My name is Brandon Willard, and I’m 36 years old. I live in Walnut Grove with my wife, Brittani, and our five-year-old son, Dodge. I’m a proud husband, father, and hardworking member of our community. My professional background is primarily in construction, industrial maintenance, and operations. I’ve spent years working in the trades, managing projects, supervising crews, and operating my own construction business, Construction Worx LLC. I currently work as a plant operator at Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton. My experiences have taught me the importance of hard work, accountability, problemsolving, and working alongside people from all walks of life. I believe those are qualities that translate well into serving a small community like ours.
Why did you decide to run for mayor?
I decided to run for mayor because I care about the future of Walnut Grove, and I believe our community has more potential than we’re currently realizing. Small towns like ours don’t thrive by simply maintaining the status quo. They need people willing to bring fresh ideas, ask questions, and put in the work to move things forward.
As a father raising a young family here, I have a personal investment in what Walnut Grove looks like five, ten, and twenty years from now. I want my son and other children growing up here to have opportunities, a strong community, and a reason to someday choose Walnut Grove as the place they raise their own families.
I’m not running because I think I have all the answers. I’m running because I believe good leadership starts with listening, being approachable, and bringing people together to find solutions. I want residents to feel that their opinions matter and that their local government is working for them.
What are some aspects of your town that you would like to see improved?
One of my biggest priorities is making Walnut Grove a community where young families want to move, businesses want to invest, and longtime residents feel proud to call home. I’d like to see a stronger focus on economic development, supporting our existing businesses, attracting new opportunities, and addressing the challenges that come with a small and aging community. We need to be thinking about how to encourage growth rather than simply accepting population decline as inevitable.
I also believe we can improve communication and cooperation between city leadership and residents. People should feel comfortable bringing forward concerns, asking questions, and offering ideas without feeling like their voices won’t be heard. We may not always agree, but we should all be working toward the same goal: a better Walnut Grove.
Finally, I’d like to see us continue improving our public spaces, community amenities, and overall appearance of town. These things matter when it comes to community pride and making a positive impression on visitors and prospective residents.
I don’t believe meaningful progress happens overnight, and I certainly don’t believe one person can accomplish it alone. But with the right attitude, teamwork, and a willingness to embrace new ideas, I believe Walnut Grove has a bright future ahead.
