D10 Como Park Elections

The District 10 Como Community Council annual meeting and board election takes place every April at our regular board meeting time (3rd Tuesday at 7:15pm). Voting in the election occurs in the weeks leading up to the meeting by either electronic or mail-in ballot. You can find details below on applying for the board and requesting ballots.

Request a Ballot (2023)

Who is eligible to vote: Residents of District 10 who are at least 16 years old, representatives from businesses, non-profits, or other organizations with a physical presence in District 10 (map of D10’s four sub-districts). If you have questions, you can email info@district10comopark.org.

If you intend to vote online, we need your request by Monday, April 17 at 8 a.m.
If you need a paper ballot mailed to you, we need your request by Sunday, April 2.
We will send out ballots beginning Monday, April 10.
We must receive your completed ballot at the District 10 office no later than 5 p.m. Monday, April 17.

Board Member Application

The deadline to be included in the 2023 Election ballot is Sunday, April 2. After this date you may still fill out an application to be contacted for future elections or consideration for mid-term vacancy appointments if/when they occur.

Board seats up for election in 2023:

One representative each from the neighborhood’s FOUR sub-districts (map)
- An additional Subdistrict 1 seat which has a term expiring in 2024 (filled by appointment in 2022)
Three representatives from the neighborhood at-large
One representative from the neighborhood at-large who is a renter
One representative from the neighborhood at-large who is a youth (age 16-24)
An At-Large Senior seat (62+ yrs old) which has a term expiring in 2024 (filled by appointment in 2022)

These positions serve two-year terms, through April 2025, unless otherwise noted. All of our board and committee meetings are open to the public and agendas are posted in advance on the website and in the weekly newsletter. We encourage you to come to our meetings and see how you like being part of our work and get to know us!

The filing deadline to be included on the 2023 ballot is Sunday, April 2. The election results are announced at the April board meeting. If you have questions or would like to know more about being a board member you can reach out to our Executive Director at district10@district10comopark.org.

Board Job Description

ORGANIZATION: District 10 Como Community Council: The Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the involvement of residents and businesses in public decisions and plans by the City of Saint Paul and in promoting activities that make the community a great place to live and work. The Council is governed by a 17-member volunteer board of directors elected by community residents/business owners.

JOB TITLE: Board Member

REPORTS TO: District 10 Como Community Council Board Chair

HOURS: Minimum 5-10 hours per month (Elected 2-year terms) (day time and evening hours required)

PAY RANGE: No Compensation – Volunteer Position

POSITION PURPOSE: District 10 Board Members have the following primary responsibilities:

Support the organization’s mission and strategic plan, and work with community members to address issues in the neighborhood.
Attend monthly Board of Directors meetings (third Tuesday of the month).
Provide policy, financial, and legal oversight and help shape organizational planning to ensure that District 10 is run responsibly and according to regulations for 501(c)(3) organizations, and is successful in its efforts to achieve its mission.
Conduct outreach within the District and within a particular sub-district to encourage resident participation, broadly gather input from community members, and provide representation for diverse constituencies within the District in order to advise the City of issues that impact the quality of life in District 10.
Serve on at least one committee, ad-hoc committee, or task force at all times. Contribute to efforts to build community and maintain and improve the quality of life in District 10.
Participate in Council-sponsored events, including Sunday Series presentations, the Citywide Drop-Off at the State Fairgrounds, social events such as the Ice Cream Social, and other neighborhood activities.
Support the Council’s fundraising efforts, including helping to identify and approach other individual and business donors, and collaborate with staff and other board members on grant development, fundraising events, and solicitations.

Election Guide 2023

Introduction

Each year, the Como Community Council holds elections so community members can elect officers and directors to the District 10 board. The procedures for nominations, elections, candidate eligibility, and voter eligibility are governed by the Bylaws of the District 10 Como Community Council. Each year, roughly half the seats on the board up for election. All terms are two years. (Board members elected in 2023 officially take office on April 21, 2023, and serve until April 23, 2024.) The complete Bylaws can be found on our website at: https://district10comopark.org/bylaws/

Elections

Elections this year will take place by mail ballot or by voting online, as requested by the individual community member. Voters can return their ballots at any time after April 7, 2023. But ballots must be received at the District 10 office no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday April 18, 2023. Ballots received after that time will not be counted.

In the case of mail ballots, voters who do not think the Postal Service will deliver their ballot in time should personally return their ballot to the mailbox outside the District 10 office, 1224 Lexington Parkway. The mailbox is near the at the Historic Streetcar Station parking lot, off of Horton Ave. in Como Park.

Voters who choose a mail ballot should return all the color pieces of paper in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope.

Voting

Who can vote: All renters, homeowners, and other residents age 16 or older who live in District 10 are eligible to vote. So are authorized representatives from a business or nonprofit organization located physically in District 10.

Election integrity: As part of the absentee voting process, each community member must affirm that they are eligible to vote. Ballots that are not accompanied by the statement affirming eligibility will not be counted. These statements will be used only to cross-reference a voter’s eligibility. To ensure the privacy of the ballot, statements will be separated from the actual ballot.

Who can vote for whom: All eligible community members are able to vote for officers and for At-Large positions (including At-Large Renter and Youth seats). For positions representing the four Sub-Districts, only community members who live in that Sub-District may vote. Sitting board members may vote for all positions on the ballot.

Below is the list of neighborhood residents who are on the 2023 ballot. These candidates submitted their names by the April 2 deadline. Community members are allowed to submit write-in candidates. Elections this year, all terms are two years unless otherwise noted:

At-Large (3 seats)
At-Large Renter (1 seat)
At-Large Youth (16-24 yrs old) (1 seat)
Sub-Districts 1-4 (1 seat each)
At-Large Senior (62+ yrs old) seat (term expiring in 2024 – filled by appointment in 2022)
One additional Sub-District 1 seat (term expiring in 2024 – filled by appointment in 2022)

All candidates will be on the ballot in a group, and voters will receive a ballot specific for their sub-district.

First, all ballots will be counted by voter sub-district, and the qualifying candidate(s) with the most votes from each sub-district will be elected to that sub-district’s seat(s).

Second, all ballots will be counted as a whole with the remaining candidates who weren’t elected to a sub-district seat. The youth-eligible candidate with the most votes will fill the youth seat; the senior eligible candidate with the most votes will fill the senior seat; and the renter-eligible candidate with the most votes will fill the renter seat.

Third, the three remaining candidates with the highest votes will fill the three At-Large seats.

If there is a midterm seat up for election because of a vacant seat or a seat that was filled by appointment, the qualifying candidate with the most qualifying votes will be seated in the full term seat, and the candidate with the second most votes will fill the midterm seat. A candidate may defer accepting a seat in preference of another seat. (For example, if there is only one qualifying youth candidate, they may defer a sub-district seat to instead fill the youth seat.)

If you have questions about voting or the elections, contact the District 10 office at district10@district10comopark.org.

Candidate Statements

Candidates submit their own statements for the positions they are seeking. Candidates have the option of also submitting a statement from a supporter.

All these statements are reprinted below, with only minimal editing for clarity and consistency. Candidates are listed by sub-district then in alphabetical order. (Updated as applications are processed)

Sub-district 1 Candidates

Sub-district 1 is the part of our neighborhood west of Hamline, bounded roughly by Hoyt on the north and the BNSF tracks south of Jessamine on the south. There are two open sub-district 1 seats, the votes from subdistrict 1 residents will be counted separately to determine who fills these sub-district-specific seats, any remaining candidates will be still eligible to fill at-large seats.

Laura Oyen
Almond Ave. – Sub-district 1

Hi, My name is Laura Oyen and I have been a Como Neighbor for 34 years. I have been involved in the community in various ways during that time. For over 25 years I have been a member of the Midway Parkway Garden Club. Both of my children went to Chelsea Height Elementary, Murray Junior High and Como High School. I have tutored students at Murray and volunteered and lead the Como High School Graduation Party for several years. I have always had an interest in community participation and attended various D10 meetings over the years. Over the past year I have been working with D10 on the Como Neighborhood History Project. I have greatly enjoyed working with other community members and the St. Kate’s community as we have shaped the project to gather little known stories of the neighborhood that surrounds lake Como and the Park. I am applying for the SubDistrict 1 board position. I thought it might be time to formalize my work within the district and look forward to supporting the community in any way I can. Thank you for your consideration.

Sub-district 2 Candidates

Sub-district 2 is the part of our neighborhood roughly between Hamline on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Victoria on the east, and the BNSF tracks south of Jessamine on the south.There is one open subdistrict 2 seat, the votes from sub-district 2 residents will be counted separately to determine who fills this sub-district-specific seat, any remaining candidates will be still eligible to fill at-large seats.

Jonathan Herum
Como Blvd. – Sub-district 2 – Senior

I am currently on the District 10 Board and I also serve on the Land Use Committee. I have lived in Como Park for 29 years. We love it here! I own a Construction company and the majority of our work is in St Paul. We have completed many Affordable Housing projects in St Paul with several in District 10. We were the first Builder in The Parade of Homes to have a Energy Star Certified home as well as a Certified Green Home. I understand Quality, Energy Efficiency, Local Housing Challenges and Responsible Building Practices. I have 3 wonderful Vizsla’s, Nelli, Dory and Sperry, who love walking around Como Lake. I enjoy Cycling, Cooking and Traveling. I bring to the board a deep understanding of our current housing issues. Also a unique perspective from living here for a long time, using and enjoying everything our neighborhood has to offer!

Jay Hill
Dunlap St. – Sub-district 2

I am a third-generation immigrant from Finland. Both my grandparents and parents grew up on the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. Eventually, my parents moved to the northeast suburb of White Bear Lake where I grew up. My wife and I met in high school and married after graduating from college. I am proud to say we have two wonderful children and four grandchildren. My wife’s family has a long history in the area with her grandparents on her mom’s side living on Wheelock Parkway and her father’s family owning a family farm in the area which is now Rice Street and Highway 36.

I went to the University of Minnesota, where I graduated in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. After graduation, I took a job with the State of Washington DOT and moved to Seattle. As they say, “you can take someone out of Minnesota, but Minnesota will always be their home.” So, in 1995 when my wife and I started our family, we moved back to Minnesota and bought our home in St. Paul, where we still live today. Since becoming a licensed professional engineer and land surveyor, I have worked for several governmental agencies and private consulting firms. I am also a small business owner, operating my own engineering consulting firm since 2008.

I enjoy the great outdoor recreational activities that Minnesota offers, including hunting, fishing, boating and the one nice weekend we get each year.

Maggie Zimmerman
Montana Ave – Sub-district 2

Hi Neighbor! I have served on the D10 board for six years and, since 2018, I have also served as the chair of the Land Use Committee, where I have helped to navigate local issues related to parking, development, planning, and growth. In this capacity I’ve had the chance to work with many different folks across Como and the City of St Paul. I’ve developed familiarity with city processes and some of the common concerns that residents face when change comes to the neighborhood. I remain interested and excited to help people navigate the sometimes murky waters of city systems and to look for ways to help Como Park shine.

Sub-district 3 Candidates

Sub-district 3 is the part of our neighborhood roughly between Victoria on the west, Larpenteur on the north, Dale on the east, and the BNSF tracks south of Jessamine on the south. There is one open subdistrict 3 seat, the votes from sub-district 3 residents will be counted separately to determine who fills this sub-district-specific seat, any remaining candidates will be still eligible to fill at-large seats.

Jenne Nelson
Iowa Ave. – Sub-district 3

Como has been my home since 2010 and will be for years to come. I have always appreciated the strong sense of community that my family and I have experienced here, and I am committed to nurturing that feeling for all of our neighbors. Since 2020, I have been on the Como Community Council board and in 2022, I became the board chair. During my tenure, I have enjoyed meeting new neighbors at our meetings, volunteering at our events, and helping drive the strategic direction of the organization. I co-led the Anti-Racism Work Group, which has led to an increased focus on equity within the Como Community Council, and I collaborated with our staff and board to secure new sources of funding that will allow us to expand our work in 2023 and provide much-deserved salary increases to our staff. To my work on the board, I bring professional experience in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, and as a former teacher, I have a natural orientation towards learning, evaluating, and innovating.

I care deeply about this neighborhood and the city of St. Paul: my children are growing up here and attend SPPS schools, our neighbors have become close friends, and participating on this board is my most important investment in this community. I would be honored to continue supporting our neighborhood as a board member.

Sub-District 4 Candidates

Sub-District 4 is the part of our neighborhood roughly between Snelling on the west, Dale on the east, and between the two sets of BNSF tracks (near Jessamine on the north and between Front Ave. and Energy Park Drive on the south). There is one open subdistrict 4 seat, the votes from subdistrict 4 residents will be counted separately to determine who fills this subdistrict-specific seat, any remaining candidates will be still eligible to fill at-large seats.

Lauren Erchul McCabe
Front Ave. – Sub-district 4

My name is Lauren and I am a 28 year old homeowner in the South Como area (Sub-District 4) as of 2021. My husband and I moved into the area from MPLS ready to become St. Paulites permanently- I have worked in social services in Ramsey County for four years and it was a priority for me to be able to vote about the legislation that directly affects my clients. Community is my number one focus, both in my professional and personal life. I am a resource coordinator for Dorothy Day Shelter downtown St. Paul and have had ample lived and worked experience with building community from the ground up. I prioritize meeting people where they’re at and investigating how I can use my knowledge and skills to improve peoples’ well being. I am motivated to get involved with the District Council so I can utilize my knowledge about social services and community prosperity to help my direct neighbors! Organizing events and creating relationships that enrich the lives of the people around me is my life goal.

Chad Hermes
Barrett St. – Sub-district 4

I’ve been living in Como for five of the last six years, including one in my current house. I am an attorney and have previously served on non-profit boards, skills and experiences that would be useful on the Board. I am very interested in housing/zoning/land use issues and I hope that I can help shape some policy discussions in the future on those issues.

Matthew Keliher
Simon Ave. – Sub-district 4

Since moving to the neighborhood in the fall of 2018, my wife and I have fallen in love with the Como neighborhood. Whether it’s walking the dog around the lake, grabbing a pint at the Paddle, or catching some blues music under the glass at the Conservatory, the Como neighborhood has always provided a sense of comfort and community, and serving on this board is my way of saying thanks to this incredible place.

I have been on the board since the fall of 2021, and in 2022 became the board treasurer working towards maintaining the accurate financial records tracking and ensuring long-term financial health of the organization. In my professional career, I previously managed an independent bookstore in Downtown Saint Paul for 10 years, and I am now pursuing a Masters of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve this amazing organization and community.

District 10 Como Community Council