2021 Minnetonka Mayor's Race: Election Results

MINNETONKA, MN — Incumbent Brad Wiersum is in the lead with all votes counted in the race for Minnetonka mayor, based on unofficial results.

Challenger John Kuhl ran to unseat Wiersum.

Wiersum was first elected Minnetonka mayor in 2017. Before that, he was on the Minnetonka City Council for 15 years.

As far as his career, Wiersum retired after working for 40 years as a senior executive in the food and agriculture products industries.

Kuhl, 46, is the senior vice president at the Moscoe Group, a retail sales and marketing firm. He also has experience as the director of the Hopkins School Board.

Minnetonka mayor results (unofficial vote totals)

Updated 8:30 a.m. Wednesday

Brad Wiersum
6,897 votes
62.61%

John Kuhl
4,100 votes
37.22%

WRITE-IN
19 votes
0.17%

Patch asked both candidates to answer questions about their campaigns. Find their answers to three key questions we asked both candidates below:

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Kuhl:

Running a $200M+ business focused on managing organizational changes and transformations. With the Hopkins School Board, assisted in structurally balancing our school district budget to assure long term financial success. Worked through the challenges around the 2021/22 school year mask mandate, as well as approving the recommendation to rename the Lindbergh Center.

Wiersum:

Leading Minnetonka through the CCOVID-19 pandemic. Maintaining a fiscally responsible management approach and the city's Aaa bond rating. Expanding the Minnetonka trail system with a focus on connection within the city. Supporting Minnetonka Police and Fire and investing in and completing the new public safety facility. Demonstrating a commitment to the environment and sustainability. Having the city go 100% solar, and getting the Partners in Energy program completed and establishing the Minnetonka Sustainability Commission are significant. Providing strong steady leadership with a new and less-experienced city council is something that provides significant evidence of my ability to handle the job.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Kuhl:

Hiring a new city manager. The most important position in Minnetonka will be hired in January. The city manager runs the day-to-day operations of the city and needs to work collaboratively with the mayor. I will make this process transparent and have an opportunity for the public to provide feedback. Once hired, I will use my expertise in organizational transitions to assure the new manager is set for success.

Wiersum:

The most pressing issue facing Minnetonka is having strong, experienced leadership as the city continues to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and deals with the change that has accompanied the past twenty months. The impacts have been physical, mental and economic. Helping our residents and businesses move forward successfully is essential. It is about people. Public safety is a critical aspect of this. Following the unrest in our region, and the pandemic, our city needs to self-evaluate and determine how we can work to improve public safety so that residents and visitors, of all races, religions and creeds feel safe and welcome in Minnetonka. I intend to listen well and pursue policies and improvements that reflect on the city's strong commitment to excellence and to fairness and inclusion. We cannot be satisfied with our past. we must work to continue to learn and improve. I am committed to doing exactly that.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Kuhl:

I will govern the same way I've campaigned: with honesty, accessibility, and open conversation. I have been fortunate to serve on the Hopkins School Board where we have conducted robust engagement with community members around what matters to them, and I want to bring that to the City of Minnetonka. Not only will I engage with you, but I will engage in open dialogue with the City Council and city staff to make sure all options are considered and open to feedback before making tough decisions and taking action. I welcome criticism and enjoy talking with those I disagree with as a way to find common ground. I will ensure you feel like you are welcome and able to participate in Minnetonka's city government process.

Wiersum:

The essential difference is that I hold five election certificates and I have held elective office for more than eighteen years. The experience gained working on city issues in Minnetonka and in making connections in our region and across the state and nation is of incalculable value. When Minnetonka faces challenging issues, I have both experience and relationships that can help the city develop strong, objective solutions that work. I am non-partisan, in my role as mayor, but also personally. I have no partisan affiliation. I seek to do what is best for all of Minnetonka. I do not see being mayor as an opportunity to promote a partisan agenda. I see it as an opportunity to serve all residents of Minnetonka honestly and objectively.

Read more from the candidate profiles at the links below:

• Patch Candidate Profile: John Kuhl For Minnetonka Mayor
• Patch Candidate Profile: Brad Wiersum For Minnetonka Mayor