St. Cloud City Council member fined for violating Minnesota statute during 2024 campaign
A St. Cloud City Council member violated the Fair Campaign Practices Act, which carries a $600 fine.
The June 4 Office of Administrative Hearings ruling came after Councilmember Scott Brodeen parked his pickup truck, which according to the OAH ruling, had “multiple campaign signs supporting his candidacyattached to it, displaying his name and campaign slogan," which was parked within 100 feet of a polling place. The vehicle was parked at Lake George during early voting hours. Minnesota statues prohibit campaign materials from being within 100 feet of a polling place.
According to both Brodeen and an OAH finding of fact report, the violation took place around noon on Nov. 2. Brodeen told the St. Cloud Times he was door-knocking that day and didn't think early voting was taking place.
"I gave it no thought, because in the six weeks of early voting, there wasn't voting on Saturdays," Brodeen wrote in an email to the St. Cloud Times. "Well, as I have learned, there was early voting on this day. So, by parking my vehicle at a voting location, since my truck had my 'BRODEEN' stickers on it, I unknowingly violated the Fair Campaign Practices Act, which prohibits campaigning within 100 feet of a voting location."
https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2025/06/05/st-cloud-city-council-member-fine-for-minnesota-election-violation-law-brodeen/84054010007/