Braden Rhem (Medina City Council, Minnesota, candidate 2024)

Braden Rhem

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Medina City Council

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Michigan State University, 2007

Personal

Birthplace

Kalamazoo, Mich.

Profession

Business executive

Contact

Campaign website

Braden Rhem ran for election to the Medina City Council in Minnesota. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

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

Biography

Braden Rhem provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 30, 2024:

• Birth date: January 23, 1985
• Birth place: Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Bachelor's: Michigan State University, 2007
• Gender: Male
• Profession: Business Executive
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Experienced City Leadership
• Campaign website
• Campaign endorsements

Elections

General election

General election for Medina City Council (2 seats)

Mary Morrison, Chris Pederson, and Braden Rhem ran in the general election for Medina City Council on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Mary Morrison (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Chris Pederson (Nonpartisan)
		Braden Rhem (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

To view Rhem's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Rhem in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Braden Rhem completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rhem'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.

I'm Braden Rhem, and I'm running for Medina City Council. My family and I have been proud residents of Medina for over a decade, and I'm deeply invested in our community's future. My 4 years of service on the Planning Commission, where I've Chaired for the last two years, has given me the opportunity to influence development in a way that respects our community's character and needs. Professionally, I bring 17 years of experience at a Fortune 100 company, where I lead a large team in global sourcing responsible for a $1.2bn business. In my role, I work daily to balance competing priorities and stakeholders, while driving critical business results. This blend of professional and civic experience gives me a unique perspective on management and financial stewardship in our city.

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?

• Strategic Vision: Braden will work to enhance and preserve our city’s natural beauty while protecting our open spaces and natural resources. He will build on Medina’s success in keeping tax rates one of the lowest in the county through efficient use of resources and supporting our local business community.
• Commitment to Balanced Growth: As he has done during his four years of service on the planning commission, Braden will advocate for thoughtful development that respects our city’s rural heritage and natural resources. He will incorporate the voices of the community in his actions on the City Council.
• Unbiased Representation: Braden will focus solely on the needs and interests of our community members. Neither Braden nor his family own businesses or property for development in Medina

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m committed to public safety as a top priority. Ensuring that our police, fire, and emergency services have the resources they need to protect our community is essential. I am committed to investing appropriately to keep Medina a safe and secure place for all residents.

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

Transparency, lack of personal and financial conflicts of interest, public service experience.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

As a business leader, I have a proven ability to balance diverse stakeholder needs, guide teams through change, and deliver impactful financial results. My experience in navigating complex development challenges and aligning constituents positions me to make a meaningful difference in city governance.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working in the tool-yard at my father’s general contracting company. I spent most summers working there growing up and learned the value of hard work.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, I believe to serve on the City Council, that individuals should gain experience working with one of the City’s volunteer commissions, either Parks, or Planning such as myself. I have served on the Medina planning commission for four years, including two as chair. This experience has prepared me to be successful as a Council Member, as it’s required holding public hearings and facilitating debate among the commission, as well as representing the voices of the community.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Mayor of Medina Kathy Martin
Former Mayor of Medina Liz Weir

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe this is critical, especially in local government. As a member of the City Council, I will ensure we remain accountable to residents. This includes being transparent with our city budget and budget process as well as listening to input from the community. I’ll also ensure that City staff ensures our decisions and discussions are readily available to the public and easy to access.

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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Candidate

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