Jake Benson
MN · Proctor City Council Member, At-Large
Proctor City Council member, former mayor and owner of The Floodwood Forum newspaper. His priorities are economic growth through easier permits and grants for infrastructure, and giving police and fire crews the gear and training they need.
Where Jake Benson stands, based on their records
Supports
Government Efficiency (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Public Infrastructure (3 records)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Made the motion to set up a city performance measurement system with a resident survey. It failed 1-4, with only his yes vote.
April 1, 2019Supports Government Efficiency
Source: web.archive.org
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 1 oppose
Made the motion to raise the city's yearly firefighter retirement fund contribution to $3,600. It failed 1-4; a smaller raise to $3,000 passed.
September 3, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: web.archive.org
Backed a heating and cooling maintenance contract with Honeywell, which failed 2-3. He then voted against the pricier Stack Brothers contract, which passed 3-2.
September 5, 2017Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: web.archive.org
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Pushed for officer training for the school resource officer job and seconded the motion to keep negotiating that contract with the school district. It passed 4-0.
July 6, 2020Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: web.archive.org
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
Testified to a Minnesota House committee for HF 3669, a water and sewer funding bill for Floodwood, as owner of the Floodwood Forum newspaper.
April 2, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: house.mn.gov
Urged the council to seek state bonding for the Munger Trail spur and other local projects, and seconded the trail bonding resolution. It passed.
June 5, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: web.archive.org
Made the motion to ask the state for capital money for a multi-purpose event center in Proctor. It passed 3-2.
January 5, 2015Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: web.archive.org
Track record — General
General · 8 records
Seconded and voted for Proctor's ordinance regulating cannabis businesses. It passed with all voting yes.
January 6, 2025
Source: proctormn.gov
Seconded the motion to study a city-owned cannabis store and was named to that committee. He also moved to delay the sales tax ballot wording two weeks; it passed.
April 1, 2024
Source: web.archive.org
Wrote to the Minnesota House redistricting committee asking that Proctor stay out of a Duluth legislative district.
September 30, 2021
Source: house.mn.gov
Cast the lone vote against the city's short-term vacation rental ordinance. It passed 4-1.
December 16, 2019
Source: web.archive.org
Proposed a phone-in sign-up for public comment and seconded a motion to draft comment rules, which passed 3-2. His motion to review a public decorum rule failed 2-3.
August 5, 2019
Source: web.archive.org
Won reelection to the Proctor City Council with 25% of the vote in a multi-seat race.
November 6, 2018
Source: duluthnewstribune.com
Made the motion asking St. Louis County to delay selling tax-forfeited land until a joint meeting with the city. It failed 2-3.
August 7, 2017
Source: web.archive.org
Said the city utility commission broke state law by holding an illegal meeting, then abstained as the council censured it 4-1.
May 2, 2016
Source: web.archive.org
Past race Jake Benson ran in:
- City Council Member At-Large · November 3, 2026 · Proctor city, Minnesota · incumbent