VISION
For years, I’ve been deepening my civic engagement in Burnsville as a resident engaging in ongoing advocacy around local issues and now serve as the Vice Chair of Burnsville’s Parks & Natural Resources Advisory Commission and on the board of my neighborhood organization. I believe Burnsville’s leaders should focus on being responsible stewards of our natural resources, caring for the dignity and humanity of our neighbors, and maximizing the impact of our local tax levy.
I’m running to represent the interests of our community and to be your advocate on the Burnsville City Council. If there’s an issue that needs to be addressed, or an initiative you’d like the City of Burnsville to support, please complete the form below!
City Council Candidate Forum
Burnsville Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, September 24, 2026
The Burnsville Chamber of Commerce hosted an online forum for Burnsville City Council candidates. The Chamber asked thoughtful questions about the challenges Burnsville’s businesses are facing, including:
Burnsville Center redevelopment,
Public safety
How to keep taxes manageable for Burnsville residents
My Vision for Burnsville
Solutions for Burnsville, Rooted in Burnsville
The City of Burnsville collaborates with other governing bodies and public agencies to use our tax dollars to design and enact public policies and programs to address our everyday needs. Our local tax dollars can be more efficiently spent in Burnsville by improving the reach of publicly funded programs and elevating the voices in our community with the expertise and lived experiences to understand what they need to meet the needs of themselves and their families.
Public Transportation
As a daily public transit user, I have personally benefited by Burnsville’s decisions to partner with the Metro Valley Transit Authority to find creative ways to provide public transportation to communities in the suburbs. For years, Burnsville has opted out of working with the Metropolitan Transit Commission. Benefits include a clear commitment to non-discrimination, express bus routes to downtown, local $3 shuttles through MVTA Connect, and $6 roundtrip rides to the fair, sporting events, concerts, and festivals across the metropolitan area.
Immigration Enforcement & Surveillance
When Operation Metro Surge was tearing through Burnsville and disrupting everyday life, I made multiple public comments (Jan. 6 & Jan. 20) about the need for Burnsville to track the economic impact of how federal actions impacted our local businesses and called for Burnsville to pass a city ordinance to prohibit city property to be used to stage immigration enforcement activity without a signed judicial warrant. Burnsville’s Police Department does not enforce federal immigration laws and I believe our local police should continue to prioritize the enforcement state and local laws.
I have deep concerns and oppose Burnsville utilizing automated license plate readers or contracting with companies like Flock Safety to record and track the movement of its residents. Burnsville itself does not contract with Flock Safety, but many private business across the city do utilize automated license plate readers. View a map of Burnsville’s Flock cameras, here.
Defend Local Control & Decision-Making
Preserve Our Parks & Natural Resources
Protect Burnsville’s Watershed
The Freeway Landfill & Dump runs along the Minnesota River and 35 W. While in operation (1969-1990) it accepted hazardous materials that’s resulted in the high risk of contaminated fluids leaching into Burnsville’s groundwater and dangerous gas to build up under the grass of a golfing range. This property has been listed on federal government’s National Priorities List for cleanup under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
In 2025, Burnsville’s current City Council voted to approve the property owner’s building permit for a $45 million sports complex, on the condition they develop a remediation plan. However, the state agency tasked with overseeing the cleanup has since filed a lawsuit against the property owners and responsible parties for failure to take steps to remediate or participate in the state’s Closed Landfill Program.
Burnsville is in the business of water, we sell our water to the residents of both Burnsville and Savage. Preserving our drinking water and investing in the environmental health of our city is good for business.
As a City Council member, I will prioritize the current and future health of our city’s environment and oppose any development plan for entities that neglect to address past mismanagement of Burnsville’s national resources.
Invest in Infrastructre & Public Works
Supporting the Team that Makes it Happen
Investing in Burnsville’s staff is the key to creating a strong city infrastructure that delivers the services we depend on every day and to maintain a safe, reliable, and thriving community.
The Public Works team is responsible for nearly all physical maintenance in the city. From ensuring there’s clean water flowing from the tap to repairing and plowing our streets, Burnsville Public Works is committed to making our city work. This incredible team deserves an ongoing investment that matches their commitment to our city, to ensure Burnsville is operating as efficiently as possible.
Burnsville has long held a ‘AAA’ bond rating for its history of sound financing and fiscal responsibility. This is the highest rating a city can receive and it indicates the overall economic health and responsibility of the city allows Burnsville to access lower interest rates when borrowing money for major capital projects. Burnsville’s finance team have the expertise and dedication to maximize our local tax dollars, they deserve our support to continue getting the job done right.
Grow Community Engagement
Improving Transparency & Communication
Streamlining access to public information and initiative updates is an important part of improving transparency and civic engagement. Centering Burnsville’s communities who stand to gain and lose the most around investments made into public safety, transportation, education, housing, etc.,will improve the implementation and outcomes of our programs and policies. I feel strongly that social media should not be the only way residents interact their elected officials or receive news about a new development happening in their neighborhood. Burnsville can and should improve how it provides routine updates with the public by posting more updates on its official website and creating multiple ways to submit feedback around timely projects.
Listening & Investing with Intention
I believe Burnsville is ready to take the next step to meaningfully engage community and strengthen our city’s sense of belonging. Our city invests hundreds of thousands of dollars in community engagement programs but we don’t collect data on the number of residents we’ve reached or demographic details to identify who our programs are serving.
The Neighborhood Grant Program and public safety initiatives like the Citizen’s Academy and Police Departments’s Community Engagement Officers are all fantastic programs with broad goals of improving community participation and trust in the city. I feel strongly that Burnsville should establish measurable goals with clear metrics of success to better quantify contextualize the impact our tax dollars are having in our community.
Primary City Council Candidate Forum
League of Women Voters of Dakota County
The League of Women Voters of Dakota County hosted a forum for Burnsville’s Primary City Council Candidates to answer thoughtful questions around local issues, including:
Revitalizing Burnsville's Shopping Center
Addressing the Unlined Freeway Dump & Preserving Burnsville’s Water Quality
Redevelopment & Housing
Burnsville's Role in Local Immigration Enforcement
What do the buttons on my jacket lapel represent?
Burnsville Pride
Child Abuse Prevention
Birth Justice & the Mothers of Gynecology: Anarcha, Lucy, & Betsey
Brain Cancer Awareness
Sign up for a Gómez Yard Sign!
Are you ready to display your support for Cati Gómez for Burnsville City Council? Fill out the form below and we’ll deliver a yard sign to your house!
Candidate Profiles
Sun This Week, Hometown Source
“Eight seek to advance in Burnsville council primary,” July 24, 2026
“Your Voters’ Guide Race Details for Burnsville City Council”
Candidate Profile, Catarina Gomez (Burnsville City Council, Minnesota, candidate 2026)
“Build your ballot: Minnesota’s 2026 primary election”