become a growing concern, pricing out many families and individuals. Simultaneously, our once-vibrant commercial districts have seen a steady decline, with empty storefronts and a lack of thriving local businesses. These intertwined problems demand comprehensive, thoughtful solutions. I believe we need new mixed-income housing developments, including options for both homeownership and quality rental units. Simultaneously, I’ll push for programs and policies to breathe new life into commercial corridors. Addressing the interrelated challenges of housing affordability and commercial vitality is crucial for the long-term health and prosperity of our community. The time for bold action is now, and I’m ready to lead the charge.

Schlueter: I am running for City Council, because I see the need for someone who will listen to their constituents. I see the need for someone to represent Ward 3 with passion, who treats their constituents with respect and who will fight and be a voice for what they want. As I have gotten to know more about the community members that live in Ward 3, the one thing I hear the most about is the Gaiter Lake development project. I also want to address the issues that our small businesses are facing: how we as a city can ensure that our local businesses thrive and grow and in turn bring in visitors to our city.

Wright: For the last 15 years I’ve slowly watched this town lose everything that made me want to live here. Poor management and short sighted decisions have resulted in loss of local jobs and retailers. I have many friends and family whom live in Waseca and are having children. I’d like them to grow up in a safe and flourishing environment much like we did when I was growing up.

What is your position on balancing the need to minimize tax increases with the need for services, development projects, road maintenance, etc.?

Schroeder: I believe in a balanced approach that prioritizes fiscal responsibility while addressing the community’s needs for essential services, infrastructure, and development projects. Minimizing tax increases is crucial for residents’ financial well-being, yet we cannot compromise on critical services like public safety, economic development, and infrastructure maintenance. To achieve this balance, we should focus on efficient budget management, exploring alternative funding sources, and incentivizing economic development that expands our tax base without burdening residents. By fostering collaboration with our congressional leaders and leveraging grants for key projects, we can enhance our community’s infrastructure while keeping tax increases at a minimum. Ultimately, a strategic approach ensures sustainability and growth, benefiting both present and future residents of Waseca.

Jensen: I think that viewing each topic with the lens of effectiveness, future growth and taxpayer burden should be top priority in most choices we make as council members. Balance will always be the most important rule I operate under.

Meister: We need to bring more people/homes and businesses to our community. Starting with younger families. We need to have a solid foundation and goals for how and what we are going to do in order to grow. We have a beautiful community and school system. We need others to see what we can offer them.

Christiansen: Taxes are necessary to provide services and projects throughout Waseca. Our staff has invested time and knowledge to showcase what Waseca has to offer, from the pool to the parks to our public safety department. Growth In housing and business will provide additional tax revenue to help offset increases in expenses. Our local government aid is a large revenue source for the city and any decrease in this revenue will affect the budget. Looking for grants and other revenue sources are a daily occurrence to help finance infrastructure and road maintenance.

Riecke: Balancing the need to minimize tax increases with the necessary funding for critical public services and infrastructure projects is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of various factors. Taxpayers understandably want to keep their tax burden as low as possible, especially in times of economic uncertainty. However, without sufficient funding, communities struggle to provide the appropriate level of services leading to deteriorating conditions and impaired economic competitiveness. Striking the right balance requires prioritizing the most critical needs and exploring alternative revenue sources. We need to carefully evaluate and identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements, and seek creative solutions to generate revenue to provide quality services without unduly burdening the taxpayers.

Schlueter: I believe that minimizing tax increases is one of the most important jobs of the City Council. We will always have projects that need to be done in the city or roads that need to be fixed — that is unavoidable. However, we need to find a way to prioritize those jobs and complete them in a way that makes the most sense and that will have the least impact on our taxpayers.

Wright: Raising taxes is an absolute non-starter for me. The only thing the tax dollars should be spent on is updating infrastructure with future expansion in mind and the economic expansion of the city (i.e. purchasing land for single-family housing developments, expanding city limits, etc.).

What kind of growth (industrial, retail, housing, etc.), if any, do you feel the city needs? What can the council do to help achieve it?

Schroeder: I believe the city needs an approach to growth that includes sustainable housing development, diverse retail options, and targeted industrial expansion. Housing is essential to accommodate a growing population while retail supports local businesses and creates jobs. Industrial growth can attract investment and diversify the economy, ensuring long-term stability. The council can facilitate this by creating zoning policies that encourage mixed-use development, offering incentives for businesses to set up shop, and simplifying the permitting process to reduce any barriers. Additionally, investing in infrastructure improvements and promoting Waseca as a business-friendly community through marketing initiatives can stimulate interest from developers and entrepreneurs. Engaging with residents and stakeholders in planning processes will also ensure that growth aligns with community needs and values.

Jensen: I believe expanding in all areas is essential to promote growth for our city. When common sense proposals are presented to the city ensuring that the council maintains balance and does what’s needed to keep it fair for the taxpayers will be a must.

Meister: We need all of the above. We don’t need to grow outside of our means but we need to grow to lessen the tax strain on the community. We need to increase our population and better our infrastructure in order to bring larger businesses to town. Which would lessen taxes for our individual households.

Christiansen: Growth for housing is currently the most essential need for Waseca. As people have mentioned, if you are a bedroom community, you still need bedrooms. With job creation behind housing, it will give employers the chance for employees to live in Waseca. Not all businesses have brick and mortar as broadband internet gives people the opportunity to work from home. The city should be the first one to the table to invest in itself. Other entities will not be as willing to invest in Waseca if the city, county, or school are not willing to invest in itself.

Riecke: The city would greatly benefit from a strategic focus on revitalizing the downtown area and addressing the pressing need for more affordable housing options. These should be priorities for the council and work to implement policies and incentives to drive the desired growth and development. For downtown, attracting new growth through tax breaks, zoning changes and other incentives to make it more appealing to open business downtown. For housing, partnering with non-profit organizations and private developers to facilitate the construction of new affordable housing developments in strategic locations around the city. This multi-pronged approach addresses both issues, and the council can help spur the kind of balanced, sustainable growth to make Waseca an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.

Schlueter: I would like to see our city bring in more jobs. Now that Itron has closed and it being one of the largest employers for the city, we will need to actively search for a company to come in and fill that void. I also see and have heard from many people that there is a need for a grocery store. I am looking forward to working with the other council members to see what opportunities exist for the residents of Waseca.

Wright: The city needs to grow. Not just in population but in job opportunities. I’d like to give a sliding scale tax break for businesses that build/move into Waseca. The more full-time jobs they offer, the larger and longer their tax break will be. I’d also like to give tax breaks to any family that wants to build a new home in Waseca. Hopefully if we can bring big business back and increase the population, we can get an actual grocery store back.