HOLLY BERNATZ
FOR MAYOR

A MORE BALANCED TAX BASE

Farmington has relied too heavily on residents to carry the cost of city services, infrastructure, and growth. That is not sustainable long term.One of the most important things we can do for residents is continue building a stronger, more balanced tax base. That means supporting quality business growth, helping existing businesses stay and expand, encouraging redevelopment, and creating the conditions that make Farmington a serious option for businesses looking to invest.This work does not happen by accident. We have been using real economic development tools: partnerships with Minnesota DEED, Open to Business, Minnesota Real Estate Journal, Dakota County Technical College, Inver Hills Community College, Dakota County, and regional development partners. We have supported business outreach, workforce conversations, the Farmington Business Summit, the Small Business Resource Fair, business surveys, EDA grant and assistance programs, site-selector outreach, and a completed grocery market analysis to better understand what it will take to attract everyday services residents want and need.We have also seen why the work we're doing matters. Existing business expansions, new business interest, new housing investments like The Emery and The Rye, and workforce housing partnerships with Dakota County all help answer something we have heard repeatedly from developers and businesses: Farmington needs the right mix of rooftops, workforce, infrastructure, sites, services, and long-term planning to become more attractive for investment.To me, responsible economic development means taking opportunities seriously, evaluating the facts from every angle, understanding the impact, and deciding whether a project helps move Farmington in the right direction.Careful does not have to mean closed. Responsible does not have to mean afraid of change.As mayor, I would continue this work with a clear focus: grow Farmington’s tax base in a way that strengthens our financial future, supports the services residents expect, and helps reduce the pressure on homeowners over time. A stronger business community is not separate from quality of life. It is part of how we fund and protect it.

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INFRASTRUCTURE, GRANTS & GOOD STEWARDSHIP

Infrastructure is not glamorous, but it is one of the most important responsibilities of city government.Cities age just like homes, vehicles, and people do. Roofs wear out. Roads crack. Trails deteriorate. Equipment reaches the end of its useful life. Buildings need repairs. Water, sewer, and stormwater systems need care. Public safety needs change as a community grows.Most of us understand this in our own lives. If we ignore the roof, skip vehicle maintenance, or avoid a health concern, the problem usually does not get cheaper. It gets bigger, more urgent, and more expensive.Cities are no different.That is why I support Farmington's use of tools like our five-year Capital Improvement Plan, road and trail Pavement Condition Index ratings, park maintenance data, equipment replacement schedules, utility planning, and Facility Condition Assessments to guide decisions. These tools help us understand what needs attention, when it needs to happen, and how we can plan for it responsibly.They also help take emotion and guesswork out of major decisions.For example, the Facility Condition Assessment helped us look at the Rambling River Center with real information about the condition of the building and what needed to be addressed. That same kind of data-driven planning is now important as we look at the Police Department and its long-term facility needs.The same is true for roads, trails, parks, and public buildings. We should not be making decisions only because something feels urgent in the moment. As mayor, I will continue to advocate for and support using data, condition ratings, long-term planning, and financial tools to prioritize what needs to be done.That also includes pursuing grants when they help fund real community needs.Since 2023, Farmington has accepted significant state and federal grant funding, including:$750,000 for the Rambling River Center and exterior plaza rehabilitation
$869,000 for Police Department perimeter security and related infrastructure
$500,000 for Emerald Ash Borer tree removal and replanting in the downtown project area
$350,000 for development of a new skateparkThat is $2.469 million in confirmed state and federal grant funding brought back to Farmington for community needs.Grant dollars matter because our residents and businesses already pay into those systems. If those dollars do not come back to Farmington, they go somewhere else. Used well, grants help move important projects forward without placing the full burden on local taxpayers.But grants are not a golden ticket.Before we accept funding or move forward with a project, we also need to understand what comes next. What will it cost to maintain? Will it require staffing? Are there operating costs? What is the replacement plan? Does it fit into our long-term priorities?My approach is balance: pursue responsible funding opportunities for the things Farmington needs, while being honest about the future cost of caring for those investments.Fiscal responsibility is not simply saying no. It is knowing the condition of what we own, planning before things fail, using outside funding wisely, and making sure today’s decisions do not become tomorrow’s unfunded problems.

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PLANNING FOR 2050, NOT JUST NEXT YEAR

The 2050 Comprehensive Plan continues to be one of the most important pieces of work in front of Farmington.A comprehensive plan is the city’s land-use guide. It helps determine where housing makes sense, where businesses can grow, where redevelopment could happen, where roads and utilities need to be planned, and how public safety, parks, trails, and city services may be affected over time.This matters to residents because growth is connected to everything: taxes, traffic, utilities, staffing, neighborhoods, public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life.I also believe it is important to be honest about how these plans work. A comprehensive plan should provide clear direction, but it is not meant to freeze a city in place for 10, 20, or 30 years. Communities, market conditions, infrastructure needs, housing needs and business opportunities can all change. We need to be both forward thinking and adaptable to all of these possibilities.That does not mean mid-cycle amendments should be taken lightly.Any proposed change to the land-use plan should be reviewed carefully, publicly, and with a clear understanding of the tradeoffs. The question should always be: does this change help Farmington become stronger, more balanced, and better prepared for the future?During my time on Council, I have supported using the comprehensive plan as a guide for responsible growth, infrastructure planning, housing options, business development, redevelopment, and tax-base diversification.I have also supported looking at how today's decision affects tomorrow's Farmington:What infrastructure is needed?
What does this require from staff and public safety?
What roads, utilities, parks, and services will be affected?
What is the long-term return to the city?
How does this affect residents?
Does this help create a stronger and more balanced Farmington?As mayor, I will continue to support long-range planning that is clear, transparent, and grounded in the real needs of the city.I will continue to take proposed land-use changes seriously, not as automatic yeses or automatic noes, but as decisions that must be measured against Farmington’s long-term financial health, infrastructure capacity, neighborhood impact, and quality of life.Not all growth is equal. Farmington needs leadership willing to look at the full picture.

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CLEARER COMMUNICATION

Residents deserve more than slogans and sound bites.They deserve to know what is being considered, why it matters, what the tradeoffs are, and how decisions may affect taxes, services, neighborhoods, and the future of the city.City government will never be simple, and not every decision can or should become a ballot question. That is not how representative democracy works. Residents elect leaders to study the issues, evaluate the facts from every angle, weigh competing needs, and make decisions on behalf of the whole community.But that does not remove the responsibility to communicate clearly.The real questions are:
Is the information available for residents who want to understand it?
Can it be found without digging through layers of confusion?
Can it be understood by someone who does not work in city government?
Are we using the right tools to connect with residents in ways that are actually helpful?As mayor, I will continue my focus on making city information easier to find, easier to understand, and easier to engage with. That means better access to the “what, why, and how” behind decisions, more plain-language communication, and more opportunities for residents to ask questions and be heard.That also means recognizing that meaningful engagement cannot rely only on social media. Social media can be useful for sharing information, but it is not always the best place for thoughtful conversation, careful listening, or respectful problem-solving.I will continue Mayor Lien’s office hours initiative because residents deserve real opportunities to connect, ask questions, share concerns, and have conversations outside of a formal council meeting or comment thread.My commitment is to continue listen, answer questions, explain the reasoning behind decisions, and keep residents connected to the work happening in Farmington.

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SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE FARMINGTON

This is a pillar/priority that was added during my first few months on Council, and it is one I am proud to support.Farmington is served by skilled, dedicated staff who do the daily work residents rely on and countless services most people only notice when something goes wrong.Supporting staff means asking hard questions with respect, setting clear expectations, and making sure the people doing the work have the tools, direction, and professional environment they need to serve residents well.Elected leaders come and go. That is part of a healthy democracy. But the city organization must remain strong, stable, and focused on service.As mayor, I will continue to support city staff while representing the needs, concerns, and expectations of Farmington residents.

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Who is Holly?

I was raised on a dairy farm in Central Minnesota, where hard work was part of daily life. Driving tractor, milking cows, picking rock, and putting up hay taught me responsibility, discipline, and the value of doing what needs to be done. That upbringing continues to shape the way I work, serve, and lead.Service has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. From helping start a children's choir in my hometown church to teaching religion classes, serving in worship, and participating in mission work in Haiti, India, and Tanzania, I've learned that leadership begins with serving others.I graduated from Paynesville High School in 1997 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the College of Saint Benedict in 2001. Studying philosophy taught me to think critically, consider different perspectives, and work through complex issues before reaching a conclusion.In 2003, I married my husband and best friend, Scott. We have been married for more than 22 years and have two children, Ava and Grant, along with our two poodles, Navee and Micah. After our daughter was born, I left my corporate career and started a small business. Today I own and operate two businesses, where I've learned the importance of listening well, solving problems, communicating clearly, and following through on commitments.Our family moved to Farmington in 2012, and it quickly became home. Before ever running for office, I volunteered in our schools, supported choir, theater, and athletic boosters, organized National Night Out in our neighborhood, served through Dew Days and Toys for Town, and looked for opportunities to contribute wherever I could.In January 2023, I was elected to the Farmington City Council. Since then, I have supported our strategic priorities, including investments in infrastructure, public safety, economic development, redevelopment, and responsible financial planning. I'm also proud that we have secured millions of dollars in state and federal grants to help move important community projects forward while reducing the burden on local taxpayers.I've learned that good decisions don't happen by accident. They come from taking the time to understand the facts, carefully evaluate the options, balance competing priorities, plan for the future, and communicate openly with the people you serve. That philosophy has guided my work on the City Council, and it is the approach I will continue to bring as mayor.I believe Farmington's future depends on responsible growth, strong infrastructure, public safety, quality business development, clear communication, and a healthy partnership between residents, elected officials, and city staff.Farmington is a community worth investing in. I am proud of what we've accomplished together, excited about what lies ahead, and would be honored to earn your vote for Mayor this November.

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HOW YOU CAN HELP

My campaign is about conversations, connection, and people who care about Farmington’s future.
You can help by requesting a yard sign, talking with neighbors and friends, asking questions, staying informed, voting, and encouraging others to vote.
Local elections matter. I am grateful for your support.

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