Voters in Brooklyn Park’s Central District will choose from two candidates running for Brooklyn Park City Council.
Incumbent Council Member Nichole Klonowski will face Ashyante “Shantell” Gill in the Nov. 3 general election.
The candidate who wins this fall will serve a four-year term beginning in January 2027.
For more information on voting, visit brooklynpark.org/elections.
The Sun Post reached out to candidates to compile this voter’s guide in advance of the general election. Responses from the candidates are below.
Nichole Klonowski
Nichole Klonowski
Current occupation
Director of Strategy
Education and prior experience
Bachelor of Arts. Brooklyn Park City Council member and former Planning Commission Vice Chair, with a career in business and earlier work in social services.
What is one thing Brooklyn Park is doing particularly well right now, and what is one thing the city needs to improve?
Brooklyn Park has worked hard to keep life affordable even as costs rise everywhere. For 2026, Minnesota cities raised their levies an average of 7.7%, while we held ours to 4.54%, far below the state average. Where we need to keep working is our water. New federal PFAS rules and some of the hardest water in the state are real challenges, and the fixes are expensive. Our water meets safety standards today, and I am committed to finding solutions that protect it and ease hard water without putting an unfair burden on residents’ bills.
Public safety takes up a sizable portion of the Brooklyn Park city budget. What, if anything, would you work to change about the city’s approach to law enforcement and other forms of public safety?
Public safety is more than policing, and our approach is working. Crime has dropped to a 35-year low, down 20% since 2022, and 85% of residents rated safety positively in our latest survey. I would protect that progress by keeping a well trained, accountable police department paired with violence prevention, youth programs, and mental health and crisis response. Fire and emergency response matter just as much. Our firefighters respond in under eight minutes, beating the national standard, and I am committed to our new fire station and faster response, because reaching fires and medical calls sooner saves lives and homes.
Are there any projects, goals or issues you see as uniquely relevant for residents of your district in Brooklyn Park? If so, describe how you will approach those topics if you secure a seat in council chambers.
For too long, the state overlooked Brooklyn Park. I refused to accept that. Working with our staff and legislative partners, I helped lead our city’s push at the Capitol to bring our tax dollars home. We secured $7.5 million for the Community Activity Center expansion, $1.1 million to design our new fire station, and support for the Biotech Innovation District, including $1 million for workforce training, a project projected to create 10,000 jobs. Brooklyn Park is not a city to just hand challenges to. My approach is to keep showing up and keep fighting for the investment our residents deserve.
What is the best way for voters to contact you?
As an elected representative, my email is nichole.klonowski@brooklynpark.org
Ashyante “Shantell” Gill
Ashyante “Shantell” Gill
Current occupation
Community Health Advocate and Volunteer
Education and prior experience
B.S. Applied Psychology, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota; A.A. Liberal Arts and Applied Science; currently serving on Brooklyn Park’s Community Long-Range Improvement Commission.
What is one thing Brooklyn Park is doing particularly well right now, and what is one thing the city needs to improve?
Brooklyn Park is doing well creating opportunities for community engagement and investing in the city’s future. As a member of the Community Long-range Improvement Commission, I’ve seen the value of bringing residents into conversations about our community. One area where we can continue improving is ensuring that growth and opportunity benefit the families who already call Brooklyn Park home. I want to see continued progress on affordable housing, good-paying jobs, opportunities for youth and families, and strong neighborhoods while making sure residents have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them.
Public safety takes up a sizable portion of the Brooklyn Park city budget. What, if anything, would you work to change about the city’s approach to law enforcement and other forms of public safety?
Every resident deserves to feel safe in their home and neighborhood. I support strong public safety services while also investing in prevention, intervention and partnerships that address problems before they escalate. As a mother, I’m especially concerned about creating safe environments for our children and families. I would support collaboration among law enforcement, firefighters, mental health professionals, community organizations and residents. I also believe we should regularly evaluate public safety investments to ensure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively while maintaining accountability, transparency and trust between public safety professionals and the community.
Are there any projects, goals or issues you see as uniquely relevant for residents of your district in Brooklyn Park? If so, describe how you will approach those topics if you secure a seat in council chambers.
Central District residents deserve neighborhoods where families can afford to stay, feel safe and access opportunities close to home. My priorities include housing affordability, strong neighborhoods, good-paying jobs, opportunities for youth and families, and thoughtful development. If elected, I would approach these issues by listening directly to residents before major decisions are made and considering how development affects affordability, infrastructure, traffic and neighborhood quality of life. I would work to ensure that Central District residents aren’t simply experiencing Brooklyn Park’s growth, but have a meaningful voice in shaping it.
What is the best way for voters to contact you?