Who is running for Roseville City Council in the 2026 General Election?
A Roseville City Council Candidate Guide
If you're looking for information about the candidates running for city council in Roseville, MN, you've come to the right place!
The 2026 General Election officially underway with early and absentee voting already started and the final day to vote on Election Day on November 3, 2026.
Here is an overview of the candidates running for Roseville City Council to get you started. There are four candidates running for two seats on the city council. You'll have the option to vote for up to two on your ballot.
Meet the Candidates for Roseville City Council
This guide was created for you based on candidate questionnaires and publicly available information. The General Election questionnaire was developed based on questions for the candidates submitted by Roseville Reader subscribers. The candidate responses have been quoted as submitted. The candidates below are listed in the order they will appear on your ballot.
Cassie Iverson
Cassie Iverson is a candidate for Roseville City Council. She grew up in rural Minnesota, with a mother who was a nurse and father who was a business owner in construction and sales. Iverson was recruited to Hamline University as an athlete and finished her degree in English at the University of Saint Thomas. After graduating in 2008 during the Great Recession, Iverson worked various jobs in retail, bartending, event security, and pressure washing parking ramps before landing a job in elder law as a receptionist. Eighteen years later, she is now a paralegal specializing in Medical Assistance benefits for aging and disabled individuals. She has lived in Roseville for three years with her fiancé Vic and her two kids, who split their time with their other household in a southern Twin Cities suburb, according to Iverson.
Iverson has been a member of Saint Anthony Park United Church of Christ for twelve years and has served on the board of trustees and a representative to the church council. When living in Robbinsdale, Iverson was part of a neighborhood crime prevention team. She is currently involved in community safety initiatives through Unidos MN and Monarca. Iverson stays active through Girls on the Run, No Quit Fit, the Twin Cities Goodtime Softball League, and is training for her third YWCA Women's Triathlon.
Questionnaire: Cassie Iverson's Responses
What’s your motivation for running for city council?
"I believe our council needs younger and more diverse voices at the table. I also believe local government is where change reaches people fastest, and I like being that close to the results. I've always been interested, but with two small kids the timing was never right. Now they're 10 and 7, and it's doable, so I decided to give it a go. What's kept me going is what I'm learning from residents. Most people don't know where to start engagement because meetings, decisions, and how input gets used aren't intuitive unless you already know the system. Transparency, reach, and access are how I'd close that gap. I want to spend my time on council making it easier, not harder to be actively involved in your city's government."
What do you like about living in Roseville?
"My partner and I always saw living in Roseville as out of reach, but life is full of surprises and we bought our home three and a half years ago. We plan to stay through retirement. We love our neighborhood, and Roseville schools. It's also wonderful that our fire department, police department, and parks are among the best in the metro. Perhaps my favorite thing, though, is how much people from Roseville love the city. It's a contagious pride that creates a real sense of community. One I certainly feel."
How do you think about budget planning and weighing the needs of government services with community concerns about property taxes?
"Only about 25 to 30 percent of the property taxes we pay goes to the city's operating budget. The rest goes to Ramsey County, the school district, and special districts. Roseville is a lean city, and our tax dollars fund a fire department, police department, and parks that are among the best in the metro. Still, I believe we can hold the levy steadier. I want to examine anything being funded simply because it always has been, and ask whether it still works. Determining the timing of special projects is another constant dance so evaluating that process is also key from year to year. I'd treat communication as a core service. When residents understand where their money goes and why, trust grows, and town halls and a strong city newspaper are low cost ways to explain it. I'd also look for more housing subsidy opportunities for first time homebuyers, renters, and seniors."
What would you like to see change in the next 4 years in Roseville?
"I want to close the distance between City Hall and the people it serves. Most residents don't feel unheard because the city doesn't care. They feel unheard because the ways to be heard are quietly harder to access than they should be. In four years, I'd like to see transparency, reach, and access built into how we work. That means a remote option for attending council meetings, plain language summaries of budgets, zoning changes, and ordinances in the languages our residents speak, and a city newspaper and website people can easily access and navigate. It means council showing up at neighborhood associations, community events, and local businesses. And it means being honest and visible about how I vote and why, so residents can hold me accountable."
Share how you plan to pay attention to the needs of the community and how that would impact your decision-making as a city council member.
"When a topic is new to me, I don't pretend otherwise. I ask questions. I start with city staff for the facts, the legal requirements, the cost, and what's been tried before (this is something I am already doing when approached with questions from residents). Then I try to gaint understanding of what the residents affected think. Lastly, I look at how comparable cities have handled it. I try to separate what the data tells me from what my gut tells me, so I know which one is driving my vote. If I still don't have enough to decide well, I'll say so and ask for more time. To hear from more people, I'd lean on our citizen advisory commissions, host neighborhood town halls, and explore ride options and remote input so work schedules, childcare, or transportation never keep a neighbor from weighing in."
What is your opinion on Automated License Plate Readers and how they should be regulated in Roseville?
"In talking with our police officers, I understand the practical benefit to them. However, that is separate from the real issue of ALPRs. Council sets the policy and staff handles the implementation; therefore, regarding ALPRs, I want clear answers to a few questions: how long data is kept, who can access it, who it's shared with, and how often it's audited. Residents shouldn't have to dig through a report to find those answers. I'd want them in plain language on the city website and in the city newspaper. I'd also want to know for certain the data can't be used for civil immigration enforcement, consistent with the direction council has already taken. Transparency is what builds trust with residents on any public safety tool."
Share an example of a “councilmember initiated agenda item” you would like to put forward in your first term
"I'd propose a Resident Access review, asking the City Manager to report back on how residents find out about council decisions, weigh in before votes, and understand the reasoning afterward. Most people I talk to don't feel unheard because the city doesn't care. They don't know where to start. The review would look at what's working across our newspaper, website, meeting formats, and outreach, so decisions like how often we print the newspaper are made with the full picture. I'd ask staff to bring back options and costs for plain language summaries, remote public input, neighborhood town halls, and ride options to meetings. Town halls are a low-cost way to meet residents where they are, even when budgets are tight. My role is to set the direction, and staff can work out the how. The goal is closing the distance between City Hall and the people it serves."
What else do you want voters to know about you?
"I'm not running to launch a political career or climb some ladder - this isn't a stepping stone for me, it's the goal. I'm a 41-year-old queer mom, homeowner, and legal professional who feels genuinely lucky to live in Roseville, and I want to be part of the decisions that shape our community's future. I'm an average resident, not approaching this from a distance. I'm in it with you. If elected, I'll bring that same everyday perspective to City Council: practical, grounded, and accountable to the people living here."
Rebecca Carlson
Campaign website: No campaign website for this candidate could be located
Rebecca Carlson is a candidate for Roseville City Council who has lived in this city her whole life. Her family put down roots here in 1906 when it was still Rose Township. Carlson works in the transportation industry, providing transportation for aging and disabled citizens.
Carlson has volunteered in Roseville community theater and school events. She is also an advocate for children and young adults with autism.
Questionnaire: Rebecca Carlson's Responses
What’s your motivation for running for city council?
"My motivation for running for city council is to be a part of making, and keeping Roseville a safe, welcoming, and inclusive city. I believe every person deserves to be treated fairly, equally, and with respect, no matter who they are or where they come from. My family history is deeply rooted here, 120 years of service to the community and its people, so here I am, the 5th generation ready to do my part to keep Roseville fresh, growing and a welcoming place for all!"
What do you like about living in Roseville?
"Living in Roseville is like living in a big family to me. Everywhere I go I meet someone who knows me, my Dad, my aunt and uncle, cousins, or my grandparents. It is like walking into a family reunion and someone starts telling you a story about the time they and your grandpa did something together that you never knew about. I admire Roseville’s openness and the willingness to expand to accommodate all community members and make new members feel as welcome as possible. I would love to see other families do what mine has done and make their everlasting impressions; be it through businesses, community relations, volunteering, or just doing their part to keep the city safe and growing."
How do you think about budget planning and weighing the needs of government services with community concerns about property taxes?
"When I think about budgeting and weighing the needs of city services along with community concerns about property taxes, one of the first things I would do is look at each service and see where we might be able to utilize resources that are less expensive or that could be supported by local businesses and organizations through donations to help bring down the budget which in turn would lessen property taxes/ fees. I would also look at who are the services primarily benefiting and is the need so great that we need to keep adding more tax and fees to our people. Look at it from a manager perspective, your people keep your revenue flowing. If the community is not utilizing certain programs or services as much as anticipated, then things can be reshaped to bring down costs and lower the taxes and fees as a result."
What would you like to see change in the next 4 years in Roseville?
"In the next four years I would like to see Roseville more adapted and with a better understanding of the neurodivergent community as it is larger then I think the city realizes and definitely growing. I want to see those families and community members come out of the shadows and feel as welcome as possible. While there are many great events and programs for Roseville residents, many of these residents still do not feel comfortable participating out of fear of rejection, misunderstanding, and judgment. I would like to see community events designed for kids with autism, and assistance programs tailored to assist not just our aging community members, but our autistic and neurodivergent members as well. Lastly, I would like to see a change in how city leaders deliver information to community members. By mapping out what areas of the city would benefit most from certain information, for example homes with kids would benefit most from information on family based programs and news, and by sending out quarterly pamphlets with the information residents are more inclined to read about these things because it would pertain more to their interests/needs."
Share how you plan to pay attention to the needs of the community and how that would impact your decision-making as a city council member.
"I keep an eye on community member concerns through conversations with my neighbors, by keeping an openness for communication through email or phone and through social media. Granted, yes I’m a busy working mom, but I have always been flexible and adaptable to any situation and can usually be available with very short notice. Any information that would be brought to me from the community would be given equal and fair thought, I would make sure I listened with an open mind and without judgment and then weigh out how to best fill the need, if it is within my power to do so, and what would be the cost/benefit analysis to the need/concern. Taken from my years in customer service, I do not like having to tell people that I cannot help them even though sometimes it may be necessary, instead I tend to focus on telling them what I can do for them, same applies to my fellow residents."
What is your opinion on Automated License Plate Readers and how they should be regulated in Roseville?
"Automated license plate readers can be a mixed blessing. I believe that when utilized properly they can be very useful in criminal investigations and recovery of stolen vehicles, however, many companies who are making software for these cameras are using them to draw unnecessary information about people and they do it without the knowledge of whoever is using the cameras. I believe Roseville is collecting only the necessary data needed to recover stolen vehicles and aid in criminal investigation and is not overstepping the data privacy of our residents. I also believe that if it were ever discovered that unnecessary data was being misused, I trust that our law enforcement would take the appropriate actions to protect residents before the issue escalated beyond their control."
Share an example of a “councilmember initiated agenda item” you would like to put forward in your first term
"An example of an agenda item I would put forward would be to create activity days for children on the autism spectrum. This would require connecting with families whose children attend the CID programs within Emmett D Williams school and Brimhall Elementary as well as children who are openly diagnosed with autism or kids who have IEPS, BIPs, and 504 plans. An example of an activity day idea includes “Art in the Park” where kids can come and do fun art projects assisted by city volunteers and staff and these activity days could be held in hour long sessions through out the day and only a specified number of attendants allowed per session to avoid overwhelming everyone. Activities like this would also give community members a chance to meet our community support staff and build lasting relationships with community leaders."
Your father Roger B. Hess Jr is running for Roseville mayor. How would you avoid potential conflicts of interest if you are both elected to serve on the Roseville City Council?
"My father, Roger B.. Hess Jr is running for mayor using his own thoughts and ideas. Granted, both of us want to make Roseville the best place for my son/ his grandson to grow up in, but he and I could not be more different when it comes to how we see the world around us. We have always been comfortable agree-to-disagreeing and can still come together when needed. I grew up essentially learning Roseville from my dad and my grandfather, former councilman Roger B. Hess Sr. I listened to them debate city politics for hours and it opened my mind to developing my own thoughts about what I would like to see in our city. My dad does things I do not always agree with, and I do things he does not always agree with, but that is just part of being father and daughter, we can still communicate and make decisions without favoritism or conflict of interest getting in the way as we always have."
What else do you want voters to know about you?
"I would like the voters to know that I am not your typical city politician. I am a mom, I work four days a week over 10 hours a day, I live paycheck to paycheck as many of you do. I am a jack of all trades and have worked in many different sectors but serving customers and doing what is right for them has always been my passion. If it is within my power to do so, I will always bring you “this is what I CAN do for you” because I value you as you are and your time is precious to me, I will not waste it telling you what I cannot do for you unless I have no other choice. I am an out- of-the box thinker and I will always look for ways to save our city money. My biggest advocacy is for children and adults on the autism spectrum as well as further awareness and understanding within Roseville of it’s neurodiverse residents. Every resident deserves for their voices to be heard, for their ideas to shine, and every resident should feel welcome and always included no matter what."
Bruce K. Bester
Bruce K. Bester is a candidate for Roseville City Council who has lived in Roseville for twenty-three years. Bester is a US military veteran who served in combat as a commissioned officer. He was employed for 40 years as the CFO at Opportunity Partners, Inc., which provided a range of services for adults with disabilities. As CFO he worked with lobbyists and negotiated contracts with Hennepin County and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. During that time, Bester was awarded the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Magazine's CFO of the Year-Lifetime Achievement Award.
Bester volunteered for eleven years with Courage Center Adaptive Waterski program on Lake Owasso. Bester has been a board member in numerous statewide associations for persons with disabilities and a volunteer at Central Park Elementary School in Roseville. For the past three years, he has served as a board member and treasurer of Fleur Royale Condominium Association. He also served on the Roseville Finance Commission for six years, including as chair.
Questionnaire: Bruce Bester's Responses
What’s your motivation for running for city council?
"I am running because I have community service background, skills and expertise, and the desire to act as a public servant. My 40 year career in human services as CFO of Opportunity Partners serving persons with disabilities was followed by 6 years’ service on Roseville’s Finance Commission, and 3 years’ service as board member of an affordable housing condominium association. I volunteered for 11 years with Courage Center Adaptive Waterski program on Lake Owasso. I say that experience matters, community service matters, and financial expertise matters."
What do you like about living in Roseville?
"So much to like! Parks are often the factor that make people choose Roseville as a place to live. Me too. Parks include the walking trails, tennis courts, golf course – I use them all. The lakes. Rosedale shopping complex. The Rog. Proximity to both Minneapolis and St Paul. And the people!"
How do you think about budget planning and weighing the needs of government services with community concerns about property taxes?
"Taxpayers are faced with a growing tax burden. Our property tax statements are comprised of three major elements – county taxes, city taxes and school taxes. Each of these in approximately equal shares, and each growing at rates well above the cost-of-living index. We should make it our goal to move the levy increase to a rate closer to the cost-of-living index. I suggest that this be done by seeking new or expanded revenue sources other than the levy. Also, restrained spending such as is being considered in the current 2027 budget draft."
What would you like to see change in the next 4 years in Roseville?
"Roseville is a terrific place to make home, to work, to play. I wouldn’t want to change very much such a good thing. I am anxious to watch the new Climate Equity Action plan unfold. We should be very proud to be a city on the leading edge of doing something about climate."
Share how you plan to pay attention to the needs of the community and how that would impact your decision-making as a city council member.
"My activities in the affordable housing community as a board member of an affordable housing condominium association have given me insight and understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of the residents. Operating with a lean budget that preserves safety and proper maintenance is a balancing act, and a learning experience."
What is your opinion on Automated License Plate Readers and how they should be regulated in Roseville?
"There are 11 cameras in place in Roseville, in use since 2014. Placed in high crime areas and largely funded by local retailers. Both Police Chief and City Manager say they help solve crimes. They helped bust the ring that terrorized shopping centers with brazen thefts. Police and City Administrators are concerned about security, especially in light of Metro Surge. The City has tightened policies on use of cameras and data, including use of a community advisory committee and involvement of mental health resources, Bottom line- I am in favor of continued use of these cameras at the local level with tight controls over use and sharing of data, with an understanding that data will not be shared with federal authorities."
Share an example of a “councilmember initiated agenda item” you would like to put forward in your first term.
"I would propose an agenda item to make a final (revised) decision on the License Center Passport Center. A decision more consistent with the expectation of Roseville’s voters on the related sales tax issue. I would propose not spending $14.5 million to build a new building but instead buy or lease a building at a significantly lesser cost."
What else do you want voters to know about you?
"I was awarded the CFO of the Year – Lifetime Achievement Award by the Minneapolis St Paul Business Magazine."
Wayne Groff (incumbent)
Wayne Groff is running for re-election to the Roseville City Council for a third term. His first term began in 2019. Groff was born and raised with his six siblings on a farm in North Dakota. After receiving a degree in horticulture from North Dakota State University, Groff moved to the Twin Cities for further education in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Minnesota. He has worked as a realtor with Edina Realty for over 45 years and lived in Roseville with his husband for the past seventeen. They have been together for 45 years and were married in 2013 when it became legal in Minnesota, according to Groff. He and his husband enjoy gardening/landscaping, classical music, and midcentury architecture/design. Groff also enjoys doing the Wordle and Connections puzzles in the NYTimes.
Before he was elected to the city council, Groff served on the Roseville Planning Commission and Human Rights Commission. He is a former board member for Roseville Area League of Women Voters and Arts Roseville and a current board member for Northeast Youth and Family Services and Visit Roseville. Groff is a member of the Roseville Optimists Club and the Roseville Historical Society.
Questionnaire: Wayne Groff's Responses
What’s your motivation for running for city council again?
"Roseville is a great place to work, live, and play. But we can do even better. I look forward to working on issues to be even more responsive to citizens and value their input."
What do you like about living in Roseville?
"Roseville is a nice mid sized city that receives awards often for its parks and being a well run city. The people are what makes Roseville a great place to live. The Central location with short commutes to work, restaurants, shopping, entertainment and natural spaces make Roseville very livable."
How do you think about budget planning and weighing the needs of government services with community concerns about property taxes?
"Roseville needs to protect essential services while being honest about the impact on taxpayers. The city starts budgeting early so department heads, residents, and council members can weigh in. Police, fire, and parks are our largest budgets, and residents rely on them every day. As taxpayers ourselves, council members must keep the levy as low as possible while still maintaining safety, emergency response, and more than 670 acres of parkland. We should also continue comparing Roseville with similar cities and work to stay in the lower half for levy increases."
What would you like to see change in the next 4 years in Roseville?
"Change is inevitable, but I do find that most Roseville Residents prefer slower change. They moved here because they like how Roseville is. But, of course, it can be improved. Many issues are already being addressed. Safety through better staffed police and fire departments. Improving traffic patterns, better connectivity of pathways to encourage walking where possible. Better connectivity for bike commuters, while still maintaining traffic movement and safety. Many of these issues require coordination with county and state departments since our main commuter streets are county and state roads. We are a nearly fully built out community so housing has to be addressed in redevelopment. The changes need to be planned and completed with input from the residents most affected by them. With their help, we can make Roseville an even better place to live, work and play."
Share how you pay attention to the needs of the community and how that impacts your decision-making as a city council member.
"I try to attend as many community events as I can fit in my schedule. Events, such as, the Rice Larpenteur Alliance celebrations, Northeast Youth and Family Services, where I am a board member, Visit Roseville, the organization that promotes hospitality in Roseville, Arts Roseville events, the Optimist's Club, the quarterly Roseville business meetings and Rosefest events. I door knock as much as I can. By doing this I have direct personal contact with folks in their neighborhoods and can hear their concerns directly. The most important part of serving the Roseville City Council is listening actively and carefully to residents. That is how as a council member, I believe I can most effectively represent the residents of Roseville."
What is your opinion on Automated License Plate Readers (i.e. Flock technology) and how they should be regulated in Roseville?
"The goal of Automated License Plate Readers should be to avoid over-surveillance while collecting enough information to help solve crimes more quickly. There is also an education component: what residents may read online is not necessarily how these cameras are being used in Roseville. In Roseville, the data is shared only with law enforcement within the metro area. It is not shared with agencies that share their systems with ICE. The Roseville Police Department keeps the information for 30 days, and users are audited every month so the police chief knows who is using the system and why.
Meetings are held regularly to establish proper use and respond to resident concerns. The system has been used to locate a person involved in a shooting in Roseville, people with dementia who wandered away from caregivers, and missing persons more quickly."
Share an example of a “councilmember initiated agenda item” you brought forward during your previous term and something you’d like to bring forward in your next.
"I initiated a review of the Roseville Street Light policy. Currently, there is no appeal process when a street meets certain criteria, a light will be installed whether neighbors want one or not.
More thought needs to be put into this policy to allow for opting out by a neighborhood that does not want the street lights. Most concerns raised are from the effect of lighting natural habitat at night for nocturnal wildlife. I would like to have a way to analyze the neighborhood's concerns and allow for a variance or "opt out" if 60% of the immediate neighborhoods feel it is not in the best interests of their neighborhood."
What else do you want voters to know about you?
"I am in the midst of door knocking. I hope I can speak with many Roseville residents at their doors. If not, I am always available by phone or email. The most important part of this job is hearing from the people who live in Roseville. We may not always agree but I want to know what your thoughts and concerns are and I would appreciate the opportunity to explain why I vote the way I do. We may not always agree, but it is important to hear all sides. Thank you for working with me on these issues."
Learn More
Roseville Mayor Candidate Guide
Learn about the candidates running for Roseville Mayor:
Naomi Krueger
League of Women Voters Candidate Forum
The candidates for Roseville Mayor and Roseville City Council have also been invited to participate in a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Roseville Area. This forum will take place live at Roseville City Hall on Thursday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. The forum will also be livestreamed and recorded and posted on YouTube. Once the recording is available, we'll link to it in this guide too.
Prepare to Vote
Find out what else is on your ballot, check your voter registration, and locate your polling place:
Learn more about the candidates from the Primary Election Guide, in which the candidates answered different questions before that election:
Naomi Krueger
