All candidates running for Anoka City Council agreed on one thing: affordability is squeezing residents and must be the city's priority. The forum, hosted by QCTV as a public service, featured candidates discussing their backgrounds and plans for the city's future.

Candidates brought diverse professional experience to the table, including economics expertise, business consulting, conflict resolution, and military service. They emphasized the need for responsible economic development—particularly downtown and along the riverfront—while maintaining the city's historic character. Several candidates pointed to examples like the Casper house as models for infill development that respects Anoka's identity.

On specific issues, candidates showed broad consensus with some nuance. All supported the downtown social district, which boosts businesses but needs better rule enforcement and communication between visitors and merchants. Most favored keeping downtown parking free to support small businesses, though they acknowledged the high costs of maintaining the HRRD parking ramp. Rather than charging for parking, candidates suggested exploring alternative revenue streams from new developments.

Candidates also discussed the Anoka Cannabis Company's success, which has generated profits for the community and funded charitable contributions to organizations like the ACBC Food Shelf and Alexandra House. Some proposed expanding the municipal dispensary model to multiple locations—state law now allows up to 10—and developing other enterprise funds like the Greenhaven golf course's new driving range.

On public safety, candidates focused on community-level solutions rather than gun control, advocating for stronger mental health support and a proposed social worker program to co-respond with police on crises. For homelessness, they emphasized the city's role in code enforcement while partnering with county programs and nonprofits. The candidates also discussed repurposing the recently closed Northstar Station, suggesting options ranging from new housing to potential stops for expanded rail service like an extended Borealis line connecting to Minneapolis and beyond. An upcoming citizen vote on organized garbage collection drew mixed reactions, with some candidates now supporting it for potential cost savings while others questioned the process.