Alicia Pearson (Mayor of Lanesboro, Minnesota, candidate 2024)

Alicia Pearson

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Mayor of Lanesboro

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Associate

Northwest Mississippi Community College

Bachelor's

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Personal

Profession

Researcher

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Alicia Pearson ran for election to the Mayor of Lanesboro in Minnesota. She was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Pearson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Alicia Pearson provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 29, 2024:

• High school: Pontotoc High School
• Associate: Northwest Mississippi Community College
• Bachelor's: University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Gender: Female
• Profession: Researcher
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Sensible Steps Forward
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

General election for Mayor of Lanesboro

Mindy Albrecht-Benson, Donald Bell, Alicia Pearson, and Ken Soiney ran in the general election for Mayor of Lanesboro on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Mindy Albrecht-Benson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Donald Bell (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Alicia Pearson (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Ken Soiney (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Pearson in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Alicia Pearson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pearson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Professionally, I have over eight years of experience in clinical operations, project management, and strategic leadership. I’ve successfully led cross-functional teams of 30+ members, developed strategic plans, and driven improvements that have saved resources and maximized efficiency. I’ve also managed budgets in the millions, ensuring that projects were delivered on time and within budget while maintaining the highest standards. These experiences make me uniquely qualified to tackle the challenges we face, such as the upcoming Hwy 250 project and the need to ensure our local economy thrives during and after the construction process.

Beyond my professional background, I volunteer at a local senior living center, help fundraise at my children’s school, and am an active member of the League of Women Voters. I am one of the founding members of the Driftless Poets Society and a huge supporter of Lanesboro Arts. I want to retire here someday, and I want my children to have the option of building their lives here after college. To do that, we

need to ensure that Lanesboro offers not only opportunities for young people but also housing, services, and infrastructure that support people at every stage of life. To that end, I also want to create a senior living community right here in Lanesboro.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Strengthening communication & accountability within city government: For Lanesboro to meet its future challenges, we need to strengthen communication between the city government and the public. Clear, consistent communication about city projects, challenges, and progress is essential to building trust and transparency. Accountability is also critical—city projects & vendors must be managed with efficiency & transparency.
• Affordable housing is an ongoing challenge in Lanesboro, & we must address this issue if we want to attract and retain young families, professionals, and long-time residents. To combat this, we need to work closely with developers, residents, and business owners to explore affordable housing options, while being mindful of maintaining the town's character. This also means addressing rising utility costs by exploring sustainable energy solutions and energy efficiency improvements.
• Ensuring the community thrives during & after the Hwy 250 construction project must be planned now: This project presents challenges & opportunities for Lanesboro. It will inevitably cause disruptions to traffic, tourism, & business operations during its duration, but we can’t afford to simply "survive" it. The focus must be on helping local businesses & residents thrive throughout the project & ensuring that Lanesboro emerges even stronger on the other side. Beyond the construction phase, I'll think strategically about how to leverage the improved infrastructure for long-term growth.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I grew up with limited resources, and I’m passionate about ensuring every resident—especially every child—has what they need to thrive. I'm a strong supporter of our library and school, the cornerstones of this opportunity. I’m also committed to growth that includes partnerships with surrounding cities and businesses to bring more opportunities to Lanesboro. Additionally, I believe in creating affordable housing options and a senior community, so all generations can find their place here. I am also passionate about transparency in government, ensuring that decisions are made openly with input from the community. My focus is on fostering a community where everyone can be happy, healthy, and successful, regardless of their circumstances.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

For an elected official, integrity is the most important characteristic. A leader needs to do what’s right, even when it’s tough, and always put the community’s interests first. Transparency goes hand-in-hand with integrity—residents deserve to know how and why decisions are being made. It’s all about open communication, involving the community in decisions, and being accountable for those actions. This is how trust is built, and that trust is what makes a community strong.

Empathy is another essential quality. Understanding the diverse experiences of residents helps guide decisions that are fair and thoughtful. Lanesboro is home to people from all walks of life—young families, retirees, business owners, artists, and more. To serve everyone effectively, an official needs to listen with an open mind and make sure all voices are heard, especially those who may be overlooked. Building genuine connections with the community helps create a sense of belonging for everyone.

Adaptability is key, especially in a small town facing a changing world. Challenges like the Highway 250 construction, shifts in tourism, or changes in population require a leader who can adjust plans as needed, stay calm in the face of uncertainty, and come up with creative solutions. Strong leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers—it’s about being open to learning, finding the right solutions, and doing what’s best for the community.

A good elected official also needs to focus on community-centered growth. It’s not just about bringing in businesses or boosting revenue; it’s about making decisions that truly enhance the quality of life for all residents. Whether it’s investing in local infrastructure, creating more opportunities for young people, or ensuring older residents have the support they need, the goal should always be to make Lanesboro a great place for everyone.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

If I could be any fictional character, I’d want to be Naruto. Naruto has always stood out to me because of how deeply he cares for his community. He’s willing to make sacrifices, put others ahead of himself, and do whatever it takes to protect his friends and make his village a better place. I admire his resilience—he’s faced obstacle after obstacle, yet he never loses hope or sight of what really matters.

Naruto's journey resonates with me personally because, like him, I also came from nothing. I've had to work tirelessly to get to where I am today, and that experience has given me a deep belief in myself and my ability to create a better life—not just for my own family, but for the entire community around me. What I love most about Naruto is his unwavering belief in others and his constant effort to uplift those around him. No matter how tough things get, he never gives up on people, and that’s something I strive to embody every day.

His loyalty, determination, and optimism inspire me, especially as I work to build a better future for my children and my community. His story reminds me that, regardless of our beginnings, we can make a real impact through hard work, compassion, and a commitment to creating positive change—all things I carry with me in everything I do.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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