Roseville City Council in February 2026. Credit: Max Jasper/The Roseville Reporter

Leading up to the Nov. 3 General Election, the Roseville Reporter will publish Q&A responses from candidates on the ballot. Readers can get to know the candidates and learn about their goals and stances on current issues to make an informed decision come Election Day.

Here you’ll learn from the candidates for Roseville City Council. Four candidates are running for two open City Council seats.

Candidates sent their responses to the Roseville Reporter via email. The Roseville Reporter remains neutral and publication of a candidate’s responses does not indicate endorsement.

Rebecca Carlson did not respond to the Reporter’s response request.

Cassie Iverson

City of residence: Roseville
Occupation: Elder law paralegal

I grew up in rural Minnesota and graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2008. I found my way into elder law, where I’ve spent the last eighteen years as a paralegal specializing in Medical Assistance benefits for aging and disabled Minnesotans. That work placed me in the gap between what systems promise and what families actually experience, teaching me how to navigate bureaucracy on someone else’s behalf. I bring that same advocacy to Roseville, where I live with my fiancé and two kids.  

What abilities and ideas do you bring to city government?

I bring a career of translating complicated systems into real answers for people who don’t know where to start— exactly the gap I’ve been hearing about most from residents. My approach is to listen first, ask hard questions and ensure the people most affected by a decision have a real voice before it’s made, not after.

I also want to bring a sharper focus on access and reach. Transparency shouldn’t just mean information gets published somewhere; it means residents can actually find it and understand it. Too many people miss chances to weigh in— like the Climate Action Plan survey— simply because they didn’t know where to look. I want to meet residents where they already are, make it easier to find out what the council is doing and why and be genuinely reachable: if you call or email me, you’ll hear back.

Name three issues that are most interesting or concerning facing Roseville

Housing affordability. Rising costs are squeezing all of us, but especially renters, first-time buyers and seniors on fixed incomes. Roseville will always need housing options that work for the full range of people who live here.

The uncertain future of HarMar Mall. Most its storefronts sit empty and the owner has reportedly been exploring a full redevelopment for years— including a leaked plan with housing— but nothing formal has come before the city. Residents deserve real transparency and a voice in what happens to one of Roseville’s most visible and dare I say historic commercial sites.

A connected, accessible Roseville. Getting around the city shouldn’t depend on owning a car. Sidewalk gaps, inconsistent trail connections and thin transit service make daily life harder for seniors, kids and residents with disabilities. It’s a climate issue too, since reducing car trips is one of the most effective things a city can do for its emissions goals.

How do you plan to address these issues?

On housing, I’ll support continuing the Accessory Dwelling Units and courtyard cottage zoning reforms already underway and push for tenant protections that keep long-term residents from being priced out.

On HarMar, I’ll push for the city to be proactive and transparent with residents as soon as real plans emerge. Whatever comes next should reflect what Roseville actually needs, not just what’s easiest to build, and should be measured against our 2040 and Climate Equity goals.

On connectivity, I’ll prioritize the continued work of closing sidewalk gaps in the neighborhoods that need it most, dedicated bike infrastructure and better transit connections, especially for seniors, kids, and residents with disabilities.

Underneath all three of these issues, I’ll work to make city decisions easier to find and understand so residents can weigh in before votes happen, not after.

Bruce Bester

City of residence: Roseville for 23 years
Occupation: Community volunteer, part-time tax & financial advisor

I am a lifelong volunteer. A military veteran with combat service as a commissioned officer. Employed 40 years as Chief Financial Officer of Opportunity Partners, one of Minnesota’s leading providers of vocational and residential services for adults with disabilities. I volunteered 11 years with Courage Center’s Adaptive Water Ski Program on Lake Owasso. For three years, I have been a Board Member with a condominium association, a local affordable housing program for 117 families. I served a six-year term on Roseville’s Finance Commission, including time as its chair. I was named CFO of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

What abilities and ideas do you bring to city government?

When I was first appointed as Roseville’s Finance Commissioner, I spent hundreds of hours learning the details of the City’s finances. My solid knowledge of the City’s accounting and financial systems allowed me to be more effective as the Chair of the Finance Commission and will allow me to hit the ground running at the Council level.

My career experience in vocational and residential services brings with it an understanding of the housing and employment needs of the people that I would represent. My experience with affordable housing has brought me in contact with the Roseville Navigators Program, a unique program designed to address the needs of persons in crisis situations. I believe in providing support that will allow us to move upstream in solving problems. My skills, abilities and ideas will transfer to the City of Roseville.

Experience Matters! Community Service Matters!

Name three issues that are most interesting or concerning facing Roseville

Let’s start with “safe city.” Safe means different things to different people. It means fully funded, staffed and trained personnel in police and fire departments providing protection and support for residents. It also means feeling safe for all residents to move around and participate in community activities. All residents deserve to be protected and feel and be safe.

Levy and financial management touches every aspect of city functions. Tax and levy were top concerns of residents as I was door knocking. Roseville deserves a City Council member skilled in financial management. 

Parks, trails and recreation touch the lives of young, old and all levels of abilities. Parks are among Roseville’s greatest assets. They become an important part of community and wellness. Time devoted to wellness often correlates to a reduction in time associated with medical care and expense.

How do you plan to address these issues?

I start by listening. I take time to do thorough research on the topic at hand. I am a compassionate problem solver, at home with complex matters that may be difficult or sensitive. Voters can expect honesty, transparency and integrity from me. I intend to utilize smart financial management approaches. Throughout my career I focused on revenue development, not just the levy. As an example, I would press for changes to Minnesota statutes that would allow our first responders to perform the current first response duties AND continue with transport to hospital. It is estimated that this could generate some $2-4 million per year in new revenue for the City and less elapsed time from first call to hospital.

Financial Leadership Matters!

I would also press Roseville’s Community Development Department to continue to help businesses to prosper. This leads to better jobs and fits nicely with upstream family supports.

Wayne Groff

City of residence: Roseville
Occupation: Real estate agent

I grew up on a family grain farm in North Dakota. I attended North Dakota State University, where I studied landscape architecture and received a four-year degree. I began selling real estate with a major Minnesota real estate company right after college and have been working in real estate for over 40 years. I have served two terms on the Roseville City Council and I am asking for your support for me re-election on November 3 so I can continue working on your behalf.

In addition to the Council, I currently serve on the board for Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS), which is an organization that provides mental health care for young people and their families. No one is turned away for lack of funds. NYFS also offers the Youth Diversion Program, which is designed to keep young people out of the prison system. In this program, troubled youth are offered education, vocational training, and learn to take responsibility for their actions.

I also serve on the board of Visit Roseville, an organization that provides marketing and other support to hospitality businesses in Roseville, focusing on hotels, restaurants and small businesses. This helps our tax base and makes Roseville a vibrant community. I have also served on the board for Arts Roseville, a group that identifies funding sources for public art projects, as well as artists’ talks at the Ramsey County Library in Roseville.

All of these activities have introduced me to a wide variety of Roseville residents with different interests and concerns and have helped me better represent all of our City’s residents in my role on the Roseville City Council.

What abilities and ideas do you bring to city government?

One goal I prioritize is developing ways to protect and not stress the City levy while still properly funding the services that Roseville residents value and deserve. Listening and understanding the concerns and issues raised by residents is always another top priority. As with all political decisions, citizens may not always agree with every single vote I cast, but you can rest assured that you will always be heard and respected. As a council member, I know that it is important to read the meeting packet thoroughly and do research before each meeting. At every Council meeting there is a public comment period at the beginning, as well as time for public input following presentations made to the City Council by staff and other experts in the field. As a Council member, I always welcome questions and discussion during Council meetings because it helps our Roseville residents understand the issue being discussed, but it also helps the Council make good, well-informed decisions.

I value respectful interaction between all parties. Indeed, my career has been based on listening to people, understanding their wants and desires, and helping solve problems that make a difference in their daily lives. These skills have directly enhanced my good work and sound decisions on the Roseville City Council.

Name three issues that are most interesting or concerning facing Roseville

Flock cameras and types of surveillance on roads. As with all sensitive and administrative decisions, a fine balance must be struck; in the matter of “Flock” cameras, the balance requires us to collect enough data to deter and solve crime and other community problems swiftly without conducting overly intrusive surveillance of private citizens. You may have read about data collected from Flock cameras being misused or abused in some jurisdictions, but rest assured that is not the way these cameras are being used in Roseville. Protections have been developed and put in place to prevent misuse of the cameras and to safeguard privacy. The collected data is only shared with law enforcement agencies within the metro area, i.e. it is not accessed by agencies that share their systems with ICE. Roseville Police Department keeps the information for 30 days and the users are audited every month so the police chief knows who is using the system and why it is being accessed. Meetings are held regularly to review use of the data and to hear and address resident concerns. The cameras do serve a valid function in protecting and serving our community, for example, the system has been used to locate persons involved in a shooting in Roseville. It has also been used to locate an individual with dementia who had wandered away from caregivers. Missing persons have also been located more quickly because of these cameras. Flock cameras can indeed serve a valid public purpose.

Levy increases. Levy increases are always a concern to residents, and consequently, to me as a Council member. What is sought in this case is an equitable balance between the value of city services and cost-effective methods of providing them. In our surveys, vast numbers of Roseville residents first value our public safety departments and programs, that is the Police and Fire Departments and first responders. Next they value our Parks Department and the programs provided there. These three departments comprise the largest portion of our City budget. To keep our tax levy as low as possible, our skilled and experienced departmental staff have been very successful in searching out grants, writing the grant applications and receiving that funding. We charge user fees so that the actual users of park amenities pay a portion of the costs of those programs. We meet early in the budget process with department heads to discuss residents’ concerns and identify costs that can be lowered or eliminated. The purchase of large ticket items may be postponed if it is determined that there is still useful life in that piece of equipment or system. The balance I always strive for is to provide residents with the services and amenities that they value here in Roseville while using their tax dollars wisely.

Climate change. Climate change is a serious challenge that we must all work together to solve. In Roseville, we have developed the City’s Climate Equity Action Plan, which you can review on the City’s website. The plan identifies action items that can be executed by the city’s residents, businesses and the entire community in order to reduce our carbon footprint. We are also exploring acquiring more city EV vehicles, such as the new EV fire engine. The original investment may be higher, but the vehicle produces lower carbon emissions and moreover, has a longer life expectancy than the old engines. There are many more ideas listed under the Climate Equity Action Plan. Please check it out, it is a great resource.

In summary, I’d appreciate your vote this Nov. 3 in order to continue doing good work together, toward a safe, happy and healthy City of Roseville.