A quorum for the Highway 23 Coalition general membership is at least 10% of the voting members at the annual meeting.
Per the Bylaws, Section 3.2: Each member of the Coalition receives one vote. To be a member in good standing of the Coalition, the entity or person must have provided the appropriate membership funds to the Fiscal Agent of the Coalition.
Pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have representatives from three regions, the St. Cloud Region (Benton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine Counties), the Willmar Region (Chippewa, Kandiyohi, and Renville Counties), and the Marshall Region (Lincoln, Lyon, Pipestone, Rock, and Yellow Medicine Counties). Each region shall have at least one government and two business representatives on the Board and may include one additional member.
For 2026, the Highway 23 Coalition is sharing an updated slate of Board election candidates, open board positions, and a proposed bylaws amendment. These updates reflect the Coalition’s continued commitment to strong, balanced leadership across the regions we serve.
Open Board Seat Candidates
These open board seat candidates have been appointed by the Board of Directors to be ratified by the membership. The following candidate was appointed to a term that will end in June of 2028.
| Candidate | Region Represented | Current Term Expires |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Ask | Willmar (government) | June 2028 |
Candidate Biographies
Justin Ask serves on the Willmar City Council, representing Ward 3 through January 2029, and also serves as Lead Pastor at Vinje Lutheran Church. His work in both local government and ministry reflects a strong commitment to service, community, and connection. Justin represents the government sector from the Willmar region and supports the Coalition’s efforts to improve transportation, strengthen regional ties, and support long-term opportunity across west central Minnesota.
Reelection Candidates
Following are current board members whose terms expire this year and who are willing to re-elect to another three-year term:
| Candidate | Region Represented | New Term |
|---|---|---|
| Roland “Rollie” Nissen | Willmar (additional member) | June 2026-June 2029 |
Candidate Biographies
Roland “Rollie” Nissen serves on the Highway 23 Coalition’s Legislative Committee and chairs the Membership Committee. He is a retired Kandiyohi County Commissioner and a member of the Mid-Minnesota Development Commission Transportation Committee, bringing longtime public service and transportation insight to the Coalition’s work. Rollie is a strong supporter of Highway 23, recognizing its importance as a key connector for agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and regional growth across Minnesota.
Open Board Seat Candidates
The following board positions remain open and may be filled through nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting.
| Region | Represented by |
|---|---|
| Marshall | Business |
| St. Cloud | Business |
| Marshall | Additional Member |
| St. Cloud | Additional Member |
Current Board Members
Following are the current board members:
| Board Member | Region Represented | New Term |
|---|---|---|
| Bob Byrnes | Marshall (government) | June 2028 |
| Luke Johnson | Marshall (government) | June 2027 |
| Josh Schafer | Marshall (business) | June 2028 |
| Joe Perske | St. Cloud (government) | June 2027 |
| Scott Johnson | St. Cloud (government) | June 2028 |
| Jake Bauerly | St. Cloud (business) | June 2028 |
| Roger Imdieke | Willmar (government) | June 2027 |
| Justin Ask | Willmar (government) | June 2028 |
| Nate Rud | Willmar (business) | June 2027 |
| Heather Olson | Willmar (business) | June 2028 |
| Roland “Rollie” Nissen | Willmar (additional member) | June 2029* |
Bylaws Update
The Coalition will also consider an amendment to Section 4.1 of the Bylaws to include Stearns County in the listing of counties within the St. Cloud Region. This change corrects an omission from the original bylaws and ensures accurate regional representation.
*Pending member reelection at the Annual Meeting.
This year’s slate reflects the Coalition’s ongoing commitment to strong, balanced leadership across the regions we serve. We thank our current Board members for their continued service and encourage members to participate in shaping the future of Highway 23 by voting at the 2026 Annual Meeting.