Jake Mathison
MN · Mayor of Mora, Minnesota
Mora mayor since 2023 after serving on the city council from 2019, and manager of the Paradise Theater. He has pushed for more housing and child care and for redeveloping the old high school site.
Where Jake Mathison stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Public Safety and Crime Control (2 records), Housing Affordability (1 record),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (6 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Voted for Ordinance 493, which set city rules on using cannabis in public places. It passed 3-1.
May 21, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Spoke for a city ban on smoking cannabis in public places, saying many people do not want to smell it.
April 16, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: moraminn.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 6 oppose
Voted against moving the city liquor store to a card processor that passes a 3.8% fee to card users, with a cash discount. It passed 3-2. He voted for hiring a leadership coach for council and staff, which passed 3-2.
April 16, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Voted for the 2024 city budget and a $1,770,830 tax levy, up 17.73% from 2023. Both passed 3-2.
December 19, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Seconded the 2023 city budget and tax levy, which both passed 4-1. He also moved to buy a new fire tanker truck for up to $250,000 and a used one for up to $135,000.
December 20, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Seconded the 2023 contract budget for county sheriff patrols in Mora. It passed 4-1. He said the cost increase matched inflation.
July 19, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Moved to sell $1,575,000 in city bonds to pay for the North Grove Street project. It passed 4-0. He also moved Ordinance 486, which allowed smaller home lots.
June 21, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Seconded paying the city administrator $10,000 for extra work running the city housing authority. It passed 3-2.
November 1, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 2 support
Seconded the 2023 city budget and tax levy, which both passed 4-1. He also moved to buy a new fire tanker truck for up to $250,000 and a used one for up to $135,000.
December 20, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Seconded the 2023 contract budget for county sheriff patrols in Mora. It passed 4-1. He said the cost increase matched inflation.
July 19, 2022Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Moved to sell $1,575,000 in city bonds to pay for the North Grove Street project. It passed 4-0. He also moved Ordinance 486, which allowed smaller home lots.
June 21, 2022Supports Housing Affordability
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 7 support
Voted to approve plans for the Wood Street trail despite neighbors' objections to lost trees and yards. It passed 3-1.
May 5, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Said he favored replacing Mora's 51-year-old public library. A new building was estimated at $11 million.
October 21, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: moraminn.com
Moved to ask Gov. Tim Walz for a special session to fund the Lake Mora outlet pipe and a bonding bill. It passed unanimously.
August 18, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Moved to sell $1,575,000 in city bonds to pay for the North Grove Street project. It passed 4-0. He also moved Ordinance 486, which allowed smaller home lots.
June 21, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Moved to charge $377,052 in North Grove Street project costs to nearby property owners. It passed 4-1.
May 3, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Moved a resolution backing high-speed internet for all of Kanabec County. It passed unanimously.
June 15, 2021Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Moved to apply for a state grant for a Snake River bridge trail link and a pedestrian crossing. It passed unanimously.
January 5, 2021Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Track record — General
General · 18 records
Said a Sherman Buildings housing proposal should start at the city Planning Commission before the council votes on it.
August 28, 2026
Source: moraminn.com
Voted to fly the current official Minnesota flag at city buildings, which passed 3-2. He also voted to keep the aquatic center mural with a placard, which passed 4-1.
August 18, 2026
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Said Mora should wait for state action before restricting the sale of kratom, an unregulated drug.
July 7, 2026
Source: moraminn.com
Voted against flying only the U.S. flag on city property until a flag policy existed. The motion failed.
June 16, 2026
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Voted for a policy that sends industrial park land sale money to economic development. It passed 3-2.
June 16, 2026
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Voted against ending the city administrator search and starting over with outside hiring. The motion passed 3-2.
December 16, 2025
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Proposed appointing Sam Pioske to a vacant council seat instead of holding a costly early special election. The council approved it.
February 18, 2025
Source: moraminn.com
Told Sen. Amy Klobuchar on her county tour that Mora's big problems were poverty, an aging population, and a shortage of housing.
October 23, 2024
Source: moraminn.com
Defended a plan to split the city administrator job into separate clerk, treasurer and utility manager roles, after a former administrator objected.
August 20, 2024
Source: moraminn.com
Proposed shelving the idea of a city-run cannabis store with no set date to return. The council agreed and left it out of the budget.
July 16, 2024
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Named May 10, 2024 Provider Appreciation Day in Mora to thank local child care providers.
June 19, 2024
Source: moraminn.com
Took over as Mora mayor at the first council meeting of 2023, after winning the 2022 mayor's race.
January 11, 2023
Source: moraminn.com
Moved a council resolution backing the American Legion's veterans memorial and military display project in Mora. It passed.
February 15, 2022
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Moved Ordinance 484, which changed zoning rules for home daycares to help meet the need for child care. It passed unanimously. He also moved to adopt the updated city comprehensive plan.
December 21, 2021
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Seconded hiring a community development director while the city administrator job was empty. It passed 3-2.
December 7, 2021
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Moved to drop a plan to merge the city with the Mora Housing and Redevelopment Authority. All council members voted for it.
September 21, 2021
Source: ci.mora.mn.us
Questioned a plan to allow backyard chickens in Mora. He asked who would catch hens that got loose and whether that would be a crime.
September 30, 2019
Source: moraminn.com
Won an open Mora City Council seat in the 2018 election with 1,031 votes. He was the only candidate who filed for that seat.
November 6, 2018
Source: moraminn.com
Past race Jake Mathison ran in:
- Mayor · November 3, 2026 · Mora city, Minnesota · incumbent