Meet the candidates: Sauk Rapids City Council

The Sauk Rapids City Council consists of five members, which includes a seat for the Sauk Rapids mayor. Two four-year council member terms are open this election cycle. Joe Kampa, Christian Kirmeier and incumbent Nick Sauer are running for those seats. 

To ensure fairness, all candidates were given the same word limit per question and the same submission deadline. Responses that exceeded the length constraint were cut off at the limit using ellipses.

Kampa did not return a questionnaire to the Benton County Herald.  

Nicholas Sauer 

Age: 42

Describe your current involvement in the Sauk Rapids community. I am currently serving my 15th year as a Sauk Rapids City Council member. Throughout my tenure, I have participated in numerous committees and working groups while remaining involved as a volunteer in my daughters’ schools and activities. 

What traits or qualifications do you possess that make you the best candidate to serve Sauk Rapids residents? As a lifelong Sauk Rapids resident and a multiple-term city council member, I am committed to serving our community. Being available and responsive to residents has always been a priority, and I take pride in following up with those who contact me.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the city of Sauk Rapids, and how do you plan to
address those concerns? One of the biggest challenges facing Sauk Rapids is continuing to keep taxes affordable while still providing the services residents expect. Over the years, the city has done a good job of keeping taxes low while investing in things like public safety, streets, parks and other community needs.
As a council member, I will continue to look for ways to balance those priorities. That means being careful with spending, planning and making sure tax dollars are used wisely. I believe we can continue to provide the services residents want without placing an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. Maintaining that balance is important to keeping Sauk Rapids a great place to live and raise a family. 

Eleven of the council’s 16 regular meetings in 2026 have had no items on the regular agenda,
meaning no discussion planned. In light of this, what specific steps will you take to ensure
constituents remain informed about how decisions are being made? Agenda items are discussed in working groups that include city staff and two council members before coming to the full council. I encourage residents to stay involved by attending meetings, reviewing agendas and meeting minutes, and reaching out to city staff or council members with questions. Transparency and accessibility are important to me, and I will continue to be available to residents and require staff to do the same.

What is a specific short-term goal you have for the city of Sauk Rapids? If elected, how would you pursue this objective in your term as a council member? Keeping transparency and accessibility in mind, I’d like to see city council meetings streamed live and archived online. Not everyone can make it to meetings in person, and this would make it easier for residents to stay informed and involved. I would work with city staff to explore options, costs and technology needs, and I’d reach out to other cities already doing this to learn what works well. It’s a practical way to improve communication and make local government more accessible to everyone.

What is one aspect of city government you hope to better understand following your term in office? Even after 15 years on the council, I’m still learning new things about our city. Sauk Rapids continues to grow and change, so it’s important to stay involved and keep up with what’s happening. It’s been a few years since I served on the public works working group, and I’d like the opportunity to get involved again, see what’s new, and learn more about the challenges and opportunities the department is facing.

Christian Kirmeier 

Age: 37

Describe your current involvement in the Sauk Rapids community. I’m a Sauk Rapids homeowner, parent and local real estate agent. I volunteer with local organizations in our community and work with families and businesses across the area. I care about Sauk Rapids because it’s where we’ve chosen to put down roots and raise our family.

What traits or qualifications do you possess that make you the best candidate to serve Sauk Rapids residents? As a real estate agent and small business owner, I understand budgets, property values and how city decisions affect homeowners and businesses. Volunteering in leadership roles with local organizations has taught me to listen, find common ground and make the most of limited resources. I’m not tied to any party or agenda. I simply want Sauk Rapids to remain a great place to live, work and raise a family.

What do you feel are the biggest issues facing the city of Sauk Rapids, and how do you plan to address those concerns? The biggest issues facing Sauk Rapids are affordability, managing growth and keeping the community feel that makes our city special. Residents and businesses feel the pressure of rising costs, so the city needs to be careful with every tax dollar and focus on needs before wants. As Sauk Rapids grows, planning ahead for infrastructure, parks and housing will help us avoid costly catch-up later and make sure growth benefits the whole community. Public safety and dependable city services are also basic responsibilities that residents should be able to count on. I would approach these issues by asking practical questions, listening to residents, working respectfully with fellow council members and city staff, and making decisions based on long-term value rather than short-term convenience.

Eleven of the council’s 16 regular meetings in 2026 have had no items on the regular agenda, meaning no discussion planned. In light of this, what specific steps will you take to ensure constituents remain informed about how decisions are being made? Residents shouldn’t have to attend every meeting to understand what their city is doing. I believe council members have a responsibility to explain decisions clearly, ask questions in public and make sure important items get appropriate discussion. I would encourage open communication, welcome input from residents and be willing to explain my reasoning on the decisions I make. Transparency builds trust, and trust is what makes local government work.

What is a specific short-term goal you have for the city of Sauk Rapids? If elected, how would you pursue this objective in your term as a council member? My short-term goal is to help residents better understand how city decisions are made, especially when it comes to the budget and property taxes. Many people see their costs go up without a clear explanation of why. I would work with fellow council members and city staff to look for practical, low-cost ways to share budget information in plain language and invite community input. When residents understand where their money goes, they can be more involved and hold their city accountable.

What is one aspect of city government you hope to better understand following your term in office? Explain. I hope to better understand how the city works with the county, the state and neighboring communities on shared responsibilities. Many decisions that affect Sauk Rapids taxpayers are shaped by outside requirements and partnerships. Knowing where the city has control and where it doesn’t would help me be honest with residents about what’s possible and focus on the areas where the council can make a real difference.