Under fire, Jennifer Carnahan resolves to remain mayor of Nisswa

A defiant Jennifer Carnahan addressed a standing-room only council meeting Tuesday night to reiterate that she would not resign as Nisswa mayor.

The City Council still directed staff to draft resolutions on censure, a vote of no confidence and removal of committee assignments to be considered at a meeting next month. Carnahan argued that those actions are a violation of her First Amendment rights and that she hasn’t violated any code of conduct.

“The Constitution always prevails. And last time I checked, we were living in America, not Communist China,” she said. “And I am very proud to be living in America.”

The controversy in this small tourist town in the Brainerd lakes area stems from Carnahan taking to social media to accuse a resident of physically assaulting her. The resident denied the allegations and prosecutors twice declined to press charges. The resident had previously emailed Carnahan with concerns about overhearing the mayor at a local bar and restaurant discussing ways to remove Jesse Zahn from the City Council.

At a special meeting last week called to discuss Carnahan’s conduct, Zahn asked for the mayor to step down. Carnahan didn’t attend that meeting but she addressed Zahn at Tuesday’s regular meeting.

“I was duly elected by the people of this city. I am going to remain mayor. Democracy will always prevail. I appreciate you asking for my resignation last week, Council Member Zahn. I politely decline,” she said.

“People can believe what they want to. I was in high school once. There was always a lot of gossip either way, and I usually just try to stay out of the fray, and that’s what I’m going to do here today.”

Zahn pressed Carnahan to respond to a question raised by other council members about why she never responded to the resident’s email. Carnahan declined to answer the question.

“This is not any political stunt, as you have alluded to, Mayor Carnahan. This is simply, again, accountability,” Zahn said.

Carnahan said in preparation for Tuesday’s meeting she asked her attorneys and legal counsel to review the City Council code of conduct. She said they concluded there have been no violations.

The former state GOP chairwoman was elected in November 2024 as mayor of Nisswa, where she has owned and operated a boutique for a decade.