Shaun Carlson
MN · Detroit Lakes City Council Member, Ward 1
Detroit Lakes Ward 1 council member and Planning Commission chair who directs enterprise IT at Arvig and retired from the North Dakota Air National Guard. Carlson wants to keep the tax levy low and use grants to fix streets and utilities.
Where Shaun Carlson stands, based on their records
Supports
Housing Affordability (3 records), Public Infrastructure (3 records)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (3 records)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 3 oppose
Seconded and voted to create a tax increment financing (TIF) district to help build the Lincoln Apartments project. It passed with no votes against.
April 14, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted with every council member present to adopt the 2025 city budget of $27,041,673 and a property tax levy of $8,698,643, up 7.97% from the year before.
December 10, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted for 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. He noted it did not commit the city to the project. It passed with one no vote.
January 26, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 3 support
Seconded and voted to create a tax increment financing (TIF) district to help build the Lincoln Apartments project. It passed with no votes against.
April 14, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Moved to adopt Ordinance 546, rezoning 204 and 220 Willow Street East from one- and two-family homes to apartments (Circle North Properties). It passed with no votes against.
December 9, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Seconded and voted to annex 78.67 acres at 13698 270th Avenue and zone part of it for apartments (Gehrig Properties). It passed 5-3 after he said the city had only about 14 open apartments.
July 9, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
Voted for a city resolution supporting a new state-run passenger train between Saint Paul and Fargo. It passed with Boeke voting no.
January 13, 2026Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Seconded and voted for a study of a street-only rebuild in the Willow Springs neighborhood, which residents petitioned for without city sewer and water. It passed with one no vote.
April 11, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted for 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. He noted it did not commit the city to the project. It passed with one no vote.
January 26, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Track record — General
General · 12 records
Moved to give the owner of a nuisance property at 1118 Wilson Avenue until July 31, 2026 to clean it up. The extension passed with Zeman voting no.
June 9, 2026
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Moved to delay the Ten Commandments monument vote until the public had spoken, then voted to place it along Larry's Pathway in City Park. It passed with Spry and Stearns voting no.
May 12, 2026
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted against letting the city liquor store apply for a state license to sell low-potency hemp edibles. He made the committee's motion but cast the only no vote; it passed.
October 14, 2025
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted for a written prayer policy for council meetings, which failed, and against ending prayer before meetings. The repeal passed with only him and Zeman voting no.
September 9, 2025
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted against undoing the city's decision to fly the official Minnesota state flag, and against flying no state flag. Both motions passed after 4-4 ties broken by the mayor.
June 10, 2025
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Seconded Alderman Deraney's motion to open City Council meetings with a prayer of three minutes or less. It passed with Stearns and Spry voting no.
May 13, 2025
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Seconded and voted for Ordinance 533, which changed how much signage is allowed on commercial property. It passed with Zeman voting no.
January 14, 2025
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Voted to deny a sign variance for the Zorbaz restaurant at 402 West Lake Drive, saying it did not meet the variance rules. The denial passed with Boeke voting no.
October 8, 2024
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Seconded and voted for 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
Introduced a resolution to deny the final plat for Pinewood Estates on Long Lake Drive because it did not match the approved preliminary plan. It passed with no votes against.
June 13, 2023
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Won the Ward 1 seat on the Detroit Lakes City Council unopposed, with 783 votes.
November 8, 2022
Source: dl-online.com
Was appointed to the Detroit Lakes Planning Commission by the City Council to finish Bruce Imholte's term.
January 12, 2021
Source: cityofdetroitlakes.com
Past race Shaun Carlson ran in:
- City Council Member Ward 1 · November 3, 2026 · Detroit Lakes city, Minnesota · incumbent