Burnsville mayoral race

Age: 61

Family: Husband David; sons Kyle, 33, and Kevin, 32.

Experience in public office: Burnsville mayor since 1994. Chairwoman of both board of directors for the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority and the 911 communications center jointly serving Dakota County and 13 cities. Serves on the Suburban Transit Association, and on the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and has been elected to become its national president in 2010. Represents Burnsville on numerous local, regional, state and national boards and has helped the city secure $25 million in grants, including for Nicollet Commons Park. Co-founded the Minnesota Regional Council of Mayors and is co-chair.

In her own words:

"Because I understand development from both the public side and the private side, it helps me to understand how we can collaborate to bring the kinds of products to Burnsville that we need to ensure that what we have in Burnsville is balance, and that we are the metropolitan city south of the river.

"I have the leadership skills. I have worked in the faith community. I have worked in the private sector. I have owned a business, so I know what it's like and what it means to make payroll."

Web: www.elizabethkautz.org

Family: Married to Joanna, daughters Nicole, 16, and Amber, 13.

Experience in public office: None

In his own words:

"The business that I run (as corporate services manager for Sodexo Inc., a contract management firm) today generates nearly $6.5 million in sales. This experience has taught me how to successfully manage complex financial situations. I handle a dozen different budgets and operating statements every month. We need to begin to look at our city budgets in the same way that any successful business looks at their budgets.

"I am certified by the company that I work for to train people in workplace diversity, avoiding sexual harassment, avoiding violence in the workplace, as well as an array of customer service and corporate communication trainings."