North Mankato City Council candidates discuss data centers, budget, and housing at forum
Candidates for two North Mankato City Council seats discussed the city’s recent 12-month moratorium on data centers at a forum. All attending candidates supported the moratorium and agreed that more study is needed before the city considers moving forward with data center development.
Seven of eight candidates for two North Mankato City Council seats addressed data centers, the city budget, housing and other issues at a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the St. Peter area. Candidates expressed support for the current council’s 12-month data center moratorium and said additional time is needed to review the potential effects of development.
Candidates Benton Bakke and Bridget Quinton offered differing perspectives on the scale and timing of possible data center projects, with Quinton saying the one-year pause is the minimum time needed for further study. The forum also covered municipal debt, infrastructure priorities, affordable housing, immigration policy and sustainability ahead of the general election.