City Council Candidate Bios

Jeff Falk (Incumbent)-At Large

Jeff attended Waseca High School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and the National College of Chiropractic, Lombard, Ill (Dr. of Chiropractic Degree).  Jeff owned a chiropractic office in Owatonna for 30 years.  Since selling his business, he has been employed by the Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, as a facility liaison.  He also assists his wife in her business as an artist.  Jeff has been involved with the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism from 1977-79 and 1988-1995, the president of the Owatonna Swimming Association from 1988-1991 and the president of the Owatonna Sports Boosters from 1991-1992.  Jeff believes it’s been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Owatonna for the past four years as a Member-at-Large.  Owatonna has been and will continue to be growing, vibrant community.  He would like the opportunity to serve Owatonna for another four years to do what he can to make this community a place we are all proud to call home.

Marlene Nelson-At Large

Marlene has lived in this community since 1962.  She’s a licensed realtor and also an LPN.  She is now retired so she can devote her time to City Council business.  Marlene’s involvement has been that of a taxpayer advocate.  Many people are so busy working that they don’t have time to research and watch what is happening.  She makes an effort with editorials to share information with the public.  She founded the SCCIR (Steele County Coalition for Immigration Reduction) to watch important bills before Congress and to alert our members to contact Congress.  She also belongs to Senior Citizens and the Humane Society.  She is running for City Council because nothing affects our lives more than government whether it is local, state or federal.  Whether elected or not, she will continue to serve this community.
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Paul Swenson-1st Ward

Paul was raised in Grand Forks ND, educated in the Grand Public Schools and attended the University of ND. In 1979, he moved his family to Owatonna to begin a career with Lutheran Brotherhood. He remained with Lutheran Brotherhood until January of 2003 when he formed Swenson Financial Services as an independent insurance and financial services firm. Paul has earned his Chartered Financial Consultant designation for the American College of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.  Paul participates in the Owatonna Community by currently serving on the Board of Directors of the St John Lutheran Church Foundation and Wellness Partners and is an active member and Past President of the Owatonna Rotary Club. In the past, he has been active with the original SeniorPlace board, Church Council of St John Lutheran Church and has participated with the OACCT public policy committee.  Owatonna has been a great community to raise a family and grow a business. Paul hopes to help Owatonna continue to provide that opportunity for citizens in the future.


Bill Thompson (Incumbent)-1st Ward

Bill was born and raised in Owatonna. He is married to Lorie for 29 years and they have two children, Kate age 20 and Greg age 24. Bill graduated from Mankato State University with a  degree in finance and a minor in economics. He has worked for Federated Insurance Companies for 30 years in several capacities including selling insurance to local businesses and individuals for 10 years. He currently holds the position of Corporate Compliance Manager in the Internal Audit Dept. He has previously served on Trinity Lutheran Church Council and President of the Owatonna Park and Recreation Board.  Bill is completing his fourth year representing the First Ward on the City Council and serving as the President of the City Council. He would be honored to continue serving on the City Council and continue working to make Owatonna a safer place to live. He also wishes to continue promoting positive growth in Owatonna including assuring the health care community can continue to provide the type of medical services the citizens expect and deserve.
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Rick Ellingson (Incumbent)-3rd Ward

Rick attended Mankato State University, Century College, and Riverland Community College. He has degrees in Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic and Criminal Justice. He is currently the Operations Director for Gold Cross Ambulance and a Licensed Police Officer, he also serves as the Medical Tactical Team leader for the South Central Drug Investigative Unit.  Rick is a past president of Steele County CAER and Steele County Safety Council.  He served on the Pearl Street 911 dispatch board and the EDA. He is currently an active member of the Steele County Fair Board and serves on the Kids Safety Camp Committee.  He is the advisor of the Gold Cross Explorer Post which he founded in 1988.  He’s been the Vice President of the City Council and has served the 3rd Ward for the past 8 years.  He believes he’s kept his promise on keeping taxes down and controlling the budget and has handled situations in his Ward as promptly as possible.  With his expertise in safety and security, he plans on working hard to keep Owatonna safe and secure. Rick also has a high priority in business retention. He prides himself in listening to the residence in the 3rd Ward and voting for their interests and concerns.


Mark McGaheran-3rd Ward

Mark was born and raised in Owatonna. He is 32 years old and is a 1991 graduate of OHS. He attended MSU for three years majoring in Mass Communications. Mark previously worked at Cashwise Foods for 7 1/2 years and was night manager for 5 years. He works for Wal-Mart (for the past 4 1/2 years) as Department Manager. He has served on the Wal-Mart Safety Team for 2 years. Mark is a nine year member of Owatonna Elks Lodge 1395. He became an Officer in the Elks in 1998 and worked his way up through the chairs to serve as Exalted Ruler in 2002-03 and currently a PER and an Elks National Foundation Member. He is also a five year member of Owatonna Eagles Aerie 1791 and is a member of the Steele County Agricultural Society.  He is running for 3rd Ward because he felt as a law abiding, tax paying citizen, he should become more involved with the city and the community for a safer tomorrow for our youth, leadership for the people of his ward and the city, and a way to get to know what is going on and where our money is being spent.

Rich Northrop-3rd Ward

Rich was born in Owatonna, the 7th of 8 children of Tessie and Dr. Harson Northrop.  He grew up in what is now the Northrop -Oftedahl House B&B on Main Street.  His parents and the people of Owatonna taught him to respect nature and appreciate Owatonna's strong commercial base as well as provided him with a love for the arts and respect for others.  Rich served in the Army and received an honorable discharge at the rank of Specialist 4.  He volunteered at the Rochester State Hospital while attending RSJC, an experience that led him to attain a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Special Education at St. Cloud State University.  He worked nights as a Correctional Officer at the Minnesota State Reformatory for Men while attending college.  While teaching in St. Cloud he spearheaded vocational programs and integration of mentally handicapped students, served on the Executive Board of the St. Cloud Education Association, the board of the Association for Retarded Citizens, as well as the Advisory Board of the Central Minnesota Mental Health Center.  While in St. Cloud Rich served as Lead Teacher of the Adult Basic Education Program and lead teacher of our Sunday School.  He left teaching and now is a Security Agent with Avalon Security assigned to the Federated Companies.  He taught Sunday School for 18 years and has been active in musical productions with the Little Theater.  I am the father of 5 girls, three of my own and two Step.    He seeks office not out of dissatisfaction for those who have served before him but rather out of a sense of civic duty.  He wants to give something back to this wonderful community that has given so much to him and his family.
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Wayne Klinkhammer-5th Ward

Wayne graduated from high school in Forman, North Dakota in 1948 (at the age of 16).  He attended one year of college in Ellendale, North Dakota and moved to Owatonna in the fall of 1950.  He worked in a factory until 1967 and then went into real estate sales.  During that time, he spent 11 years in the National Guard and was the Honor Graduate of the Officers Candidate School in 1956 at Ft. Benning, Georgia.  He served on the Owatonna Planning Commission, Owatonna Park & Recreation Board, as Mayor 1988-1995.  He helped start Little Theatre of Owatonna, the Owatonna Curling Club, the Exchange Club Center for Family Unity, SeniorPlace and the Homestead Hospice House.  Wayne would like to serve on the City Council as a way to continue his involvement in this community.

Conrad Miller-5th Ward

Conrad was born in Owatonna in 1944.  He graduated from Waseca High School in 1962.  He married Denise Miller and has four children and 10 grandchildren.  Conrad has worked in the automotive trade since 1963 and has been in business for himself for 35 years; he is the current owner of Riverplace Auto Center.  He is a Vietnam Vet and a member of the VFW.  He is a member of the AASP Minnesota and ASA National Automotive Association.

Brent Svenby-5th Ward

Brent has a Master of Arts in Urban Planning from MN State- Mankato -2000 and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from Mankato State University- 1992.  He is currently employed as a Senior Planner with the Rochester/Olmsted County Planning Department for eight years.  Brent has worked for the City of Owatonna (EDA) and Steele County (Planning & Zoning Department) during the early and mid 1990’s.  He has also served on the 2003 and 2004 Campaign Cabinet of the United Way of Olmsted County, served as the co-chair of the 2003 Olmsted County employees’ United Way Campaign, served as the chair of the 2004 Olmsted County employees’ United Way Campaign and served as a Mentor at the Rochester YMCA.  He was instrumental in the development of Steele County Area Transit (SCAT).  Brent is looking forward to pursuing the opportunity to sit on the Owatonna City Council, representing the Fifth Ward.  As a resident of Owatonna for 30 plus years, he believes that my devotion, skills, education and employment history make him a viable candidate for the Owatonna City Council.  Through his experience as a Senior City Planner, he’s been involved in innovative city decision making and has played an active role in future development initiatives.  His hope is that he will have the chance to positively guide, with citizen input, the City of Owatonna for present and future generations.