Meet the candidates

The Nov. 5 general election will feature a wide range of positions, from seats on school boards and city councils to state and federal roles.

Early voting started Sept. 20, and the last day for Minnesotans to cast their ballots is only three weeks away.

Contested local races include Foley Mayor and four spots on the Foley Public Schools Board of Education. Additionally, local ballots feature uncontested races for the Benton County Board of Commissioners, Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District, Foley City Council, Gilman City Council and Gilman Mayor.

Benton County News staff reached out to all candidates in local contested races to allow them to share their perspectives with voters ahead of the general election via candidate questionnaires.

Information relating to state and federal-level candidates will appear in subsequent issues of the Benton County News.

For sample ballots, polling locations, voter registration information and more, visit www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/.

Brandon Voit
Age: 40 | Occupation: Market president/business banker, Falcon National Bank
Why did you seek a two-year term as mayor instead of a four-year term as a council member? I feel that I can bring a unique level of leadership to the council that could also lend itself toward fostering and enhancing relationships with members, employees and the people.
What makes you the ideal candidate for mayor of Foley? My dedication and commitment to the city, both personally and professionally, align with the quality traits recognized by someone representing others. Foley is my community, a community that my family calls home, and I have a common interest in making it a great place to live, work and play.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the city of Foley? If elected, how do you hope to influence council action concerning this topic? In my opinion, the infrastructure and the economy are the two biggest issues, and they also represent our two biggest opportunities. I hope to help align on a vision with a realistic budget to achieve the ideal outcomes.

Jack “Jackson” Brosh
Age: 56 | Occupation: Sign technician, bartender, umpire, mayor
Why did you seek a two-year term as mayor instead of a four-year term as a council member? As your current mayor, I feel there is some work to be done. In the past two years, we lost a couple businesses, PouchTec and Willmar Poultry. On a positive note, Blow Molded and Distinctive Cabinets have added on to their facilities. Several other businesses have opened: Foley Family Restaurant, Foley Vintage, Foley Engines, Foley Lumber, Brewed Gems, Smokin’ Joes, and Nick and Drew’s.
What makes you the ideal candidate for mayor of Foley? I have been on council the past six years — four as councilman and two as mayor. I look at both sides of an argument before forming my conclusion. Anyone who has reached out to me will tell you I always respond or get them an answer.
What do you believe is the most important issue facing the city of Foley? If elected, how do you hope to influence council action concerning this topic? Getting the wastewater project completed. Then, we can lift the housing moratorium to provide much-needed housing for future growth. The downtown facade program was well received, and, with new people coming to our town, more businesses will continue to grow. We have two large street projects next year, as well as continued park improvements.

Pamela Vizenor
Age: 46 | Occupation: Benton Economic Partnership Inc. Executive Assistant
What motivated you to seek a spot on the Foley School Board? I am eager to join the Foley School Board to advocate for every student’s right to a quality education. My goal is to create a supportive environment where all children can learn and thrive. I believe in fostering collaboration among parents, educators, students and community members to tackle our schools’ challenges effectively. I am committed to participating in decision-making processes that shape our children’s futures, ensuring our schools are not just educational institutions but also nurturing communities. If elected, I will prioritize open communication and collaboration to build a brighter future for our students and our community.
What qualifications or experience make you a strong candidate for this position? As a proud mother of three boys, my parenting journey has shaped my perspective. My oldest, Ali, graduated from Foley High and Mankato State, while Isaiah is a sophomore at Foley High, and Messiah is in eighth grade at Foley Intermediate. Raising a child with autism has fueled my passion for advocating for parents and educators of children with special needs, emphasizing that every child deserves support.With over 14 years in long-term care, I’ve hired and trained high school students, focusing on their education and mental health. Currently, I serve as president of the Foley Area Chamber of Commerce…
Are you encouraged by the current direction of the Foley School Board? Why or why not? As a candidate for the Foley Public Schools board, I recognize our school’s rich history and the need for improvement. My primary goal is to enhance communication with stakeholders, fostering stronger ties with local businesses that support our students’ extracurricular activities. Engaging with our staff is equally essential; when they feel appreciated, our students benefit. Addressing safety concerns is crucial; we must establish clear protocols for notifying staff and parents of issues, ensuring transparency and trust. Lastly, we need budget transparency to safeguard essential positions. Together, we can strengthen our school and community, making a meaningful difference in our children’s…

Wayne D. Wilson
Age: 51 | Occupation: Nuss Truck and Equipment for 16 years. Technical customer s…
What motivated you to seek a spot on the Foley School Board? I would like all students to have an equal opportunity of education. I would like to see all students to be treated fair and equal. We need to eliminate bullying and entitlement. We need to make sure all of our teachers are qualified to be teaching college credit courses and promote PSO. We have four-year degree and two-year degree trade school students; we need to have all options for the students. Foley’s students are our future. We need to help direct them into the best they can be.
What qualifications or experience make you a strong candidate for this position? I hold a current seat on the Foley School Board. I hold a current seat on the advisory board for the St. Cloud Technical and Community College. I am an active supporter of Vocational Industrial Clubs of America. I help coach the Foley trap shooting team.
Are you encouraged by the current direction of the Foley School Board? Why or why not? I am encouraged by the Foley School Board. I’m confident the Foley School Board makes decisions that are in the best interest of each individual student, staff and the community.

Valerie Timm
Age: 51 | Occupation: Wealth associate supervisor — I educate people and their fa…
What motivated you to seek a spot on the Foley School Board? I was motivated to seek a spot on the Foley School Board because I have seen the division in the board develop over the last year or so. When I was on the board before, we were able to voice our opinions, feel heard, decide on the best plan forward and, most of the time, come to a unanimous vote. I am not seeing current board members moving in the same direction, and that is a concern.
What qualifications or experience make you a strong candidate for this position? I was previously a member of the Foley School Board for four years. I have a bachelor’s degree in education and am a parent. Beyond that, I am a caring community member who would like to see the Foley schools continue to grow and meet the needs of the students in our community.
Are you encouraged by the current direction of the Foley School Board? Why or why not? Currently, I am not encouraged by the direction of the Foley School Board. I would like to see more cohesiveness and care for the district and less concern for each individual board member’s feelings in the discussions and decision-making.

Alyssa Schumacher
Age: 39 | Occupation: Healthcare worker
What motivated you to seek a spot on the Foley School Board? I chose to run for the school board to try to be a part of a team in my community, to be involved in the district, to stay informed and to learn how the district works since the decisions made affect not only my kids but all kids, staff and community.
What qualifications or experience make you a strong candidate for this position? I have children who are in the district, and I’ve been a part of this community my whole life. I volunteer in my children’s classrooms as able. I coach summer softball, and I teach faith formation classes every week to serve my community.
Are you encouraged by the current direction of the Foley School Board? Why or why not? No. Being a part of any board can have its challenges and difficulties, and hard decisions must be made at times. There seems to be a great lack of fellowship and comradery on our board. This makes me apprehensive because these are essential needs of any group to unify and work together as a team to make the most effective and factual decisions for our school and community.

Patric Lewandowski
Age: A young 44 | Occupation: Cartoonist
What motivated you to seek a spot on the Foley School Board? My kids are only in this school for another 10 years. If I am going to have a positive impact for them, I have to be on the board now. I have no interest in being on the board after my kids are out of school.
What qualifications or experience make you a strong candidate for this position? Seriously, though, the big pieces for me are I have been a college educator and administrator, which brings with it a breadth of experience not on the board otherwise. I also am a working artist, doing what many would consider a non-traditional work-from-home career, so I have a different perspective from many as to what working can look like for our students when they are adults. As a working artist, I hope I also bring a voice for our arts community and students to the table.
Are you encouraged by the current direction of the Foley School Board? Why or why not? I am cautiously optimistic. The board has been split on many issues, but I think this is the worst part of the storm before the rainbow. With Ken Anderson retiring from the board, there will be at least one new member on the board, which will bring more voices to the discussion. Over the past four years, I personally have experienced a shift from (my perception of) a board under the supervision of the administration that does not question things to more and more discussion coming. The board can and must continue to be a voice of accountability.

Sharon Kipka
Age: 74 | Occupation: Semi retired. Currently I work in guest services at Target.
What motivated you to seek a spot on the Foley School Board? I was a parent member of the District Committee for Curriculum and Standards for over 10 years while my son was a student at Foley Public Schools. Our then superintendent, Linda Partridge, suggested being a school board member might be a good fit for me. I knew little about the work, but I had tremendous support from school and community and was blessed with strong mentors. To know you have had a hand in positive endeavors that involve our future is a treasured gift. Serving you and your children is a privilege and honor. I truly love this wonderful rural…
What qualifications or experience make you a strong candidate for this position? I have a strong business background with over 30 years’ experience in inventory control, material management, job costing, incentive, purchasing, prototyping and accounts receivable. I serve as an active CARE volunteer, and I’m a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Gilman, where I served on parish council and as a religion teacher until taking my position on the school board. I’ve held every office more than once and taken every board training available. In 2022, I was named to the All-State School Board. I support students and recognize them with notes of congratulations. 

Are you encouraged by the current direction of the Foley School Board? Why or why not? Unfortunately, I’m discouraged. We have gotten very top-down and are not transparent. Our recent budget cuts concern me because I don’t think all the players had a voice, and supporting the classroom needs to be our first priority. We need to understand that parents and guardians trust us with their most precious charge, their children, and we need to work together to make sure we have a nurturing environment that fosters trust and achievement. I will make no empty promises, but I offer my experience, knowledge and positive track record fueled by passion to do the best job possible.       

Michael Engmark
Age: None listed | Occupation: Sr. reliability engineer
What motivated you to seek a spot on the Foley School Board? For several years now, I have considered giving back to the community by seeking a school board position. I have no specific agenda in mind other than to add my experience and perspective to the work already being done. I have attended several board meetings and even addressed the board during one meeting to voice a concern. I will strive to make the board even better and improve communication on issues brought before the board.
What qualifications or experience make you a strong candidate for this position? I have a lot of experience in the design and construction industry, providing me skills in developing specifications and working with contractors, clients and government agencies to bring forth a successful project. This would be very similar to developing and refining policies for the schools and working closely with multiple parties to provide solutions and compromises to yield the best outcomes.
Are you encouraged by the current direction of the Foley School Board? Why or why not? As stated, already I believe the board does their best to execute their duties with the resources they have while abiding by the constraints that they cannot control. I look forward to joining them in serving the school district.