What would our cities look like if kids were in charge? The “Mayor for a Day” Essay Contest is back to find out!

Mayor Kim Norton is inviting Rochester’s 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students to take part in the League of Minnesota Cities’ annual contest by answering the question: “What would you do if you were mayor for a day?”

This statewide contest gives young people the chance to share their ideas about how they would make cities better places to live, work, and play. Winners will each receive $100 and be recognized in Minnesota Cities magazine.

“This contest gives students a voice to imagine the kind of city they want to live in, and to see how local government helps make that vision a reality,” said Mayor Norton. “I encourage all Rochester students to take part and share their ideas.”

The deadline for submissions is December 12, 2025. Winners will be notified in early January, and some cities may provide additional local recognition for participants.

Students and parents/guardians can submit essays in one of three ways:

• Online

  Enter essays directly through the online form.

• By Mail

  Print and mail handwritten essays to:
  League of Minnesota Cities
  145 University Ave. W.
  Saint Paul, MN 55103

• By Email Type essays into the fillable PDF form, save the file, and email it to mayorforaday@lmc.org.

To learn more about what a mayor does and explore the contest details, visit the League of Minnesota Cities website.