Minnesota City Leaders Recognized for Dedication, Results

By Andrew Tellijohn

The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) presented its top honors at its 2025 Annual Conference, recognizing three public officials for their exceptional contributions to local government.

The C.C. Ludwig Award honors elected city officials, the James F. Miller Leadership Award recognizes appointed officials, and the Emerging Leader Award celebrates city leaders with fewer than eight years of experience.

This year’s winners are Circle Pines Mayor Dave Bartholomay, Dilworth City Administrator Peyton Mastera, and Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt.

Dave Bartholmay, Circle Pines Mayor, C.C. Ludwig Award Winner

When Dave Bartholomay first joined the Circle Pines City Council in 2001, the city was involved in public controversy over a proposed townhome development. At his first meeting, several speakers lined up to share their concerns, and Bartholomay gave what he thought were sharp, effective responses.

Then a mentor pulled him aside with a reality check.

The man told Bartholomay he may be the smartest person in the room, but that he didn’t need to show it. He urged Bartholomay to find a different way to communicate with the public, so residents felt heard. He thought about the stinging rebuke and realized it was correct.

“We see leaders that are potentially very well intentioned, but they’re tearing apart their community,” Bartholomay said. “There’s a better way to do it, a better way to listen and work with people. You’ve got to learn where they are coming from, learn their perspective, be a better listener — that just absolutely changed my life.”

From that point on, he shifted his focus from winning arguments to building trust and making progress, much to the benefit of both Circle Pines, and to other leaders who have sought his counsel in dealing with difficult issues.

“I’ve slipped off the high road a few times,” he said. “But for the most part that’s how I try to live my life now.”

Rebuilding the city

By the time Bartholomay joined the City Council, the streets of Circle Pines were in significant disrepair. He pushed for improvements early on but made limited progress. It wasn’t until he became mayor that the planning process took off. It took 15 years from beginning to end, but the project got done.

“He had the foresight,” said Patrick Antonen, Circle Pines city administrator. “The roads all had potholes. What was worse than anything was below the streets. We needed to get the sewers fixed.”

The process started in 2005 with a feasibility study. From there, the city completed a major road project every other year between 2008 and 2022.

“Now, every single road, sewer, water main, gas main, and storm sewer is virtually brand new,” Antonen said, adding that though the public didn’t love the sizable assessment that came along with the project, it was well communicated. “We overcommunicated on these street projects. Dave loves communicating with the public.”

Bartholomay also helped keep the Anoka County Library in the city and advocated for a major renovation a few years later. He’s proud of how well Circle Pines supports its staff, how safe and welcoming the city has remained through the years, and how the city has built strong ties with the Centennial School District. He was inducted into the district’s Hall of Fame in 2019. Though he never attended class at Centennial High School, he has been a leader in multiple efforts to increase school funding and has supported the mentorship program.

“I really believe cities need to be more supportive of their school districts, to cover their backs,” he said. “That’s one of my proudest points.”

A mentor across Minnesota

As much as Bartholomay loves Circle Pines, he has eagerly shared his experience with other leaders across the state. More than 30 current and former city administrators and managers signed a letter supporting his nomination for LMC’s C.C. Ludwig Award.

He’s been active in the North Metro Mayors Association and previously worked at the state’s Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution, helping cities navigate conflict.

Peter Lindstrom, a Metropolitan Council member who was mayor of Falcon Heights during the fatal police shooting of Philando Castile, credits Bartholomay with helping his city navigate that crisis. He took the time to guide the city through several difficult community conversations aimed at restoring calm and trust.

“If you crack open the dictionary and look up servant leadership, there should be a picture of Mayor Dave,” Lindstrom said. “He models humility, he models integrity, and he has a deep commitment to serving others. He inspires others to do the same.”

And he’s relentlessly optimistic and a great guy.

“He brings joy to the work,” Lindstrom added. “But he’s not just a back-slapping mayor. He is a get-it-done kind of guy. He wants to see results, even if it takes a long time to get them.”

Looking ahead

After nearly a quarter century leading the city, Bartholomay is not seeking reelection. As his tenure nears a close, he’s making a final push to fund improvements for the city’s parks and trails system through bond sales. And he’s looking forward to having more time to utilize those parks and trails — though Antonen is already lamenting the change.

“They don’t make them like they used to,” he said. “He’s definitely going to be missed. He did a lot of good things for the city.”

Peyton Mastera, Dilworth City Administrator, James F. Miller Leadership Award Winner

Back in 2014, Peyton Mastera, a Kentucky native, was ready for a new challenge. He found an opening in Dilworth, and took a chance on the small, quiet city.

“I just made a determination it was time to take the next step in my professional career,” he said.

It turned out to be the right move. Mastera’s social, energetic, and detail-oriented approach aligned well with Dilworth and its goal to play a stronger role in the Fargo-Moorhead region.

“I’m a very out-there person,” he said. “You can find me. Whether it be at press conferences, ribbon cuttings, whatever it may be, the city has entrusted me with that power to go out and represent the city.”

His efforts led to his recent selection for LMC’s James F. Miller Leadership Award.

Delivering results

Since arriving in Dilworth, Mastera has earned a reputation for getting things done, delivering on projects that have strengthened the city’s infrastructure, services, and sense of community.

His first accomplishment was overseeing the long-awaited 7th Street NE reconstruction project, which had been a rural roadway with no curb and open ditches. His creativity and “get-it-done” attitude moved the project from Dilworth’s long-standing “to-do” list to its “done” list, giving the city a safe, modern corridor connecting historic neighborhoods, city facilities, and new developments.

“That road had been on our radar for as long as I’ve been mayor,” Mayor Chad Olson said. “Peyton came in, figured it out and got it done, just like he always does.”

The project fit into the broader vision Mastera has helped shape for the city’s east side, including the Rail District — a growing mixed-use commercial area designed to promote community, walkability, and vibrant public spaces.

Mastera also secured federal and state funding for a state-of-the-art fire department — an investment in public safety that will serve the city for generations — and led efforts to build momentum and gain state authorization for a Local Option Sales Tax to fund a new community center.

“He’s relentless. He’ll leave no stone unturned,” Olson said. “These aren’t just ideas sitting on a shelf, they’re projects that are happening because Peyton knows how to move the needle. Words cannot encapsulate all he has brought to the city.”

Connecting the region

City officials say Mastera is great at encouraging staff to develop new skills and is deeply involved in the community.

“He’s not only behind the scenes,” said Police Chief Hunter Rawson. “He is a member of the community who is very vested in the community.”

He’s also helped build strong regional partnerships.

“I really worked at building those partnerships across all the cities up here and making Dilworth a present voice at the table,” Mastera said. “I think one of the things I’m most proud of now, when this metro area is discussed, we’re not an afterthought.”

Dan Mahli, city manager of neighboring Moorhead, praised Mastera’s collaborative spirit on development issues and willingness to take on challenges.

“We’re kind of the noisy neighbor, the one that stays up late on a Thursday night and leaves crap in the yard, keeps you up,” Mahli quipped. “He’s still friendly the next day.”

Mastera said his success comes from enjoying both people and process. He recalled how in college, class registration at the time meant using pencil and paper — rather than computers — and meticulously mapping out the classes and times that worked. He looked forward not only to registering for his own classes but also helping his friends do so.

“It’s just some weird, technical thing with organizational details, numbers, and verbiage,” he said. “I’ve always gotten a kick out of doing that.”

It’s that attention to detail, he said, that feeds his love for another oft-unloved part of his job: labor relations.

“When I tell people labor negotiations are one of the more fun aspects of my job, my colleagues believe I’m lying,” he said. “But it’s true.”

Widespread recognition

He’s sharing these skills beyond Dilworth’s borders, as well. As president of the Minnesota City/County Managers Association, Mastera helped finish a strategic plan that has been under discussion for several years. Mahli said his humor and work ethic made a big difference.

“This unusually strong work ethic makes him a joy to work with,” he said. “He brings fresh eyes. He’s got a commitment to having many voices and ideas and perspectives at the table.”

Mastera also has built a statewide reputation. When Dilworth officials visit the Minnesota State Capitol or Washington, D.C., elected officials know him by name and reputation.

“The man just exudes the right thing,” Olson said. “Integrity, honesty, loyalty, dependability. If you have an opportunity to work with Peyton even once you can see the best of all of the qualities you want to have in a person leading your city.”

Anne Burt, Woodbury Mayor, Emerging Leader Award

When a Woodbury public safety officer used his own money — and borrowed from his daughter’s closet — to help a student who was skipping school on account of having only one outfit, Mayor Anne Burt took notice.

She personally helped establish a fund through the Woodbury Community Foundation to assist officers in supporting residents in a hands-on way without having to use their own resources.

“It’s so heartwarming that he’s got that compassion to understand this is a crisis,” she said, adding that the fund has since grown significantly through community donations. “It shouldn’t come out of their own pockets.”

That’s just one example among many cited by those who nominated Burt for LMC’s Emerging Leader Award.

Tackling PFAS contamination

Burt’s impact goes well beyond compassionate gestures. As she campaigned for her first term as mayor, the state and 3M reached an $850 million settlement over chemicals in the area’s drinking water, with $700 million of that dedicated to addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) contamination in groundwater.

The city is using much of its settlement funds on the construction of a new $330 million permanent water treatment facility — its largest capital project ever.

It has involved installing 17 miles of pipe underground to move water from 20 contaminated wells to one single treatment location. The project will be completed in 2028. Under terms of the settlement, 3M provided separate funding toward the installation and upkeep of a temporary water treatment system.

Burt has a background in chemistry and nearly 40 years of experience in the water treatment industry, which helped address the crisis.

“It was serendipitous but very instrumental, because on the campaign trail, it was of high concern to most people in our community and I was able to speak to it, provide reassurance, and let them know what the plan is,” she said. “We’re so pleased to be in the stage we are now.”

Guiding responsible growth

Burt credits current and former city staff and elected officials for the success of several city projects, along with the growing business community, diversifying population and housing types, and for high resident satisfaction.

“We’ve grown in a very planned out, thoughtful manner over many decades,” she said. “I can’t take credit for all of it. When I ran for office in 2018 the first time, my goal at the time was really just to keep Woodbury moving in a positive direction.”

But Burt deserves significant credit for helping make Woodbury’s businesses thrive, said Laurie Staiger, president of the Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership the city has earned accolades from the Government Finance Officers Association, Money Magazine, and GreenStep Cities.

“She really champions for them,” Staiger said. “We hear time and time again that this is how it should be done. And that doesn’t happen without strong leadership from your mayor.”

Always learning, always leading

Former City Administrator Clint Gridley praised Burt’s enthusiasm and curiosity.

“She loves information, she cares deeply about what she does, she’s a people person,” he said. “Those characteristics bring a natural enthusiasm, and you want to go with that enthusiasm.”

“She really wants a hands-on approach,” adds Staiger. “She wants to hear the voice of the business community.”

“I am always learning, always absorbing information,” Burt said. “My natural inclination is to ask a lot of questions.”

And she’s willing to share what she learns with others, sitting on several boards, including the local chamber, the Woodbury Racial Equity Collaborative, and the Woodbury Lions Club. She also serves as co-chair of the Regional Council of Mayors. Executive Director Caren Dewar said Burt regularly brings in top-tier speakers on emerging issues like clean water, AI, and education.

“She really is a good connector,” Dewar said. “She’s just really a strong, wise, grounded person. I trust her, she trusts me, it’s a great working relationship.”

Looking to the future

Burt isn’t planning to seek higher office but does plan one more run for mayor. There’s too much in progress to leave now, she said.

The water treatment facility is on the way, the community center — Central Park — is nearly completed, and there’s a public safety facility expansion coming soon. Additionally, the city will soon undertake a comprehensive plan to determine how best to develop the last 20-25% of its land.

“I want to see that come to fruition,” she said. “A lot of things are keeping me engaged and looking forward to one more term.”

Andrew Tellijohn is a freelance writer.