CANDIDATE Isanti County Commissioner: District 5
Stephanie Aronson
Local Elections Matter.
My name is Stephanie Aronson and I am running for County Commissioner, District 5. I believe local government has an obligation to serve all residents fairly, with honest and efficient leadership. I will work to provide transparent proceedings, make practical and timely decisions rooted in the needs of the community and ensure responsible handling of taxpayer money that provides maximum bang for your buck.
Upcoming Outings & Events
One thing I love about Isanti County is all the businesses, social groups and events. Check out all the places in the community I’ll be (I’m usually the one with the funky hair) and please join me in celebrating Isanti daily.
Got Questions? Ideas? Comments? Complaints? I want to hear it all!
Accessibility and transparency are hugely important. What do you love about Isanti? Where could you use a little more help? Or more freedom? I want to know how I can best serve you!
Fast Facts: Isanti County
“What we need is not more Federal government, but better local government.” ~ Calvin Coolidge
Population
One of the fastest-growing counties in Minnesota, Isanti has nearly 45,000 residents, with many of the net-in migration coming from young families. The median age is 40 years old.
Services
Isanti County’s largest local industries include Manufacturing, Health Care & Social Assistance, and Construction. Nearly half of the current workforce commutes to work closer to the metro area.
Taxes
Isanti’s current effective current tax rates are moderate: some neighboring counties (Kanabec, Chisago) have higher property taxes, and others (Sherburne, Anoka) carry lower tax burdens.
Why Run for Isanti County Commissioner?
Because sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
Improve Infrastructure
Infrastructure requires serious investment: roads, equipment maintenance, and economic development aren’t keeping pace with population growth
Focus on the Future
Isanti’s youth deserve real opportunity. Too many graduates leave because there’s nothing here for them. Expanding youth recreation, community spaces, trades training, and career pathways gives young people a reason to build their futures in Isanti.
More Efficient Governance
Efficiency means keeping the board focused on practical matters, spending less time on symbolic gestures and partisan politics, more long-term commitments on resolutions, and faster turnaround times on ongoing projects.
Being a County Commissioner is a dirty job. But somebody’s gotta do it.
The County Board is a nonpartisan office. Their job is to serve the residents of Isanti County in a practical way, managing zoning, planning and development, infrastructure maintenance, public services. The fundamental question that drives the County Board should be “Does it work?” and if the answer is No—they should ask “How do we make I work?” It’s a job of logistics, strategy, and efficiency.
Yet Isanti is falling further and further behind as the County Board plays ideological games. Board meetings are filled with questions about which state flag to fly, whether to buy a cake for the nation’s birthday, should we make a symbolic statement (that has no force of law behind it) regarding the Second Amendment. All this on the taxpayer dime.
Meanwhile, the County Attorney’s office needs new laptops. The county needs new servers and the jail needs better wiring. We have some of the worst roads in east central Minnesota during the winter. Our school buildings are in dire need of repair and our students’ test scores are dropping. The library cut hours and services because of funding issues. Flip flopping referendums on whether a position should be appointed or elected resulted in years of turnover as applicants questioned the security of the proposed job. Half the current workforce commutes to jobs out of the county, which is all lost revenue and lost time with their families.