City Council Member At-Large
What does this office do?
- Passing city laws, called ordinances
- Approving the city budget
- Funding city services, such as police, trash, and parks
Affects: Environment and Public Health, Government Efficiency, Government Spending Reduction,
Candidates:
Nonpartisan
Benton Bakke is a North Mankato resident who has spoken at City Council meetings on data centers and regional watershed work. His priorities are accountability and transparency in city government, and protecting shared natural resources.
Nonpartisan
Bridget Johnson Quinton is a legal assistant at Birkholz Law in Mankato, where she has managed the criminal division's legal assistants. She wants to keep improving the city's parks, trails and pool and to spend tax dollars carefully.
Nonpartisan
Danielle Bollman is a North Mankato resident who has spoken at City Council meetings about data centers and the city's public works project. Her priorities are restoring the city's tree canopy and bringing in more businesses, including a grocery store.
Nonpartisan
Duane Rader is North Mankato's former water superintendent. He backed a pause on data centers but urged residents to stick to facts, noting no data center had been formally proposed.
Nonpartisan · Incumbent
Matt Peterson is a North Mankato City Council member and a vice president at Heyn Brothers Roofing with a long construction background. He wants more fiscal responsibility, putting city needs ahead of wants, and a council that welcomes residents.
Records: Government Spending Reduction 1 for, 11 against, Public Infrastructure 9 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for,
Nonpartisan
Patrick Cusack is a North Mankato resident. At a 2026 city hearing he backed a pause on large data centers, saying they do not help residents provide for their families, pay bills or get to work.
Nonpartisan
Peter Garner works for the State of Minnesota helping Spanish-speaking and farm workers use their labor rights, and is a returned Peace Corps volunteer. His priorities are public input at every step of city decisions and changing city code to open more homes to renters.
Nonpartisan · Incumbent
Sandra Oachs is a North Mankato City Council member and co-owner of Spinners Bar and Grill who has served on the All Seasons Arena board. She wants more resident involvement in city decisions and a thorough study before any data center rules.
Records: Government Spending Reduction 14 for, 2 against, Public Infrastructure 1 for, 1 against
Sources: northmankato.com2