Thank you for visiting palmerward5.org. This website is operated by the Shaun Palmer for Rochester City Council Campaign (“we,” “us,” or “the Campaign”). Shaun Palmer has proudly served Rochester’s Ward 5 since 2018. We are deeply committed to protecting the privacy of our constituents and supporters.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website: https://palmerward5.org/rochester-ward-5/.

1. Information We Collect

We only collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us. Depending on how you interact with our site, this may include:

• Contact Information: When you fill out our contact or volunteer forms (powered by Ninja Forms), we collect your name, email address, phone number, physical address, and any message you choose to provide.
• Newsletter Subscriptions: If you explicitly opt-in to receive our Ward 5 newsletter, we collect your email address to send you community updates and campaign news.
• Donation Information: When you click our donation link, you are redirected to PayPal. The Campaign collects information required by law for political contributions (such as your name, billing address, occupation, and employer). We do not collect or store your credit card numbers or financial account details; all payment processing is handled securely by PayPal.

2. Automated Data Collection & Cookies

Like most websites, our site may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to analyze web traffic and improve your browsing experience. This may include your IP address, browser type, pages viewed, and the dates/times of your visits. You can set your browser to refuse cookies, but some parts of the site may not function properly as a result.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your inquiries, constituent concerns, or volunteer requests.
• Send you the Ward 5 newsletter (only if you requested it).
• Process campaign donations and comply with Minnesota campaign finance disclosure laws.
• Monitor and analyze website performance and security.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• With Service Providers: We share data with trusted third-party vendors who help us run our website and communication systems (such as our email newsletter platform or web host). These providers are legally obligated to keep your data secure.
• For Legal Commitments: As a political campaign in Minnesota, we are required by law to report certain information about campaign contributors (such as name, address, employment, and donation amount) to the state Campaign Finance Board or local election authorities.
• Security and Protection: We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or to protect the safety and rights of the Campaign and our constituents.

5. External Links

Our website frequently features links to external websites, including local news outlets, official Rochester government pages, and YouTube videos. Please be aware that the Campaign does not control, and is not responsible for, the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party site you visit.

6. Your Choices and Controls

• Email Opt-Out: You can unsubscribe from our Ward 5 newsletter at any time by clicking the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email we send, or by contacting us directly.
• Do Not Track: Our website honors standard browser “Do Not Track” signals.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our website is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn we have inadvertently collected data from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately.

8. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we do, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please reach out to us via our main website form or contact the campaign directly.