Save the date. Come hang out with us.

On Saturday, September 19, we’re getting together at Ironwood Park in Carver for a casual community gathering, and I’d love to see you there.

We’ll have food, drinks, yard signs and plenty of time to visit.

I’ll give a quick campaign update, but this won’t be a night of speeches. It’s really about bringing people together. Meeting neighbors. Catching up with friends and supporters. Hearing what’s on your mind. And talking about the future of Carver County.

Live in District 5? Come join us.

Following the campaign from somewhere else? You’re welcome too.

Still figuring out where you stand? Even better. Come say hello and ask me some questions.

Campaign contributions will be welcomed, but they are absolutely not required. Your presence and your participation matter more.

Saturday, September 19, 2026
4:30 to 7:30 PM
Ironwood Park
1803 Ironwood Dr, Carver, MN 55315

Bring your family. Bring a friend. Come hungry.

Please RSVP so we can make sure we have enough food and drinks!

Hope to see you there.

People First. Community Always.

* Prepared and paid for by the Khai Tran for Carver County Committee – PO Box 176, Cologne, MN 55322

The thing I heard most this morning? People are paying attention to how the county spends taxpayer money.

Before the NYA Stiftungsfest parade, we walked the route and talked with people along the way.

A lot of the conversations were quick. A handshake. A comment from the curb. Someone mentioning one of my recent posts.

But one topic kept coming up: how the county makes spending decisions.

People are paying attention.

Fiscal responsibility doesn’t mean saying no to everything. We need good roads, public safety and strong services. And we need to invest wisely in a growing county.

It means asking the tough questions. Making smart choices. And remembering that every dollar the county spends came from someone who worked for it.

Based on what I heard today, people want those questions asked.

What county spending or tax issue concerns you most?

And thank you to the friends and supporters who walked with me today. It meant a lot.

If you didn’t see it and want to scroll up, watch it, you can find it on this page.

If you’re wondering how each commissioner voted on these decisions, here it is.

Fiscal responsibility starts with the people making the decisions.

Over the last three years, Carver County commissioner pay went from $77,786 to $95,907. Then in February, the County Board approved a market adjustment increase of $49,342 for the county administrator position, bringing the salary for that position to $277,763.

I believe public leaders should be paid fairly.

But taxpayers also deserve transparency. They deserve to know how these decisions were made, what comparisons were used, and whether those comparisons actually make sense for Carver County.

That is why I’m sharing the county source documents here, along with the roll-call votes for each decision:

Commissioner pay increase:
12/19/23 for 2024: D1-Degler, D2-Workman, D4-Lynch, D5-Fahey = Yes, D3-Udermann = No
12/17/24 for 2025: D1-Degler, D2-Workman, D4-Lynch, D5-Fahey = Yes, D3-Udermann = No
12/16/25 for 2026: D1-Anderson, D2-Workman, D4-Lynch, D5-Fahey = Yes, D3-Udermann = No

County administrator position salary increase:
2/17/26: D1-Anderson, D2-Workman, D4-Lynch, D5-Fahey = Yes, D3-Udermann = No

Take a look at the numbers. Look at how the decisions were made. Then decide for yourself whether this reflects the kind of fiscal responsibility you expect from your County Board.

For me, it comes down to something pretty simple: make good decisions, explain them clearly, and remember whose money you’re spending.

Dec 19, 2023 Board Meeting Files
https://carvercomn.portal.civicclerk.com/event/152/files/agenda/75

Minutes in Jan 2, 2024 Agenda Packet:
https://carvercomn.portal.civicclerk.com/event/312/files/agenda/235

Dec 17, 2024 Board Meeting Files
https://carvercomn.portal.civicclerk.com/event/119/files/agenda/589

Dec 16, 2025 Board Meeting Files
https://carvercomn.portal.civicclerk.com/event/528/files

Feb 17, 2026 Board Meeting Files
https://carvercomn.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1020/files/agenda/1551

After years in eastern Carver County, Heather and I started a new chapter in Dahlgren Township (just south of Cologne).

We’re newer to this part of the county, but Carver County has been home for more than 25 years. I appreciate the open space, the small-town feel, and mornings like this one. I’m also enjoying getting to know the people and communities that make District 5 unique.

I won’t pretend I know everything about western Carver County yet. I’m listening. Learning. And trying to better understand both what people love about living here and what they believe needs more attention.

So, help out a newer neighbor: What is something everyone should learn about western Carver County?

Thank you to everyone who gave me such a warm welcome at tonight’s Night to Unite gatherings. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to every invitation.

I had so many great conversations, heard thoughtful feedback, and felt so much excitement about this campaign. I’m grateful, energized, and more passionate than ever about the opportunity to serve this community.

Tonight was what “People First. Community Always.” is all about.

And why stop with tonight? If your neighborhood is planning a gathering, please reach out. I’d love the chance to meet everyone.

Not because I wasn’t glad to be at the Bountiful Basket Food Shelf’s Pancake Breakfast this morning, but because I don’t want my campaign to become a collection of “look at me volunteering,” “look at me donating,” or “look at me attending another fundraiser” posts.

That’s not why I was there.

I was there because organizations like Bountiful Basket Food Shelf are quietly doing the work that holds communities together. Every week they make sure families have food on the table. They rely on volunteers, donations, local businesses, civic groups like the Cologne Lions, and neighbors who simply choose to help.

If you want to make Carver County stronger, support the people already doing the work.
– Volunteer a few hours.
– Donate food or money.
– Attend their fundraisers.
– Tell others about their mission.

As county leaders, we should be asking, “How do we help organizations like this succeed?” Government can’t – and shouldn’t – do everything. But it should be a strong partner that removes barriers, builds relationships, and helps connect people with the resources they need.

To me, that’s one of the most important responsibilities of a county commissioner.

Budgets matter. Roads matter. Public safety matters.

But at the end of the day, our job is bigger than managing county government.

Our job is to help build a stronger community.

Thank you to everyone at Bountiful Basket Food Shelf and the Cologne Lions for a great breakfast and, more importantly, for everything you do the other 364 days of the year.

I’m Khai Tran, and I’m running for Carver County Commissioner for District 5 (Cities: Carver, Cologne, Hamburg, New Germany, Norwood Young America / Townships: Benton, Camden, Dahlgren, Hancock, San Francisco, Young America).

For nearly 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside neighbors, nonprofits, businesses, local government, and hundreds of volunteers to help make our community stronger. Through A Better Society and other community partnerships, I’ve seen what can happen when people come together to solve problems instead of arguing about them.

That’s one of the reasons I’m running.

County government affects our daily lives more than most people realize. It touches our roads, parks, public safety, property taxes, public health, and services that help families through difficult times. I believe we deserve leadership that listens first, works with others, spends taxpayer dollars wisely, and stays focused on solving problems.

This page is where I’ll share what I’m learning, talk about the issues facing our county, introduce you to people and organizations doing great work, and keep you updated on the campaign.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with me on every issue. But I do believe we can have respectful conversations, learn from one another, and work toward what’s best for Carver County.

I’m glad you’re here.