📋 All candidate ratings on this page are based on the Woodbury Indivisible 2026 Voter Guide. Read detailed candidate evaluations, voting records, and positions on immigration, surveillance, data centers, and community representation in the full guide.
2026 Ballot Snapshot — Quick Guide
Print this page for voting reference — Based on Woodbury Indivisible Voter Guide
CITY COUNCIL (2 seats)
COUNTY COMMISSIONER
STATE REPRESENTATIVE (47B)
STATE SENATE (SD47)
SHERIFF
JUDICIAL — 10th District Court, Seat 38
Source: Woodbury Indivisible 2026 Voter Guide | For detailed candidate profiles, see full guide below
Why Elections Matter to Our Campaigns
Every campaign we run depends on elected leaders who will actually vote—not just make statements. When residents demand binding policy on ICE, surveillance, or data centers, do council members vote for it, block it, or stall? Elections determine that answer.
What's at stake:
- ICE detention facility opposition—formal resolutions vs. empty proclamations
- Surveillance expansion—do leaders oppose ALPR cameras or just regulate them?
- Data center moratoriums—are they real constraints or campaign-season promises?
- Community input on major decisions—do residents get votes, or just hearings?
- Fiscal accountability—who gets to decide where taxpayer money goes?
- Representation—do elected officials listen to neighbors or just big donors?
Woodbury Mayor (1 Seat)
John Sebastian — Recommended by Woodbury Indivisible
Profile: 25-year Woodbury resident, Certified Internal Auditor, 20+ years in strategy and operations at 3M, MBA, board president of History Theatre, first-time candidate
What makes him different: Sebastian authored the ICE detention moratorium resolution. When the council refused to vote on it, he challenged them directly at the LWV forum for claiming to oppose ICE while refusing to allow residents to decide. He's running on the principle that residents should vote on major decisions—not hide behind political theater.
Where he aligns with our campaigns:
- Metro Surge & ICE Detention: Authored the resolution Burt's council blocked. Will bring it back for an actual vote.
- Surveillance (Flock): Wants evaluation against actual public safety results and an independently verified privacy policy—not just installed by default
- Data Centers: Directly raises the water equity problem: commercial users pay flat rates while residents subsidize large-scale water use
- Transparency: Published agenda rules so residents know how to get items on the council floor—something he personally tried and was denied
- Fiscal Accountability: Priority-based budgeting, competitive bidding, vendor spending database, and a public performance dashboard
Anne Burt — Incumbent, Not Recommended
Profile: Mayor since 2019 (third term), 30+ years in water treatment, MBA Johns Hopkins, 20+ years in Woodbury
The Pattern: Burt's campaign is built on "continuity." But after two terms, her record shows: she said she "strongly opposed" ICE detention, yet her own council refused to vote on the resolution. Two data centers opened with zero public process. A moratorium appeared only after community pressure and press coverage during her re-election campaign.
Where she falls short on our campaigns:
- Metro Surge & ICE: Public statements of opposition don't match the council's refusal to vote. Words without action.
- Surveillance: Supports Flock cameras; points to "forthcoming" privacy review years after installation
- Data Centers: Two facilities opened on her watch with no public input. Only proposes moratorium after campaign pressure surfaces it.
- Transparency: Describes current process as sufficient; residents have no guaranteed path to get items on the agenda
- Overall: Action only arrives once the political cost of inaction becomes visible—not before.
Woodbury City Council (2 Seats Open)
Recommended by Woodbury Indivisible
Samantha Wolf — Communications professional, mother of two, 5 years in Woodbury. Led the backyard chickens campaign that changed city ordinance; actively backed the ICE detention resolution; opposes Flock expansion without independent review. Plans regular office hours, quarterly town halls, and specific accessibility measures.
Chris Mog — Finance professional, 20+ years in business. Lived through Metro Surge and felt her community support her; now running to give back. Opposes ALPR and wants to prohibit ICE detention facilities. Brings budget literacy to a council that currently lacks it; points out the city oversees $154M budget with $57M from property taxes while rates climbed 37% in four years.
Mixed Consensus
Nicole Mitchell — Former State Senator (92+ bills authored/co-authored), meteorologist, Air National Guard Lieutenant Colonel. Strongest proven policy record in this field; authored PFAS legislation and led state law change allowing cities to adopt wards. Note: Convicted of first-degree burglary (served 180 days, appeal pending). Reasonable voters will weigh an otherwise excellent record against a felony conviction differently.
Timothy Brewington — Pastor, 13+ years in Woodbury. Clear yes on ICE detention resolution; opposes Flock expansion without independent review; supports formal oversight. Open item: No public record on LGBTQ+ positions, despite seminary/denominational ties (Baptist Faith and Message). Not a red flag by itself, but a question voters may reasonably ask.
Not Recommended
Jory DeLoach, Todd Jakober, John Jarrett, Kelly Lindstrom, Soga Mbilima, Steve Morris (incumbent): Woodbury Indivisible rated these candidates as not aligned with community priorities on immigration, surveillance, data centers, or representation. See full voter guide for detailed analysis of each candidate's record and positions.
Washington County Commissioner (District 2 & 5)
District 2:
- Recommended: Stan Karwoski (Mixed Consensus in Indivisible review)
- Not Recommended: Edison Vizuete
District 5:
- Recommended: Brian McCoy
- Mixed Consensus: Simi Patnaik
County Commissioner races directly affect data center and water policy decisions. See Woodbury Indivisible voter guide for detailed candidate analysis.
State Representative Districts 47A & 47B (2 Seats)
District 47A
✓ Shelley Buck (Dakota, Prairie Island Tribal Council President) — Recommended
Profile: Dakota descendant and leader of Prairie Island Tribal Council, strong advocate for protecting natural resources, immigrant communities, and Indigenous rights.
Key positions: Opposes ICE enforcement, supports protecting water and natural resources, advocates for stronger election security, supports ranked choice voting, prioritizes school funding equity.
District 41
Cole B. (DFL)
Wayne Johnson (Republican, Incumbent)
District 47B
Ethan Cha (DFL, Incumbent) — Recommended
Profile: Community advocate and educator serving as current State Representative
Where he aligns: Strong positions on immigration protection, community oversight, and fiscal accountability. Supports holding law enforcement accountable and prioritizes community input on major decisions.
Kim Wilson (Independent, Woodbury City Council) — Not Recommended
Profile: Current Woodbury City Council member running as independent challenger
Where she falls short: Track record and stated positions do not align with community priorities on immigration enforcement, surveillance, and fiscal transparency that matter to our campaigns.
State Senate District 47 (1 Seat)
Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (DFL, Incumbent) — Recommended
Profile: Current State Senator with strong advocacy record on immigration and community protection
Where she aligns: Was one of the first voices calling for action on ICE detention. Spoke at the Indivisible press conference before the January 14, 2026 council meeting. Has advocated for stronger community protections on immigration enforcement. Vote to re-elect leaders who show up for immigrant communities.
Brian Stalboerger (Republican) — Not Recommended
Profile: Republican challenger
Where he falls short: See candidate directory and LWV forum for positions on community priorities including immigration, surveillance, and fiscal accountability.
Sheriff (1 Seat)
Jeremy Bolen — Not Recommended
Profile: Sheriff candidate
See candidate directory and LWV forum for positions on community oversight, accountability, and law enforcement practices.
Brian R. Mueller — Not Recommended
Profile: Sheriff candidate
See candidate directory and LWV forum for positions on community oversight, accountability, and law enforcement practices.
Judicial — 10th District Court, Seat 38 (1 Seat)
Ben Lacy — Mixed Consensus
Profile: Judicial candidate
See candidate directory and LWV forum for positions on judicial philosophy, court management, and community access to courts.
Rebecca Waxse — Mixed Consensus
Profile: Judicial candidate
See candidate directory and LWV forum for positions on judicial philosophy, court management, and community access to courts.
How to Evaluate Any Candidate
Use the same framework Woodbury Indivisible applied. Don't accept vague commitments—ask for specifics:
On Immigration & ICE Detention
- Will they vote YES on a binding resolution prohibiting ICE detention facilities on city/county property?
- Will they allow residents to vote, or block resolutions from reaching the floor?
- Do their words match their voting record?
On Surveillance (ALPR & Flock Cameras)
- Do they oppose expansion outright, or just want "oversight"?
- Will they refuse to share data with federal immigration enforcement?
- Do they support an independent privacy review before expansion, not after?
On Data Centers
- Do they support a real moratorium, or a "conditions" approach that just delays approval?
- Will they require independent analysis of water, energy, and infrastructure impacts?
- Do commercial users pay their fair share for water use, or subsidize by residents?
On Transparency & Community Voice
- Can residents get items on the agenda, or is the process closed?
- Are budget and voting records clear and public?
- Will they support independent oversight of law enforcement and city departments?
Candidate Directory — Compiled by Rich Radke
Thanks to Rich Radke for compiling this comprehensive directory of candidate websites, social media pages, and League of Women Voters forums for all contested 2026 races in SD47.
State Senate District 47
League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
State Representative District 47B
League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
Woodbury Mayor
League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
Woodbury City Council
League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
- Timothy Brewington — Website | Facebook
- Jory DeLoach — Website | Facebook
- Todd Jakober — Facebook
- John J. Jarrett — Website | Facebook
- Kelly Lindstrom — Website | Facebook
- Soga William Mbilima — No website or Facebook page
- Nicole Mitchell — Website | Facebook
- Chris Mog — Website | Facebook
- Steve Morris — Website | Facebook
- Samantha Wolf — Website | Facebook
Washington County Commissioner
Ward 2 — League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
Ward 5 — League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
Sheriff
League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
Judicial — 10th District Court, Seat 38
League of Women Voters Forum: Watch Forum
Get Involved & Vote
📋 Primary Resource: Woodbury Indivisible 2026 Voter Guide
The source for all candidate ratings on this page. Includes detailed evaluations of voting records, positions on immigration, surveillance, data centers, and community representation.
Additional resources to research and organize:
- Vote411.org: Find your polling location, early voting options, and ballot information
- LWV Forums: Watch candidate forums from League of Women Voters to hear candidates answer questions directly
- Woodbury News Net: Follow local reporting on candidate positions and council decisions
- Talk to neighbors: Share information about candidates and why voting matters
- Help get out the vote: Make calls, knock on doors, drive neighbors to polls