Shaun C. Palmer
MN · Rochester City Council Member, Ward 5
Rochester City Council member and retired City of Rochester building inspector. He is a past chairman of the Olmsted County Environmental Commission.
Where Shaun C. Palmer stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Social Programs and Welfare (2 records), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Opposes
Housing Affordability (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (3 support · 2 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 support · 2 oppose
Moved five cuts to the 2026 city budget, such as not funding a $153,000 ADA coordinator job. All five failed. He then cast the only vote against the final budget, which passed 6-1.
December 1, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Moved to spend up to $75,000 from the contingency fund to repair the Cook Park pickleball courts, matched by a local pickleball group. It passed 5-2.
June 16, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Moved to cut the City Council travel budget in half, saving $15,034.15; it passed 4-3. He also moved to cut council pay in half, which failed 0-7.
September 9, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Moved to spend up to $50,000 from the contingency fund on weekend open gym time for youth with Rochester Public Schools. It passed 5-1, and the mayor later vetoed it.
May 15, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Cast the only vote against spending $100,000 on the First Homes community land trust home program and $15,000 on a housing study update. It passed 6-1.
July 8, 2019Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: rochestercitymn.iqm2.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Moved to create a city ordinance banning camping on city property and streets and letting police enforce it. The motion passed 4-3.
February 5, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 oppose
Cast the only vote against spending $100,000 on the First Homes community land trust home program and $15,000 on a housing study update. It passed 6-1.
July 8, 2019Opposes Housing Affordability
Source: rochestercitymn.iqm2.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 2 support
Moved to override the mayor's veto of $20,000 for Salvation Army security and rental help. The vote was 4-3, short of the supermajority needed, so it failed.
December 22, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Moved to spend up to $50,000 from the contingency fund on weekend open gym time for youth with Rochester Public Schools. It passed 5-1, and the mayor later vetoed it.
May 15, 2023Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Moved to spend up to $75,000 from the contingency fund to repair the Cook Park pickleball courts, matched by a local pickleball group. It passed 5-2.
June 16, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Track record — General
General · 10 records
Voted against having the city attorney help with court briefs about local effects of federal immigration enforcement. The council approved it 4-3.
February 2, 2026
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Moved to remove five downtown buildings on South Broadway from the historic landmark district due to economic hardship. The motion failed 2-5.
May 5, 2025
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Cast the only vote against the city joining the Any Path Home program and drafting its charter agreement. It passed 6-1.
April 7, 2025
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Walked out of a Rochester City Council president candidate forum. He said his opponent Randy Schubring's remarks about him were name calling.
September 26, 2024
Source: postbulletin.com
Cast the only vote against adopting the city's Urban Forest Master Plan. It passed 6-1.
November 20, 2023
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Moved to change 2024 federal block grant funding: more for the Salvation Army and a sports mentorship group, and less for the Warming Center. It passed 4-3.
October 2, 2023
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Moved to remove bike lanes on Center Street downtown and add parking meters; it failed 2-5. He also cast the only vote against creating a city Sustainability and Resiliency Commission.
May 1, 2023
Source: rochestermn.granicus.com
Voted against the city's 2022 legislative priorities, which included federal funding requests such as job training for BIPOC women. They passed 4-3.
October 4, 2021
Source: rochestercitymn.iqm2.com
Moved to remove the prevailing wage rule from the city's tax increment financing policy, but no one seconded it. He then cast the only vote against the updated policy, which passed 6-1.
March 2, 2020
Source: rochestercitymn.iqm2.com
Cast the only vote against the city's operating agreement with EDG to run the historic Chateau Theatre. It passed 6-1.
August 19, 2019
Source: rochestercitymn.iqm2.com
Past race Shaun C. Palmer ran in:
- City of Rochester City Council Member, Ward 5 · November 3, 2026 · Rochester city, Minnesota · incumbent