Julia Hamann & Toby Leonard, side by side.
Looking into Julia Hamann's campaign for Mankato Mayor? Smart voters compare. Here's where she and Toby Leonard each stand — issue by issue, in plain language — so you can weigh both before the August 11 primary.
The candidates · August 11 primary
Independent
Toby Leonard
Army veteran, small-business owner & counselor. Running to spend tax dollars wisely and build for the next generation.
Challenger
Julia Hamann
Lifelong Mankato resident, social worker and first-time candidate running on a progressive platform: “I'm ready to start a new conversation.”
Issue by issue
Where they stand
Toby’s approach is listed first on every issue. Julia Hamann’s position follows, in her own terms.
Spending & Taxes
Toby Leonard
Cut the waste before you raise the tax.
Toby's number-one promise: review how the city spends every dollar and use taxpayer money wisely. Streamline licensing and cut red tape so Mankato runs lean — efficiency first, tax hikes last.
The Leonard difference
The only candidate making government efficiency the top priority.
Julia Hamann
Has not published a spending or tax plank. Her stated priorities call for new municipal investment in affordable housing units and green infrastructure.
Housing & Rent
Toby Leonard
Rents are too high. Build more — don't add red tape.
“We can do better as a city.” Toby opposes rent control (pointing to St. Paul's results) and instead grows supply: make it easier and cheaper to build, lower landlord costs, and let rents stabilize and fall.
The Leonard difference
Market solutions that actually add units — not new mandates.
Julia Hamann
Wants to re-examine how the city defines “affordable,” invest in creating more affordable units, and ensure “fair and just rental practices” between tenants and landlords.
Data Centers & Surveillance Tech
Toby Leonard
Do the homework before you sign the deal.
Toby wants the council to fully research big-ticket items — like Flock surveillance cameras and proposed data centers — for cost, privacy, and impact before any approval. No rushed commitments with taxpayer money.
The Leonard difference
Caution and cost-scrutiny before the city commits.
Julia Hamann
Wants new conversations about how developments like data centers affect the environment; supports the city's climate action plan.
Infrastructure & the Future
Toby Leonard
Plan for the next generation — not just the next budget.
“Are we setting things up for the next generation and our kids?” Toby pushes long-term infrastructure planning so Mankato's foundations are stable and ready for the future.
The Leonard difference
Long-horizon planning over short-term wins.
Julia Hamann
Prioritizes green infrastructure and weighing the environmental footprint of proposed developments.
Local Business & Regulation
Toby Leonard
Get government out of the way of Main Street.
A small-business owner himself, Toby knows the regulatory burden firsthand. He'd support local businesses through smart deregulation and a lighter, faster city licensing process.
The Leonard difference
A business owner who's lived the red tape.
Julia Hamann
Interested in exploring how city policy could encourage businesses to pay a living wage.
Listening & Transparency
Toby Leonard
“If I'm not willing to talk to you and listen to you, what's the point?”
Toby's campaign is door-to-door and online — meeting residents where they are. Accessibility and listening aren't a slogan; they're how he plans to govern.
The Leonard difference
A mayor who knocks on your door first.
Julia Hamann
Wants new channels to gather resident feedback and greater transparency in how the council makes decisions.
There’s a third name on the ballot. See how both candidates stack up against incumbent Mayor Najwa Massad, too.
Compare all threeThe bottom line
Two very different answers to the same question.
Both candidates want a Mankato that listens better. Julia Hamann’s answer is new municipal investment and new conversations. Toby’s is a leaner city hall: spend what we already collect wisely, grow housing supply instead of adding mandates, and do the homework before committing your money. That’s the choice on August 11.
Candidate positions summarized from public sources, including each candidate’s campaign materials, KEYC News, and the Mankato Free Press. Summaries are provided in good faith; we encourage voters to review each candidate’s own website. Prepared and paid for by Toby Leonard, 115 South Fourth Street, Mankato, MN 56001.