Don Hofstad steps down from Mantorville City Council

Known as a go-to guy on the Mantorville City Council, Don Hofstad stepped down on June 28, and a new member will be appointed to his seat in coming weeks.
Hofstad had served on the city council for more than six years. He said he is stepping down to spend more time with his family and take a chance to breathe.
He also has been deputy mayor, and serves on the fire department. He’ll continue his work with the Fire Department and has no plans to leave Mantorville, which he describes as “a quiet, amazing, little town with great, friendly people.”
“Don is just the most fabulous person,” said Shelly Germundson, assistant city clerk in Mantorville. “He is the most sincere person and I know this was so hard for him to step down. But I also know his heart is in the right place with wanting to spend more time with his family. I’m comforted knowing he’ll still be here if we need him.”
“He’s always been a good friend and neighbor,” she added. “He was the kind of level-headed mediator on the council. He was a good sounding board and he always had very thoughtful comments. He took his time and thought through things. He didn’t just say stuff off the top of his head. He offered thought-filled comments.”
Mantorville Mayor Chuck Bradford said Hofstad is a unique individual, and it’s hard to give a definitive list of everything he’s contributed to the city. “He’s been on the city council, been deputy mayor, on the fire department, in charge of operating the pumper truck, he’s trained new fire department members, cleaned up the parks, installed new playground equipment and is one of those guys, if something needs to be done, who’s a go to. He’s always willing to help out in any way that he can.”
Bradford said Hofstad is passionate about everything he undertakes, and gives his full self to whatever he’s working on. He invests everything he has into the effort, and wants to make sure anything he does is done right and for the right reason.
He’s also a conscientious decision maker and cares about his relationships with not only his brothers and sisters at the fire department and fellow council members but also with townspeople who he’s been serving these last six on the council.
In reflecting back on his council service, Hofstad said at first he didn’t want to run for city council because he thought he had too much going on to serve the post well. But several people approached him about running.
“They said I had a good temperament and a way about myself,” he said. “They knew I cared about the town. I wanted to repay the community for everything they’ve done for my family.”
Hofstad and his family moved to Mantorville in 2002 and built a house here. He has three kids, Anthony, 23, Alex, 21, and Annika, 17.
During his time on the council, Mantorville has managed to maintain its lovely, historic charm, he said, but has also grown and become more diversified. “We’ve gotten bigger,” he said. “There is lots of development going on but we’re still a quiet, close-knit town. It’s a more diversified bedroom community.”
Hofstad recalls working hard to share infrastructure systems with neighboring Kasson, and to consolidate the school system into Kasson-Mantorville schools.
 
In addition to the city council and fire department, Hofstad throughout the years has been a Boy Scout leader and youth coach. “I’ve been so busy that I forgot to look at the world around me a little bit,” he said. “To take a step back and breathe. The number one thing I want to be known for is as a great dad. I don’t want to miss anything for my daughter and I Just thought now was a good time to regroup.”
“I wanted to make sure I do a good job for the community,” he added. “I didn’t feel my heart was in it right now because my mind is with my family. If I didn’t do it now I don’t know when I would do it. I want to show my kids I’m here for them.
“I gave my heart to this town,” Hofstad said. “I just want people to know how much I love and care about my town and the people here. The biggest thing I’m going to miss is having people come up to me and say what they want to see changed, or to thank me. I’m not leaving. This is going to be my home. I’ll always be here. I know I’ll always be a part of the community in some way.
“I just need to take a step back,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot and I hope I’ve touched people’s lives like they’ve touched mine. I’ll reboot and hopefully come back a better person than I am now. I will continue to do whatever I can to be there for the town.”