Kasson City Election
Mayor Dan Eggler is running for re-election unopposed this year.
He has served on the Kasson City Council since January 2013, becoming Mayor 2 years ago.
He has lived in Kasson for many years and the region his whole life.
He and his wife have 2 adult daughters.
He works for Progressive Tool and Manufacturing. PTM is a Minnesota-based contract manufacturer providing plastic injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, tooling, machining, assembly, and shipping.
As Mayor, he is proud of balancing the budget in a very transparent way, with reductions in the tax rate over the last 5 years. Other accomplishments include using incremental development strategies to fix up infrastructure without crushing local taxpayers and fostering local business startups, filling empty storefronts, and hosting community events for Economic Development.
Goals for the next term: Getting potholes patched, upgrading park equipment, improving water treatment, and making sure public safety and mental health resources are accessible while maintaining a fiscally conservative approach to budgeting.
Johann (Yo’hann) Marsland is one of three candidates running for two city council seats in Kasson. Here he introduces himself in his own words.
I have called Minnesota home since 1997, when I returned from missions work in India and landed in Kasson with my brother Sam. In 2000 I married Stephanie. Together we raised three children—Elliah, a licensed psychologist; Avellah, who works at the elementary school; and Josiah, who works with Simply Tidy.
In 2010 we moved back to Kasson to start a new church after pastoring up north for five years. I supported our family by running a fire-safety company and later became involved in education and cognitive development through LearningRx. That work led me to found the Train a Child Center (TACC), which provides a 3rd- through 12th-grade school for families seeking a family-style learning alternative to the public system. TACC also offers brain-training and cognitive-development programs that help struggling students turn frustration into success. In 2016 I started a Hispanic church, and in 2024 I helped launch a new congregation in Mantorville.
My first real contact with city government came when my oldest daughter petitioned for a chicken ordinance so she could keep hens in our backyard. We worked with city staff and elected officials to make that change. Later I saw the harder side of local decision-making when our small school’s request to rezone a building on Mantorville Avenue was denied by Planning and Zoning and the City Council. For the past six years I have attended council meetings in order to offer informed prayer over the issues facing our city. During one of those times of prayer I felt prompted to run for office. After much consideration and further prayer, I am responding to that call and asking the residents of Kasson to vote for me in the upcoming election.
Earlier service has prepared me for this role. From 2007 to 2010 I served on the city council in Hewitt, Minnesota, while pastoring there. As a pastor I have learned the relational side of community life and hope to bring patience, grace, and genuine care into the way residents and government interact. Before entering pastoral ministry I served as property manager of a 400-unit mobile-home community, where I handled new construction, utility billing, street maintenance, snow removal, and resident concerns. These experiences, together with my years of attendance at Kasson meetings, have given me a clear picture of current issues so I can contribute immediately.
If elected, I want clearer, more personal communication with the people who take time to engage city government. Impersonal notices should be supplemented—and sometimes replaced—by phone calls and face-to-face visits. Residents who invest their time deserve to be heard and responded to thoughtfully.
I am financially conservative and believe government should enable private investment in the community. Every tax dollar needs to be spent carefully. I applaud the efforts of the current mayor and council to slow the growth of government; yet more work remains to ease the tax burden on our citizens. Property taxes have risen dramatically over the last six years, as have the costs of running the city. I would work to ensure that the city budget does not increase beyond the cost-of-living increase, balanced with growth in the area’s median income.
When people disagree, I operate by one simple principle: let truth triumph over victory. I look for what is true rather than who is right. If another perspective proves better, I can rejoice. I am willing to set aside my own preference when careful examination shows a different course better serves the whole community. Pride is part of human nature, but seeking truth over personal victory keeps me accountable.
I see myself as a servant. My faith teaches me that the greatest example of leadership is service. Whether or not I am elected, I intend to keep attending meetings, praying for our city, and working for the good of Kasson in whatever role I hold. I ask for your vote so I can serve you on the City Council with that same attitude.
Ryan Christensen is also running for one of the two open seats on the Kasson city council. My parents, sisters, and I moved to Kasson in 1989, and I have called the Kasson-Mantorville area home for most of the past 37 years. I currently live in northwest Kasson with my wife, Angela, and our daughter, Nora. I am a proud 2001 graduate of Kasson-Mantorville High School and have been a teacher in the KM School District since 2010.
My involvement in local government began when I served on the Mantorville City Council from 2016 to 2020. Since 2021, I have had the privilege of serving on the Kasson City Council. In addition to my council responsibilities, I serve on the Kasson Park Board, the Dodge Hockey Rink Committee, and the city's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Committee.
After five years on the Kasson City Council, my goals and priorities for our community remain unchanged. I want to continue being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars, finding ways to strengthen communication between city staff, the City Council, and the residents of Kasson, and supporting thoughtful development and growth within our community. This includes opportunities for single-family housing, multi-family housing, and recreational spaces that support youth sports and activities.
When I first joined the Kasson City Council in 2021, I was appointed to fill a vacancy created when a council member moved outside city limits. When I later ran for election, I did not campaign on a specific agenda. Instead, I focused on listening, learning, and making decisions based on what I believed was in the best interest of our community. That approach has not changed. I believe effective local government requires collaboration, open communication, and a willingness to consider different perspectives before making decisions.
Throughout my years in local government, I have had the honor of serving alongside some outstanding individuals. Don Hofstad, Henry Blair, Will Lambert, and Duane Burton have all been tremendous mentors who helped shape my approach to public service. I am grateful for their leadership, guidance, and dedication to the communities we have served.
I am proud to call this area home, and I remain committed to helping Kasson grow responsibly while maintaining the qualities that make it such a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. It has been an honor to represent the residents of Kasson, and I hope to continue earning their trust and support in the years ahead.
Hi, my name is Justin Thurmes and I am running to be a councilor for the city of Kasson. I have raised my children in Dodge County and am currently a deputy for the Sheriff’s Office, a position I have been in for nearly 15 years. My family has roots in Dodge County and I have
lived in and around the Kasson-Mantorville area for the majority of my life. I’m a very proud father of three beautiful children (Brooklynn 17, Jude 15, and Harry 6) who keep me busy most days.
I have dedicated the majority of my adult life to public and community service. I started out, while in college, as a first responder. I continued to serve on the local Sheriff’s Posse, in our 911 dispatch center, and finally as a deputy for the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office. All of this has allowed me to meet my fellow citizens and neighbors while also forming lifelong, positive relationships with our local police officers, fire fighters, EMT’s, and city employees.
As a dad of three Komets, I have a very real and vested interest in continuing to find ways to improve Kasson for all its citizens. We need to work together to keep our streets safe, our parks and neighborhoods clean, and attract patrons and businesses to thrive and grow going forward. I have always been interested and involved in public service and, if entrusted and elected, I feel like this would be a great way to give back to the community I’ve grown to love.
From talking to the public and listening to concerns, I have gained a fresh perspective on the issues most people feel directly affect them. Rising utility costs, the continual increasing costs and shortages of our local housing market, rental amounts, and property taxes have been
mentioned to me numerous times. Although I feel we have been more fortunate here in Kasson
than in some other local communities regarding some of these increased costs, there is always
room for improvement and ideas to better our community. I am eager to listen, learn, and be a
voice for all Kasson citizens.
Sheldon Torkelson is running for a special election Kasson city council seat but was not available for an interview.
Kasson Mantorville school board candidates
There are six candidates for three open seats on the Kasson Mantorville School Board.
Jilaine Rendler has lived in KM school district for 40 years, and lived in Dodge County most of her life. She is married and with her husband have 3 children, 5 grandchildren. She has been employed for 35 years in Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic, 25 of those years were spent in management.
This would be her first public office position. These are her goals as a school board member. “I hope to help navigate the budget/levy issues. Help maintain a positive trajectory of the school programs. If possible, would like to define a better form for accountability for all students and faculty to include parents. I would like to increase community involvement to improve and revive school spirit and respect for oneself, for others, community and country”
Mark Torkelson is running for re-election and introduces himself. My wife, Ann, and I have lived in the Kasson/ Mantorville area since 2000. Over the years we have come to really appreciate this community and the people who make it a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We have enjoyed being involved in the community and watching our area grow while maintaining the qualities that make it a special place to live.
We have two college aged daughters. Our family has always valued being involved in the community and supporting young people. Ann and I both serve on our church worship team and we really enjoy having the opportunity to serve together. I am also one of the youth leaders at our church, which is something I particularly enjoy because I enjoy working with and mentoring young people.
I owned and operated a landscaping and excavating business for 20 years. That experience taught me the importance of hard work, managing finances, making difficult decisions, and being accountable to employees and customers who depended on me. Today I spend much of my time maintaining our acreage near Mantorville and volunteering where I can. One of the things I especially enjoy is working with young people and mentoring those who are considering careers in the trades.
I have served on the Kasson-Mantorville School Board since January 2019 and currently serve as board chair. During nearly eight years on the board, I have been part of a lot of important decisions and have seen the district face significant challenges, including changes in leadership, COVID, financial pressures, and difficult decisions about how to best use limited resources. That experience has given me a much better understanding of the responsibility that comes with serving on a school board. It has also reinforced for me that good board leadership requires listening, asking questions, working together, and keeping the focus on what is best for students and the community.
I want to continue helping Kasson-Mantorville provide a strong education while being responsible with taxpayer dollars. I want our students to have opportunities to succeed in whatever path they choose, whether that is a four-year college, a technical program, the military, or going directly into the workforce. I also want to continue supporting strong academics, career and technical education, fine arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Schools should help students discover their strengths and prepare them for life after graduation.
I want Kasson-Mantorville to remain a school district that families are proud to be part of and that people want to move to and stay in. Strong schools are an important part of a strong community. My goal is to help maintain that strength by making thoughtful and financially responsible decisions, supporting our teachers and staff, and keeping students at the center of what we do. I believe good school board leadership is about being a servant to the community, listening to different perspectives, asking the right questions, looking at the facts, and making decisions that are in the long-term best interest of our students, families, staff, and taxpayers.
Mark Gransee is running for the first time for the school board. He was raised in this community and graduated from K-M in 2007. He is married to Stevie, and they have two daughters, a newborn and one in middle school.
He has worked for McNeilus Steel for over 16 years in various roles. This will be his first time running for the school board position.
His goals would be to raise proficiency levels among all schools. “We need to make sure K-M students are able to read, write, and do math at grade level. We should strive to lead the state, and nation, in student proficiency levels,” Mark comments. “I would like to involve more of the community on a front-line basis. Too many people are content to sit in the background. We need to step up and make our choices heard in order to make a difference at K-M schools”.
Albert Brand moved to the Kasson-Mantorville area roughly six years ago and recently put down deeper roots in Mantorville. He has five kids. Four are currently students in Kasson-Mantorville schools, and the youngest will be soon.
He is a business owner and runs Kratos Athletic Center, a local gym here in the community, and also owns Embarc Solutions, a marketing company that serves clients nationwide. Running both has meant managing budgets, meeting payroll, leading teams, and being accountable to the people he serves.
This would be his first time serving in elected office. He ran for this same school board seat last year and came up just 30 votes short, and is back because he is even more committed to serving our schools.
Albert states his goals as a school board member. "I want the district to budget responsibly and protect the classroom first, especially with rising costs and unfunded state mandates. I want to support great teachers and strong academics, including hands-on and career-technical programs that prepare kids for the real world. And I want decisions made locally and transparently, so families understand how and why they get made, in schools that stay safe and welcoming. Strong schools are the heart of a strong community. My goal is a district our families trust and are proud of: one that spends their money wisely, prepares kids for life after graduation, and brings people together instead of dividing them. When our schools are thriving, Kasson-Mantorville thrives."
Patrick Madery is a proud graduate of Kasson-Mantorville High School and a lifelong supporter of this community. He is running for re-election for the Kasson Mantorville School Board. Patrick and his wife chose to return to Kasson-Mantorville to raise their family, and are blessed with three children who benefit from the opportunities our district provides. Here he explains why he is asking for your support on November 3rd.
Professionally, I serve as a Business Development and Account Manager, where I work with customers across the country, build relationships, and make strategic decisions that balance long-term goals with responsible budget management. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, youth and community sports, trail riding, hunting, and
fishing.
I am seeking a second term on the Kasson-Mantorville School Board because I care deeply about the future of our schools and our community. As both a parent and a current board member, I understand the importance of making thoughtful decisions that support students, staff, and taxpayers. Over the past four years, I have worked to uphold the district’s
Commitment to Excellence while maintaining a focus on academic achievement, fiscal
responsibility, and long-term planning. I am running to continue providing steady
leadership, representing the voices of our community, and ensuring that every decision
keeps students at the center of our work.
Since being elected to the School Board in 2022, I have invested significant time in training and professional development through the Minnesota School Boards Association. I have
served on the Policy, Land & Facilities, and Finance Committees and have held the role of
Board Treasurer. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of school governance, budgeting, facilities planning, and policy development. In my professional career, I have also developed skills in leadership, collaboration, strategic planning, and financial accountability. Together, these experiences have prepared me to thoughtfully evaluate complex issues, listen to diverse perspectives, and make decisions that serve the best interests of students, staff, and the broader Kasson-Mantorville community.
One of the most important issues facing our district is student enrollment, as it impacts
nearly every aspect of school operations. I will continue supporting efforts that make
Kasson-Mantorville a destination district for families by promoting the excellent work of our staff and maintaining strong academic, athletic, arts, and extracurricular programs. I am committed to ensuring students have access to a wide range of opportunities, including
college-level coursework, career and technical education, and real-world experiences that
prepare them for success after graduation. I also believe in responsible financial
stewardship, thoughtful facility planning, and maintaining a positive culture where students
feel supported, challenged, and prepared to pursue their individual goals, whether that path
leads to college, the trades, military service, or the workforce.
