John Weland For Jackson City Council

The right choice in moving Jackson forward.

About

First and foremost I am a father to a beautiful, strong-willed, independant daughter and I am a husband to a beautiful, creative, understanding wife -- both of whom gracefully accept my enthusiasm for our community, technology, and my often being overly analytical. I aspire to always be impactful and to give my time to improve the lives of those around me.

I am a Solutions Architect and have worked in the IT field for the last decade. I am always looking to see where my skillsets can benefit us, even here in rural Minnesota. Prior to moving to Minnesota, I was an instructor and member of the New Braunfels Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). That organization teaches disaster preparedness and actively helps to offset the burden placed on our first responders in the event of an emergency. I was also a founding member and volunteer for the Texas Hill Country Search and Rescue.

Core Values

Values

Accountability

I believe that the city council should be held accountable for the resolution of issues that the citizens bring before it.

There needs to be a genuine concern and respect by the council for the citizens of the city that we represent. This is something that I feel has been lacking, and something that I am committed to changing.

Community

The role of government, whether local or at the highest levels, is to serve the people; to listen to those it represents, and behave in such a way as to reflect their will.

"The government which governs least, governs best." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Issues

I believe things need to be evaluated on an issue-by-issue basis.

Communities solve problems by working together on issues.

Community Involvment

  • July 2016

    Moved to Jackson

  • Joined the Jackson in Action community, a town hall format discussion group put together by community leader Jeff Gay.

    Jackson in Action was held semi-regularly to foster the discussion of issues and ideas about the Jackson area in hopes to facilitate growth in our community.

  • January 2020

    Mayor Wayne Walters tasked Alderman Jeff Gay with the formation of an Animal Committee to address and resolve the community concerns regarding the stray cat situation in the downtown area.

    The committee was led by Alderman Jeff Gay, and as a committee member I helped to found the Jackson County Animal Protection Society (JCAPS) as a legally registered 501(c)3 organization.

  • Logo of the organization

    I currently serve as the appointed President of JCAPS to execute the day-to-day operations of the organization, with guidance from the Board of Directors.

    Since its inception in 2020, JCAPS has taken in, provided medical care for, and rehomed 40 animals (and counting) in Jackson County.

  • March 2021 - Current

    I have helped to establish the first community garden at Zimmerli Park. The community garden support S.T.E.A.M education programs, with the hopes to provide the excess fresh produce for community programs such as Senior Dining and the Food Shelf.

    As a volunteer for the "Green Thumbs" Garden Comittee, I participate in the upkeep and expansion of the Zimmerli community garden and in the planning for future community gardens.

  • Logo of the organization

    August 2021

    With the oversight of the Board of Directors, A Pet's Tale (a pet supply store) was conceived in order to provide a necessary service for the community, and to provide financial resources for JCAPS, thus allowing the non-profit to continue to cover spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and other needs for the animals that JCAPS takes in.

  • I am in the process of creating a podcast called "Jackson in Action" (a personal passion project). I developed this idea with input from Jeff Gay as a partner and mentor on the project. Now, I want to bring those ideas and concepts to fruition. The goal is to talk about the Jackson area and the community.

    The podcast will cover topics such as community issues and think-tank ideas, with the hope of sparking discussion and action, and to help facilitate growth in the community.