Ardell F. Brede (born June 23, 1939) is an American politician who served as mayor of Rochester, Minnesota.

Ardell Brede became Mayor of Rochester Minnesota on January 6, 2003.

He received an Associate Degree in commerce from the Austin Junior College in 1959 and took several graduate courses in the University of Minnesota Extension Division program.

[4] Although Brede was politically unaffiliated as Mayor of Rochester, he publicly endorsed Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton in the 2016 United States presidential election,[5] and has previously endorsed DFL governor Mark Dayton and congressman Tim Walz.

[6] Brede has also opposed voter ID laws, urging rejection of a proposed Minnesota constitutional amendment that would require voters to show photo ID, calling it "unnecessary" and "extreme.