Josh Peterson
MN · Bemidji City Council Member, Ward 2
Josh Peterson is a Bemidji City Council member and the executive director of Visit Bemidji. His priorities are more housing and a bigger tax base without higher property taxes.
Where Josh Peterson stands, based on their records
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (7 support · 3 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 7 support · 3 oppose
Cast the only vote against a 7.1% preliminary city tax levy for 2027, citing rising costs for taxpayers. It passed 6-1.
September 21, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against the final 4% city tax levy increase for 2026. He said he would only back 3% or less. It passed 4-3.
December 15, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Cast the only vote against a contract of up to $552,000 with Wolf Track Energy for solar panels at four city sites. It passed 6-1.
November 17, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjimn.api.civicclerk.com
Cast the only vote against a 6% preliminary city tax levy increase for 2026. It passed 6-1.
September 22, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Seconded and voted for three pay raises for City Manager Rich Spiczka, which passed 5-1. He also voted to raise the manager's severance to six months, which passed 4-2.
May 19, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjimn.api.civicclerk.com
Voted against a 9% preliminary city tax levy increase for 2025. It passed 4-3.
September 23, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Made the motion for a 7.65% city tax levy increase for 2024, setting the levy at $8,066,295. It passed 4-3.
December 18, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against a 10.35% preliminary city tax levy increase for 2024. He said he would not back more than 9%. It passed 4-3.
September 18, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted for an 8.5% preliminary increase in the city property tax levy for 2022. It passed 5-1.
September 20, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against hiring the CSL firm for a $47,000 study of the city-owned Sanford Center arena. The hire failed 4-3.
August 16, 2021Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Track record — General
General · 15 records
Voted to have the city take over running the Sanford Center after the Legends Global contract ends in March 2027. It passed 6-1.
September 8, 2026
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against a broad, goal-based city vision statement on electric vehicles. It passed 4-3.
May 4, 2026
Source: bemidjimn.api.civicclerk.com
Voted to keep the city policy of not extending city water and sewer to areas outside Bemidji unless they join the city. It passed 5-2.
March 16, 2026
Source: bemidjimn.api.civicclerk.com
Voted against moving the Ward 1 polling place off the Bemidji State University campus. It passed 4-3.
December 15, 2025
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against a city charter change that added a section on charter violations. It failed 1-6.
June 16, 2025
Source: bemidjimn.api.civicclerk.com
Voted against a deal with MnDOT on planned Highway 197 changes, citing design and pedestrian safety. The deal failed, which pulled the city's consent for the project.
November 18, 2024
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Cast the only vote against adding a third roundabout at 23rd Street NW and Middle School Drive to a road project. It passed 6-1.
December 4, 2023
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Did not vote on extending Bemidji's 3% lodging tax because he leads Visit Bemidji. The tax passed 6-0.
September 5, 2023
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against dropping a proposed city rule that limited cannabis use in public places. The council dropped it 4-3.
August 21, 2023
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against hiring the Baker Tilly firm to run the search for a new city manager. He wanted to interview the top two firms first. It passed 4-3.
June 5, 2023
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against the new city ward map at first, then voted for it when the council took it up again. It passed 6-1.
April 18, 2022
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Voted against council support for MnDOT's plan to build three roundabouts on State Highway 197. It passed 4-2.
December 20, 2021
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Cast the only vote against a new city rule that bans drilling new private irrigation wells. It passed 5-1.
November 30, 2020
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Won the Ward 2 special election for Bemidji City Council, beating Jaime Thibodeaux 224 to 140.
August 11, 2020
Source: bemidjipioneer.com
Was named executive director of Visit Bemidji, the area's tourism bureau. Before that he worked at Lakeland News.
July 27, 2019
Source: lptv.org
Past race Josh Peterson ran in:
- City Council Member Ward 2 · November 3, 2026 · Bemidji city, Minnesota · incumbent