ISD 761 Candidate Comparison | Christopher Lee for Owatonna School Board

Category	Christopher Lee	Ann Miller	April St. Martin	Damian Baum	Darren Albers	Elizabeth Hedlund	Nikki Gieseke	Timothy O'Connor
Website	Lee for Owatonna	Ann Miller for School Board	No campaign website located	No campaign website located	Darren Albers for Owatonna	Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools	No current campaign website located	No campaign website located
Facebook	Lee for Owatonna on Facebook	Not located	Vote April St. Martin - Owatonna School Board	Not located	Not located	Not located	Not located	Not located
Instagram	@Lee.for.Owatonna on Instagram	Not located	Not located	Not located	Not located	Not located	Not located	Not located
Public / Candidate Background	Owatonna High School Class of 1998; public-safety background including School Resource Officer experience; 17+ years in technology; serves on ISD 761 Transportation Safety Advisory Committee.	Campaign website describes a focus on student opportunity, collaboration, informed decision-making, and strong schools as a community investment.	2024 and 2026 school-board candidate. Her 2026 VOTE411 responses emphasize transparency, communication, parental rights, educational opportunity, and taxpayer stewardship.	Director of Technology and Metering at Owatonna Public Utilities and a director of the Owatonna Area Business Development Center. OEA-endorsed in 2026.	Owatonna resident for 19 years; six years supporting Lincoln PTO programs and events; member of the 2024 Boundaries Input Team; exchange-student host; 19 years at Federated Insurance in leadership roles.	Current ISD 761 School Board member, serving since January 2023. District-listed committees include Finance, Community Education, and Special Education. She is seeking re-election.	Previously served six years on the Owatonna School Board and three years with the Minnesota School Boards Association. Ran for ISD 761 School Board in 2024 and is OEA-endorsed in 2026.	Systems Administrator for the City of Owatonna. Filed for ISD 761 School Board in 2026.
2026 VOTE411	Responded	No response found	Responded	No response found	Responded	No response found	No response found	No response found
Academics & Student Success	High academic standards, early help for struggling students, advanced opportunities, and strong early-childhood education.	Every student deserves an opportunity to succeed; prepare students for successful futures.	Says her focus is excellent education and meaningful opportunities for students.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Improving academic achievement is a top priority; focus resources on academic development and student success.	Supports schools focused on reading, writing, math, critical thinking, relationship skills, and future success.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.
School Safety	Prevention, trust, practical safety, and consistent response to bullying and harassment; former School Resource Officer.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Campaign emphasizes student success and service; a detailed standalone safety platform was not located in sources reviewed.	Says schools should provide children with a safe educational environment with parents and staff working together.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.
Budget & Fiscal Responsibility	Scrutinize spending, account for each dollar, and question existing practices before requesting additional taxpayer funding.	Detailed fiscal position not located in sources reviewed.	Prioritize outcomes, use data-driven reductions, and consider redesigning service delivery.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Evaluate programs and expenses by cost, effectiveness, and student impact; seek reductions that protect student success.	Serves on the Board Finance Committee and publishes information about district budget developments.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.
Transparency & Accountability	Transparency with fiscal discipline; ask questions, challenge assumptions, and remain accountable for outcomes.	Emphasizes listening, thoughtful questions, informed decisions, and collaboration.	Lists transparency and communication among her top priorities and says parents, educators, and community members should be heard.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Listen to stakeholders, consider different perspectives, and use educator and subject-matter expertise.	Publishes updates about board meetings and district activity.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.
Teachers & Staff	Teachers and staff are the backbone of schools; decisions should support employees working directly with students.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Says teachers and staff deserve to be heard and respected.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Says educator experience should help the board focus on practical, long-term solutions.	Says parents/guardians and staff should partner to provide quality education and that teachers and staff should be supported and valued.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.
Community & Families	Partnerships among families, employers, nonprofits, and the district; rural families and taxpayers should have a voice.	Collaboration and strong schools as a community investment.	Emphasizes parental rights and meaningful parent input in decisions involving children.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Wants stronger community involvement and support for schools; campaign emphasizes listening to students, families, educators, and community.	Emphasizes parent responsibility and partnership between families and school staff.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.
Student Needs & Opportunity	Early help, advanced opportunities, inclusive environments, and consistent action against bullying and harassment.	Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed.	Says educational needs should be the focus and students should receive excellent education and meaningful opportunities.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Advocates for student success across all grade levels and using student data and community input to identify disparities in achievement or access.	Says every child should be loved, cared for, and supported; has also publicly addressed Title IX and girls athletics.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.	Current detailed position not located in sources reviewed.
Endorsements	Yes, Owatonna Education Association	No OEA endorsement listed	No OEA endorsement listed	Yes, Owatonna Education Association	Yes, Owatonna Education Association	No OEA endorsement listed	Yes, Owatonna Education Association	No OEA endorsement listed
Prior ISD 761 Election / Board Experience	First ISD 761 School Board candidacy located.	No prior ISD 761 election or board service located in sources reviewed.	Ran for ISD 761 School Board in 2022 and 2024; received 3,880 votes in the 2024 election.	No prior ISD 761 election or board service located in sources reviewed.	No prior ISD 761 election or board service located in sources reviewed.	Elected in 2022; serving on the ISD 761 School Board since January 2023.	Former ISD 761 School Board member; also ran in 2022 and 2024, receiving 5,028 votes in 2024.	No prior ISD 761 election or board service located in sources reviewed.

Links & Sources

These are the source links listed in the comparison worksheet supplied for this page. Candidate platforms can change, and prior-campaign information is labeled where applicable.

Minnesota Secretary of State — 2026 Candidate Filings

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Owatonna Public Schools — 2026 Election Information

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VOTE411 / League of Women Voters — ISD 761 Voter Guide

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Owatonna Education Association — 2026 Endorsements

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Darren Albers for Owatonna School Board

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Elizabeth for Owatonna Schools

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