As the leaves change and the political season picks up, Woodbury residents are getting ready to vote in the City Council elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5. With the future of their community at stake, eight candidates are competing for two open seats on the Council, which offer a four-year term starting in January. According to the official Woodbury announcement, the candidates vying for these roles are: Murid Amini, Timothy Brewington, Michael Burke, Dave Hoelzel, Temmy Olasimbo, Benjamin Sherrard, Donna Stafford, and incumbent Kim Wilson. Andrea Date, currently sitting on the council, is not seeking re-election.
While the City Council bout may capture local attention, the Woodbury ballot will be much larger this time, as residents will also cast votes in the presidential race, U.S. Senator and Representative spots, as well as various state and school board positions. Amidst this roster of electoral decisions, a civic issue seeks residents' nod—namely, a local option sales tax referendum aiming to partially bankroll the Public Safety Campus expansion by adding a 0.5% tax. And in a broader environmental play, a state constitutional amendment proposal seeks renewal for the lottery proceeds transfer to fund environmental and natural resource trusts. These referenda show the wide range of issues voters will face this cycle, as outlined in the city bulletin.
The gears of democracy are already in motion with early (absentee) voting having kicked off on Sept. 20, continuing until the eve of Election Day, Nov. 4. Eager voters can choose between mailing their ballots or showing up in person at several county locations offering this convenience. Those Woodbury citizens who've yet to mark their choices can find their polling sites using the online finder tool provided by the Secretary of State or directly reach out to City Hall for guidance.
For those who are still not registered, the window hasn't quite closed. Prospective voters, assuming they meet the basic criteria of being 18 by Election Day, a United States citizen, and a Minnesota resident for at least 20 days, can still show up at their polls armed with appropriate proof of residence to register on the spot, Nov. 5. This inclusive approach to enfranchising as many people as possible underlines the essence of participatory democracy and reflects the ethos captured by the city's instructions. Voters may experience longer lines if they choose to wait until the end of the absentee voting period.
Citizens can keep updated of the real-time election results on the city's official website or tune into the South Washington County Telecommunications Commission's election night coverage.
