“Mayor for a Day”: Coon Rapids Invites Students to Reimagine Their City

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — What if kids ran the city? The City of Coon Rapids, in partnership with the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), is inviting Minnesota students in grades 4 through 6 to find out through its annual “Mayor for a Day” essay contest.

The contest challenges young residents to answer the question: “What would you do if you were mayor for a day?” Essays should be one page in length—approximately 125–300 words—and demonstrate creativity, originality, and an understanding of city services. Legibility is required for handwritten entries.

Submissions can be made online, by email as a PDF, or through the mail. The deadline is Friday, December 12, 2025. Three winners will receive a $100 cash prize each and have their essays featured in Minnesota Cities magazine, the League of Minnesota Cities’ official publication. Winners will be notified in early January.

“This contest offers students a fun, hands-on way to explore local government and share their ideas for improving their communities,” a city notice said. “It’s a chance for the next generation to imagine solutions for the issues they care about most.”

For full contest rules and submission instructions, visit the City of Coon Rapids website here

MinneapoliMedia