Two candidates are running for mayor of Grant in November’s election and three are running for two seats on the city council. Mayor Jeff Huber is not running for re-election; council members Tom Carr and Jeff Giefer are vying for the seat. Three candidates are running for the two open council positions: incumbent Ben Cornett and Lindsay Cremona and Tina Lobin. General information about the Nov. 5, 2024, election is online at twincities.com/news/politics/elections including information on candidates for races in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington counties. To find out what’s on your ballot, where to vote and other election information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s elections page at sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting. Grant mayor Tom Carr Age: 65 Tom Carr (Courtesy photo) What would your top priorities be if elected? Keep taxes low, our rural character should be maintained, no changes to our current lot density, maintaining our roads with the current policy and working on better communications with our residents. Nothing is ever perfect so all of these things need to be looked at proactively and reactively as we go forward. What qualifies you to hold this position? I have 22 years of experience serving on the Grant City Council. I also I grew up in Grant and so did my children and I know what it takes to keep the city a great place to live. What do you think is the primary role of government? To provide for the safety and quality of life of the residents within the scope of whatever government you are part of. This would include fire, police, roads, fiscal responsibility and good communication with the public. So in a city like Grant those are the primary focus and then work with the other agencies and elected officials with things we don’t directly have control over. How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you? Listening to others is key. Not just hearing but listening and trying to understand their point of view. That includes information provided for review and any other data required. People want to be heard and know that what they are sharing is important. Because it is to them. It may not mean there will be agreement but at least feeling the process was good. We are fortunate in Grant that the many things in State and Federal Government have no place in what the city deals with. And in Grant that is a good thing. Website or contact information: 651-303-8001 Jeff Giefer Age: 57 Jeff Giefer (Courtesy of the candidate) What would your top priorities be if elected? 1. Preserve Grant’s Rural Heritage: I will continue to fight to preserve our zoning standards that protect the rural character of Grant. My opponent, a realtor and current Council Member, has been pushing to remove the variance process for existing lots under 1-acre, which would pave the way for increased density and development. This is against the advice of our City Planner and City Attorney, who warn that this change risks turning Grant into another Lake Elmo by opening the door to the Met Council’s influence. This can be fact-checked by reviewing the May and June City Council meetings, which are linked to on my website. As mayor, I will ensure we maintain the 5-acre lot size, 10-acre density, and retain all parts of our zoning to protect our rural community. 2. Strengthen Citizen Engagement and Increase Transparency: Transparency is key to keeping trust between leaders and residents. As mayor, I will foster a more welcoming and open atmosphere in City Council meetings, making it easier for residents to participate and voice their concerns. I am committed to listening, responding, and ensuring that your feedback shapes decisions. Through regular meetings, forums, and one-on-one conversations, I will always prioritize your input. 3. Improve Our Roads: While our current road policies prioritize fiscal responsibility, there’s much room for improvement. During my door-to-door campaigning, I’ve heard many residents express concerns about road conditions and safety. I will work to secure Federal, State, and County funding to improve our roads. I believe residents should continue to have the choice of what kind of road they want. I will respect citizen input and ensure our road policies are focused on safety and efficiency. 4. Fiscal Responsibility: I will work hand-in-hand with council members and staff to ensure the cities’ budget reflects resident input while maintaining high-quality services. Every decision will be made with transparency, ensuring there are no hidden agendas or divisive tactics. I am committed to running a responsible budget that reflects the values of our community. What qualifies you to hold this position? Growing up in rural Minnesota, I learned the values of hard work, personal responsibility, and community service—values that have guided me over the past 8 years of service to the City of Grant. First, as a member of the Planning Commission, and now for the last 6 years on the City Council, my focus has been on preserving Grant’s rural character by maintaining the 5-acre minimum lot size, 10-acre density, and keeping public sewer and water out of our city. As mayor, I will continue to protect these important measures. After a successful 35-year career in Information Technology, managing global projects and multi-million-dollar budgets, I have the leadership skills to face Grant’s challenges. I have always respected diverse viewpoints, welcomed community input, and worked with others toward common goals. As mayor, I will not only work to protect what makes Grant special, but also ensure we enhance our quality of life, such as pursuing Federal and State funds to improve our roads—while still respecting the choices of our residents. Our community deserves a fresh approach. Grant has had the same two mayors over the past 22 years, and resident engagement has declined during this time. I am committed to listening, respecting, and acting on citizen input, ensuring your voices are heard and your concerns addressed at every City Council meeting. Together, we will move forward transparently, with decisions guided by the needs and feedback of Grant’s residents. In short, I have the experience, the commitment, and the passion to be Grant’s first “full-time” mayor and to serve you with dedication. What do you think is the primary role of government? I believe the primary role of local government in a small rural city like Grant is to protect individual rights, ensure public safety, and create an environment where families and small businesses can thrive without unnecessary interference. The government’s focus should remain on essential services like infrastructure and public safety, using tax dollars wisely and avoiding overreach. Supporting small businesses is crucial, as many families support their families by operating a small business. However, we must balance this with maintaining the peace and quiet of our neighborhoods. By fostering an environment where families can run successful small businesses while preserving the character of our residential areas, we ensure Grant remains a prosperous community that holds true to the values that make it a great place to live. How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you? I believe the best way to grow as a leader is by being willing to listen and learn from those with different perspectives. For me, it starts with listening carefully and allowing people the time to share their views fully. I don’t interrupt because I’ve found that true understanding comes from hearing the whole story. After listening, I reflect on what’s been said and look for areas where we can find common ground. This doesn’t mean compromising my values, but rather being open to new insights that might help me make better decisions. Respecting opposing viewpoints—especially those that challenge my own—has helped me become more thoughtful and informed as a leader. I also recognize that every opinion comes from a person’s own life experiences, and I respect that when engaging in conversations. Learning from these interactions not only helps me grow as a leader but also builds a stronger sense of collaboration. By understanding where others are coming from, I’m better equipped to make decisions that reflect the needs of everyone in our community, not just those who agree with me. This kind of mutual respect and cooperation is key to keeping our community strong. Website or contact information: https://www.giefer4grant.com Grant City Council (elect two) Benjamin Cornett Age: 39 Ben Cornett (Courtesy of the candidate) What would your top priorities be if elected? Preserving Our Rural Landscape I will work to uphold our current zoning ordinances, ensuring that Grant retains its special rural charm. Ensuring Public Safety, I am dedicated to maintaining strong partnerships with neighboring communities to provide 24/7 police and fire safety services. Fostering Smart Growth I recognize that Grant face developmental pressure, but I believe we can do so without compromising our values. I will support intelligent development that aligns with our existing ordinances, allowing for growth that respects our rural heritage. What qualifies you to hold this position? Currently hold the position with experience in Government as well as Business. What do you think is the primary role of government? The safety of its citizens is the primary role of government. It’s why people create governments in the first place. How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you? In my previous company we welcomed differing opinions, to assume that your idea and approach is always the best is a poor way to achieve the best possible outcome. This is easily achieved by listening to the view points and stances of others. Website or contact information: https://www.votebencornett.com Lindsay Cremona Age: 38 Lindsay Cremona (Courtesy of the candidate) What would your top priorities be if elected? I would ensure that Grant remains a rural residential community. I will protect and preserve Grant as a diverse community of homesteads, small businesses, farms, and scenic views that define Grant. Grant isn’t a cookie-cutter city, and I want to keep it that way for generations to come. I would like to connect our community. Grant is filled with talented people. We could explore having a community event where residents can come together. This allows for an opportunity for our community to support local should they desire. Of course, no tax dollars should be used to promote private interests, and I would ensure as such. It is also important that we have an open, transparent government that encourages citizen participation and input. I would be committed to ensuring that our city council keeps our residents informed and welcomes citizen engagement. In addition, it would be a priority of mine to implement common sense road maintenance and safety. Through my canvassing efforts, it has been clear that these matters are important to Grant residents. The city council is here to serve its residents, and I prioritize listening to our residents. These top issues would be front of mind for me as a council member, as these are matters that our residents care about. What qualifies you to hold this position? I have always been the type of person to get involved in my community. I love living in Grant and am proud to live in our rural, small-town community. I have the energy and ingenuity needed to provide solid representation for our city. I am not afraid of hard work, and I am reliable and resourceful. As an attorney practicing civil litigation, I am adept at navigating through difficult situations while remaining professional and respectful. I also have extensive experience working collaboratively with others as I served as Rutherford Elementary’s PTA president for 2 years, am a current Den Leader for our local Cub Scouts Pack, and a member on a Habitat for Humanity committee. I am well-versed in working with others and understand the importance of utilizing and championing each team member’s strengths so we can achieve a common goal. I love living in Grant and would be honored to serve our community. What do you think is the primary role of government? The primary role of government is to provide the basic outline of the rules for our city and then step away and let residents live without being micromanaged or over governed. In addition, the government should provide general, collective services to our residents, such as road maintenance and safety so that our residents can safely enjoy living in our city. How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you? I follow the approach of sitting down and truly listening to the person and their position with respect. I do not have all the answers, and when I am talking with someone who disagrees with my opinion, I have an open mind—listening to them with the understanding that I may leave that conversation with my opinion modified or changed. I also ask questions so I can understand why we disagree. I want to understand what is important to them so we can find common ground and perhaps a solution that works. At the end of the day, we don’t all have to agree on everything. But we do need to treat everyone with respect. And by taking the time to have a real conversation with someone, I have found that I have learned how to work well with someone even if they have different opinions than my own. Website or contact information: http://www.votecremona.com Tina Lobin Age: 56 Tina Lobin (Courtesy of the candidate) What would your top priorities be if elected? I would really like to have the planning commission reinstated after being disbanded. Work to bring public input/comment back in a welcoming environment and have that played back with monthly council meetings. Create a fair road paving policy. What qualifies you to hold this position? I served one term after getting elected in the 2012 election. While serving I was appointed Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and Animal Contact. I am currently the fire warden for Grant. I have run my own business for 36 years, 18 of those in Grant. I’ve kept up to date on Grant government proceedings. What do you think is the primary role of government? The role of the city of Grant government is to provide road maintenance, fire and police protection and protect property right of its residents. How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you? I ask a lot of questions and use that feedback to resolve issues. I am open minded and listen to everyone. To those I may disagree with, I will still listen and value their opinion. Website or contact information: [email protected] Related Articles Elections | School board races: ISD 622 North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District Elections | Washington County races: Forest Lake mayor and city council Elections | Washington County municipal races: Birchwood Village mayor and council Elections | Ramsey County municipal races: Little Canada City Council Elections | Washington County races: District 3 Board of Commissioner candidates