In 2026, Anoka County voters will someone to serve on the County Board in District 2. The candidates are:
REGAN BIRR
About:
Hi! I am a Ham Lake resident, engineer, business leader, founder, and advocate for strong communities and responsible leadership.
I grew up on a farm, where I learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and problem-solving. I earned a B.Sc. in Engineering and spent more than a decade working in patents. I’m the founder and executive director of the Lupus Research Foundation which funds life-saving research. I’m blessed to be an Inspire Her award winner and business-award finalist for MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce. I focus on efficiency, relationships, and practical solutions.
I’ve been involved with the business community my whole career, and work extensively with people and groups to get things done. By working with state and U.S. elected officials, I helped Four Seasons Curling Center become an Olympic Training Site.
I have successfully lobbied on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. for $6 million for lupus research from the Department of Defense. I enjoy working with others and advocacy.
I’m running for Anoka County Commissioner because I believe county government should be responsible, effective, and transparent, and provide great value to residents and businesses.
I look at this as a JOB, not a political position, where I work for you.
Important Issues:
Keeping Anoka County affordable is one of my top priorities. Property taxes affect families, seniors, farmers, and businesses, so county government should continually examine how taxpayer dollars are spent and whether programs are producing results.
I also support maintaining safe roads and infrastructure, keeping taxes low, supporting law enforcement and public safety, protecting individual privacy, encouraging responsible economic development, and making county government easier for residents to thrive and businesses to grow.
I believe a strong local economy matters. Growing and retaining businesses strengthens the tax base, creates jobs, and helps communities stay vibrant.
As an engineer and business leader, I will ask questions, be interested versus interesting, examine the facts, talk to experts, listen to residents and to my colleagues, and collaboratively make decisions that make sense. Healthy pocketbooks help keep families healthy.
Goals if Elected:
My goal is to help make Anoka County government responsible and effective while protecting the quality of life that makes this a great place to live, work, raise a family, operate a business, and retire.
I will focus on fiscal responsibility, transparency, efficiency, public safety, infrastructure, economic development, and VALUE. That results-focused approach is how we’ve raised millions of dollars to fight lupus.
I will use relationships built throughout my career to strengthen communication among county government, cities, businesses, chambers, and residents so we can identify problems earlier and solve them collaboratively.
I will work to attract and retain businesses, broaden our commercial tax base, and reduce barriers to economic growth.
Above all, I will listen, ask good questions, understand the problem, bring the right people together, and work hard for practical solutions that deliver results.
Endorsements:
None listed.
Connect with Me:
Website: www.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Email: reganforcountycommissio
Phone: 720 470 8049
Candidate Interview:
BRIAN KIRKHAM
About:
I’m Brian Kirkham, mayor of Ham Lake and a candidate for county commissioner. I am a lifelong Anoka County resident and have lived in this district for all but two years of my life. My wife, Lindsey, and I have three boys. I have worked in manufacturing for more than 26 years and founded two successful businesses, one of which I still own. Before moving to Ham Lake, I lived in Bethel for more than 11 years, served nine years on the fire department, and was elected twice to the city council. In 2016, my family and I returned to Ham Lake, where Lindsey and I both grew up. I was elected to the Ham Lake City Council in 2018 and elected mayor in 2022. Ham Lake is one of the best-run cities in Anoka County financially, and I want to bring that same mindset and energy to county government.
Important Issues:
Fiscal responsibility is my top priority, and my record reflects that commitment. In more than 13 years as a city elected official, I have helped shape six budgets on the Bethel City Council without increasing the levy by a single penny. In Ham Lake, I have participated in eight budgets, seven of which lowered the tax rate. In the one year the rate did not decrease, it rose by only a fraction of a fraction of a percent. We lowered it again the following year, and Ham Lake now has by far the lowest tax rate in Anoka County.
Goals if Elected:
There’s been success on getting funding for Hwy 65. We need to continue this momentum. The 3rd phase of these improvements is going to be the most expensive phase. We need to continue to put pressure on the state and the federal government to help fund this phase. Once that is done, we need to focus on the rest of Ham Lake up to Viking Blvd in East Bethel. Economic development has always been a passion of mine. I’m always networking with business owners trying to promote the cities I’ve been representing, and I have had a lot of success. Every city in the county is unique in their own way. With the exception of Hilltop, I have customers in every city in the county. I know the cities strengths and weaknesses are for economic development. I will be the biggest champion out there promoting economic growth in Anoka County.
Endorsements:
None listed.
Connect with Me:
Candidate Interview:
Did not participate.
