Matt Boeke
MN · Detroit Lakes City Council Member, Ward 3
Detroit Lakes alderman for 11 years who chairs the council's finance and safety committees and has worked at Lakeshirts for about 13 years. Boeke's top goals are a fiscally sound budget and keeping the city as affordable as possible.
Where Matt Boeke stands, based on their records
Supports
Housing Affordability (3 records), Public Infrastructure (2 records)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 3 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 3 oppose
Moved to adopt the 2026 city budget of $30,593,893 and a property tax levy of $9,260,561, up 6.46%. It passed with no votes against.
December 9, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Cast the only vote against the city's consent to the 2025 property tax levy for the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA).
September 10, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Seconded a resolution asking the Legislature to let the city hold a half-percent local sales tax, mainly to pay for a new $17.3 million Pavilion. It passed with one no vote.
January 26, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Moved to raise the 2021 preliminary tax levy increase to 7.34% instead of 6.03% to hire one more Public Works worker. His motion failed 5-3, short of the six votes needed, and he cast the only no vote on the lower levy.
September 8, 2020Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 3 support
Moved to annex 78.67 acres at 13698 270th Avenue and zone part of it for apartments (Gehrig Properties). It passed 5-3.
July 9, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted to annex 54.54 acres at 557 South Shore Drive with mixed home and business zoning, saying apartments should be spread out. It failed 2-5.
December 13, 2022Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted for a permit allowing a 22-unit twin home development at 915-1035 Village Lane (Long Pine Estates). It passed 5-4 with the mayor's vote.
May 12, 2020Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 2 support
Seconded a resolution asking the Legislature to let the city hold a half-percent local sales tax, mainly to pay for a new $17.3 million Pavilion. It passed with one no vote.
January 26, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Moved to raise the 2021 preliminary tax levy increase to 7.34% instead of 6.03% to hire one more Public Works worker. His motion failed 5-3, short of the six votes needed, and he cast the only no vote on the lower levy.
September 8, 2020Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Cast the only vote against a city resolution supporting a new state-run passenger train between Saint Paul and Fargo.
January 13, 2026
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted against a written prayer policy for City Council meetings, which failed, and for ending prayer before meetings, which passed.
September 9, 2025
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted to undo the city's decision to fly the official Minnesota state flag. The motion failed 5-3 because it needed a supermajority.
May 13, 2025
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Cast the only vote against denying a sign variance for the Zorbaz restaurant on West Lake Drive, saying the sign ordinance needs updating. The denial passed.
October 8, 2024
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Moved to adopt Ordinance 507, which created a new zoning district allowing small neighborhood businesses in residential areas. It passed with Deraney and Zeman voting no.
July 11, 2023
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Won re-election to the Ward 3 seat on the Detroit Lakes City Council with 772 votes to Jay Wold's 460.
November 8, 2022
Source: dl-online.com
Voted against rezoning 1435 and 1392 East Shore Drive for an Eventide senior living project. The rezoning failed 3-6.
November 7, 2022
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted against Ordinance 480, a rewrite of the city's fence rules, saying it made fence heights more confusing. It passed 4-3.
July 13, 2021
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted to approve a parking variance letting McDonald's at 415 Frazee Street have 45 spaces instead of 73. That motion failed 4-5, and he voted against the denial that then passed 5-4.
May 11, 2021
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Cast the only vote against extending the city's COVID-19 emergency declaration. The extension passed 7-1.
October 13, 2020
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Seconded a council resolution opposing the sale of beer, wine and liquor in grocery and convenience stores. It passed with one no vote.
February 11, 2020
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted for Ordinance 455, which updated the city's animal rules and allowed up to four backyard chickens by permit. The first reading passed 7-2.
November 12, 2019
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Past race Matt Boeke ran in:
- City Council Member Ward 3 · November 3, 2026 · Detroit Lakes city, Minnesota · incumbent