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Maplewood City Council Voters Guide | |
| ------------ mvc07.com ------------ | updated: 8/24/2007 10:09:49 AM |
| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| endorsed | Will Rossbach | Consolidating 'green' initiatives, managing redevelopment, city operations |
Incumbent Rossbach will use his in-depth knowledge of the city to guide a coherent 'green' approach to managing redevelopment and restoring a commitment to our parks and other public lands. Return his leadership to the council. | ||
| 1386 County Road C Maplewood MN 55109 |
Business owner, 14 years Planning Commission, 1 term city council |
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| wbrossbach@comcast.net | |||||
| http://www.willrossbach.com | DFL, AFSCME, St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly, St Paul Building & Construction | ||||
| 651-779-0220 | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | Will Rossbach 8-3-07 www.willrossbach.com 1. The main reason that I want to serve and have served is that I like to serve. I have a long history of charitable work, and a long history with the city. I do it because I like doing it. More to the present however is my belief that the current council majority is sending the city in multiple wrong directions. They govern for themselves and not for the city. I feel that it is important that I continue to be present to a least point out the improper directions and processes which they seem to insist on taking. If I and the city are lucky and this election breaks their majority then I am the best candidate in this election to be there to help guide the course to recovery. 2. I am in my 18th year of service to the City of Maplewood. 14 of those years were spent on the planning commission where I learned the concepts and the importance of planning and the foundations of how a city can impact and direct development. The commission also deals with ordinance formation, variances, and the comprehensive plan. The last four years I have served as a council member and all of duties that go with that position. I also serve on numerous boards and task forces all of which broaden my knowledge of local government. I have worked with 3 city managers and 5or 6 different councils. There is no other candidate that can claim even 10% of the experience that I have. 3. If you look at the first fifty years of Maplewood’s history you will see that we have always continued to expand and develop. In our geographic position as a first ring suburb this could be and should have been expected. I believe that if we are smart we will continue to grow. That however does not mean that we can not preserve open areas or areas of some historical significance. It should be noted that the city currently has over 25% of its area in various types of open space. Almost all of that land is publicly owned. There is no other activity beyond taxes that brings more money into the city. It helps to pay for infrastructure improvements, it finances our parks, it helps pay for environmental improvements and creates high paying jobs. If we take the time to fully plan the future of Maplewood we can end up with a city that has more green space, is environmentally friendly and has more people. This is the best way to increase funding for the city. Without making deep cuts it the level of service that we supply, or a large devaluation of property in the city I would doubt that taxes will go down. I believe that the city exists to provide service to its citizens and I am not in favor of providing less. It is however very important that we are always reviewing how those services are provided and making improvements to control costs. 4. Most of this question is answered above but I would say that people can be funny. Most people if asked say that they like it here in Maplewood, but Maplewood is not a static object it is always changing. Many of the same people however fight change. It is a matter of planning those changes so that they add to the community. We have the chance to be a greener, thriving community of people that are more involved with both their city and their neighbors.A couple years ago I started some discussion on using democratic governance processes to allow the citizens more involvement in the decision making process and I would like to return to that thought as soon as we have a council that is able to deal with the concept. It has been made recently to sound corny but “Together we can”. |
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| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | Will Rossbach Incumbent Will Rossbach, who is finishing his first four-year term on the council, said he decided to be a candidate because he has enjoyed serving the local people. "My 18 years of service shows that I am dedicated to that task. I will continue to serve as long as the people of Maplewood want me to do so," Rossbach said. Those 18 years included 14 on the Maplewood Planning Commission. Rossbach is the vice president of production at Rossbach Construction. When asked what his campaign platform will be and why, Rossbach said, "The three main areas I am focusing on are: returning sensible government to Maplewood, re-establishing a strong commitment to parks, and preparing Maplewood for the future. "It has been clearly demonstrated in the last two years that government in Maplewood has gone astray in so many ways. It will take a concerted effort to return the city to its high-level performance of the past." In response to running against seven other candidates, Rossbach, who is often a dissenting voice on many council votes, said, "It is not a surprise that with all of the poor decisions, lack of real processes and disregard of citizens' concerns that there would be many people who would feel that they want to help to correct the problems." |
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| Lillie Newspapers 8/23 | Will Rossbach runs for another Maplewood Council term Will Rossbach The following information was submitted by the candidate. I am seeking re-election to the position of Maplewood City Council member. I have served in this position for the last four years. Prior to that time I served the city as a Maplewood planning commissioner for 14 years. The planning commission works in the area of advising the council on development issues, ordinance implementation, variances, the Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and numerous other city control issues. Those years of experience have given me an understanding of what Maplewood needs - not just to function but to thrive - that cannot be duplicated by any other candidate. Another advantage you gain from my years of public service is that you can see where I stand through my voting record. Sometimes you can be fooled by a candidate who promises the world but then delivers something different, or does not understand the limitations of local government. I do not make promises that I do not intend to, or can not keep. I have had the pleasure of living for all of my 52 years in Maplewood. This has given me a front row seat from which to watch Maplewood's history develop. My first memories are of farms and fields, the old Gladstone neighborhood, and Battle Creek before it was the park we have today. That Maplewood was changed by 3M's development, the Maplewood Mall, and many different housing developments. I do not need to go to a book to read the history of Maplewood. I have witnessed it first hand. It is necessary at this time to alter the path that we have been on since the last elections. Not every action that has been taken can be or needs to be reversed, but I do believe that it would be appropriate to review the actions that resulted in many of the senior staff leaving or being forced out. It is also completely inappropriate for a city with over 25 percent of its land in parks and open space to not have a Parks Department or Parks Director. The knowledge and experience that I have puts me in the best position to help with this process. We must return to using a dependable open process to reach consensus on initiatives put forward by the citizens or the council. Finally, it is important that we start the hard work of planning for Maplewood's future now. If history has taught us anything it is that we will continue to change. This change can allow us the opportunity to become a better city if it is planned appropriately and it reflects the desires of the people that make up Maplewood now and in the future. I ask you to allow me to continue to serve Maplewood and put to work the experience and insight into the community that only I bring to this election. |
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| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| endorsed | John Nephew | Fiscal responsibility, good government, pride in Maplewood |
Look to John for specific proposals on improving city governance and creating an administration that works for the whole city and the whole council. His concise and analytical style are sure to make council meetings worth attending as he applies his year-long study of the city to the issues we face. |
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| 628 County Road B Maplewood MN 55117 |
Business owner, one year attend and chronicle city meetings |
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| john@johnnephew.com | |||||
| www.johnnephew.com | DFL, AFSCME, St. Paul Trades and Labor, Progressive Majority, St Paul Building & Construction | ||||
| 651-776-5963 | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | 1. What is your reason/purpose for wanting to serve on the Maplewood City Council? Maplewood is on the wrong track. We need competence and a basic respect for process at the top of city government. The majority that controls the city council has made it clear that they like the situation they have created. In order to effect positive change, we need new blood on the council, and I'm prepared to do the job. On a personal level, I am at a point in my life where I feel drawn to public service. I welcome this as an opportunity to apply the skills I've already developed as a creative professional and businessman to new and different problems. 2. What expertise do you have to offer in serving on the council? Creating and running my own business (Atlas Games, which I started in 1990) has given me a diverse range of skills. In particular, I would highlight my experience with communication, negotiation, customer service, and finance as being directly applicable to the responsibilities of a city councilperson. Most importantly, running my company has honed my ability to acquire new skills, to absorb and analyze information quickly, and react to changing circumstances. I also understand the limits of knowledge: we can never have complete and perfect information (and have to remain open to facts that challenge our existing assumptions), yet we must make decisions — we can't allow the limits of knowledge to paralyze us, because failing to act can have dire consequences as well. This is as true for the city council as it is for the business. 3. What ideas do you have to increase the tax base and decrease taxes? I think government's role is to create an environment that is broadly supportive of business and entrepreneurialism. For example, smart investments in infrastructure and robust city services benefit all current and potential businesses, as well as residents. Strategic support of affordable housing in our community means a healthy pool of workers and consumers available to local businesses. Consistency in the application of city policies and ordinances provides the predictability and rule of law that allows businesses to plan with confidence. I am leery of government choosing individual businesses to support, and I would not want to get ensnared in the kinds of bidding wars that we sometimes see communities engaging in to lure a business with offers of tax breaks and other special treatment. Similarly, I believe tools like tax increment financing need to be used sparingly and in situations where there is a clearly defined public good (for example, if TIF makes it possible to clean up and repurpose a brownfield; or if the money from the TIF district goes specifically toward maintaining a number of affordable units in a housing development). Maplewood is inherently attractive, in its location and features, such as our proximity to the capital city, the quality of our police and fire protection, our infrastructure, and our natural resources (parks, open space, the views from south Maplewood, etc.). If the city takes care to maintain and enhance these assets, and is simply well-managed, the free market will reward us with healthy property values and business investments. Reducing taxes is important goal to me, but it must not be the #1 objective in the short term. I would compare this to corporate management philosophies. Some CEOs and corporate raiders want to take control of a company in order to liquidate assets, slash expenses, and boost reported profits (and share prices) in the short run — and cash in before the long-term effects are felt. We've seen the ruins of these companies littering the business landscape of America. Besides the spectacular failures, there are many more companies that are chronic underperformers because managers obsessed with their quarterly numbers don't make the smart investments that pay off over a span of years or generations. I would rather be inspired by business leaders such as Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, who invest for the long run and have delivered extraordinary returns across decades. 4. What is your vision for Maplewood? (Consider relationships with citizens, with local and regional governments, environmental issues, development and diversity issues.) I offer voters a three-part message: fiscal responsibility, good government, and pride in Maplewood. Fiscal responsibility is not as simple as blindly cutting taxes; it is about making the right investment decisions for the long term. Right now we seem to be both raising taxes (second highest levy increase in the past decade) and making bad investment choices (such the reorganization and its new layer of bureaucrats). Good government means mutual respect among council, staff, and citizens. It means valuing the professionalism and expertise of city employees. Above all, it means decisions motivated by the public good, not personal vendetta. Finally, while we are all embarrassed by the picture drawn of Maplewood in the papers recently, we can't fairly blame the media for reporting the news; we can, however, change the story itself through the ballot box. |
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| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | John Nephew Candidate John Nephew, who founded and still operates a publishing company called Atlas Games, said he chose to run in the election because Maplewood is on "the wrong track." Nephew said he started attending council meetings last year to form his own opinion about the "controversies" occurring at the time. "The majority that controls the City Council has made it clear that they like the situation they have created. In order to effect positive change, we need new blood on the council and I'm prepared to do the job," Nephew said. He has spent more than five months refining his campaign platform, which includes keeping taxes low, making smart investments and good government including mutual respect among council, staff and residents and for the law, he said. He will focus on pride in Maplewood as well. "While we are all embarrassed by the picture drawn of Maplewood in the papers recently, we can't fairly blame the media for reporting the news. We can, however, change the story itself through the ballot box," he said. He plans to introduce himself to residents by doing a lot of door-knocking this fall. "I've heard many variations of the phrase, 'I wanted change, but not like this...' My job now is to persuade voters that I'm the best prepared, best funded and most likely to win the general election - to deliver that positive change the voters demand," Nephew said. |
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| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| endorsed | James Moreno Llanas | Listening, ending dissension, critical issues: Safe neighborhoods, clean parks, and inclusive government |
Mr. Llanas aims to represent and engage the whole city in its governance. We have come to know that when he says he will listen and consider each voice he means it. Public service to current and future residents is at the core of his agenda. | ||
| 2424 Barclay St Maplewood MN 55109 |
National Education Consultant with Follett Software. Experience as teacher and school administrator. |
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| jimllanas@yahoo.com | |||||
| www.jamesmorenollanas.com | Maplewood Police Officers LELS #153, Victory Fund | ||||
| 651-488-2745 | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | Candidates Name: James Moreno Llanas Date: 8.3.07 Campaign website address: www.jamesmorenollanas.com Phone: 651-488-2745 What is your reason / purpose for wanting to serve the Maplewood City Council? We all have a responsibility to take action when we see inequity, turmoil and misguided officials. The Mayor and some on the City Council have made unwise decisions that continue to impact each citizen. I’m running because I believe I can reverse this trend of chaos and focus on what is important to our friends and neighbors in Maplewood. I am committed to making our community the best it can be, and to be a voice for my fellow citizens who feel they have not been heard. I believe by listening to the issues that are important to our citizens, I could lead us towards a better tomorrow. I believe I can be a strong voice for those who have traditionally been shut out of the political process. What expertise do you have to offer in serving on the council? I will provide fair, strong and balanced leadership. I have consistently demonstrated effective management in business roles. As a teacher in the Minneapolis Public School system, I was active in our teacher union within the District and in my school building. I was Chair to our Site Council, Advisor to our Student Affairs and liaison to Parent Boards. As a school Administrator/Dean of Students, I helped facilitate a community of learning between parents, students and teaching staff. In my current position, I work with an extensive group of technical staff, marketing personal, sales executives and education specialists to serve some of the largest school districts across the country. In each of my professional experiences, I have implemented strategies and programs that focus on conflict resolution. I have an ability to effectively listen to issues and provide opportunities to meet opposing side's needs to adequately address interests that ensure satisfactory outcomes. I have skills to mediate, manage and negotiate through difficult times avoiding crisis not unlike the situation our City Council currently finds itself in. I am an effective listener and while engaged in this skill set, I can provide guidance to the City Council to focus on our community's needs and not on embattled emotional responses. The benefits of bringing this skill set would allow each member to be less defensive, more open and focused on the needs of the community. These are just a few of my professional experiences have helped me develop skills that lend themselves to being an effective council member. What ideas do you have to increase the tax base and decrease taxes? In being true to my commitment of community inclusion, I would promote the formation of an Ad Hoc Revenue Task Force; a group made up of citizens and business leaders to examine the budget and recent cuts. The group’s focus would be to find deficiencies in the budget while exploring sustainable increases in the tax base. One priority would be a close examination of the partnership between Maplewood and 3M since they account for nearly 12% of our tax revenue. We have to ask tough questions like…. Is this partnership good for Maplewood? Is it being leveraged properly? Can we model the partnership to promote similar efforts with other corporations? The tax base can be increased with careful planning, development and by promoting a fair plan that has had input from citizens and business leaders. I am not sure a tax decrease is possible. I do not have all the information to make this decision at this time. I especially would be hesitant to cut taxes if they could negatively impact safety, roads, parks or services. What is your vision for Maplewood? First, I would work towards healing divisions within our city. If we are to prosper and work for reform and accountability, we must engage our neighbors in inclusive dialogue. The City Council has alienated a large portion of Maplewood and I would work towards restoring faith in local government. Secondly, I want to promote Maplewood as an environmentally forward community. I would work towards building collaborative partnerships with local government and other private and public entities to facility the development, adoption and implementation of sustainable programs and practices. Specifically advocating the building of energy efficient homes, high performance businesses and adopting clean technology practices that promote a greener community. It goes without saying that we must properly fund Maplewood Parks Commission! Thirdly, development in our community needs more study and our City Manger has largely failed us all. I would work towards a complete overhaul of our Community Development Department. I would focus on effective partnership with developers who reinvest in our community both on a commercial and residential level. And lastly, we must acknowledge Maplewood is an evolving community. The makeup of our citizens is changing with respects to race, age, socio-economic background and household. We must embrace this diversity; celebrate our difference and work towards understanding how we can utilize our uniqueness to build a better Maplewood for everyone. |
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| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | James Moreno Llanas When asked why he's seeking a seat on the council, James Moreno Llanas said it's "because I'm committed to making our community the best it can be and to be a voice for my fellow citizens who feel they have not been heard." In describing his campaign platform, Moreno Llanas said, "Most people don't care about political squabbles; our focus should be on issues like traffic, safety in our neighborhoods, services for our seniors, affordable housing and a fair budget that can support the needs of our city." Moreno Llanas' plan until the September primary election is to learn what is important to voters, he said. "Each constituent I spoke to, from precinct 15 to precinct 4, has unique and significant ideas and concerns." Those constituents include business owners, elderly people on fixed incomes, young couples living in crowded apartments, and Asian students who are feeling increasingly unsafe, Moreno Llanas, an education sales consultant, said. When asked for his reaction to the crowded field, Moreno Llanas said, "The focus on the candidates should be not in (the) number running but on how they may bring fresh and broad perspectives. Many of my opponents are running with the support of one side or the other of the divided council. My grassroots campaign is focused on what the people of this city want and need, not what the political class thinks is important." |
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| Lillie Newspapers 8/22 | Jim Llanas runs for Maplewood City Council Jim Llanas The following information was submitted by the candidate. Today's city council is not working in the interest of all citizens. I believe I can change what is not working in city government to positively impact all citizens of Maplewood. My grassroots campaign is focused on what the people of this city want and need. I am committed to making our community the best it can be, and to be a voice for my fellow citizens who have not been heard. By listening to the issues important to our citizens, I believe I can lead us to a better tomorrow by bringing fresh, new and balanced ideas to the city council. The arrogance with which our council operates now serves only a select few. I will engage more people in conversations to learn what is important to them. Perhaps John F. Kennedy said it best, "Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future." I seek to create accountability for elected officials to ensure the council promotes community ideas and needs using ethical standards. I will work to remove barriers preventing full community participation, especially those who have not traditionally had a voice. We must work to promote local business ownership and provide incentives to those businesses that reinvest in our community. I would promote partnerships between state/local agencies and businesses that can create affordable housing for citizens who currently live in Maplewood and any seeking to move to our community. The city council must passionately work towards improving the quality of life for each and every citizen of Maplewood. We must help residents be aware of and gain access to county and state programs that focus on health and human services, including programs for those with special needs, the economically disadvantaged, women and seniors. I would work with local law enforcement to create strong policies and crime prevention programs that would provide our community with safe neighborhoods. I will work diligently for funding and continuous improvement in our beautiful city parks. I know the people of Maplewood will focus on my vision for Maplewood and not the color of my skin or who I love. These things have made me stronger and have given me perspective but do not define what I can do on the city council. Standing up for what is right, having the courage to fight for change and risking public scrutiny is worth the potential to make our community a better place. I encourage you to learn more about my campaign at www.jamesmorenollanas.com. |
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| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| endorsed | James G Dykes | Helping Maplewood be competitive, civility with council and staff |
Mr. Dykes proposes to make the citizens the driving force in defining solutions to Maplewood's needs. His many years of experience in public employment offering frequent interaction with the Minneapolis City Council give him a clear understanding of the importance of process and professionalism. | ||
| 2341 Snowshoe Lane Maplewood MN 55119 |
Over 25 yrs of local and state government experience including public works safety manager in Minneapolis. |
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| dykes3735@msn.com | |||||
| www.freeweb.com/jamesgdykes | |||||
| no phone number supplied | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | My name is James G. Dykes and I am currently working on my website. I can be reached at 651-246-3746 for inquiries. 1. I am running for Maplewood City Council to work for the future of Maplewood. I don't feel there is enough connection between the citizens, council and businesses in Maplewood. I hope to bridge the gap. It is important that someone is looking and planning ahead. 2. I have over 25 yrs of local and state government experience and it has taught me that the public trust is very important. As a public servant the citizens want to feel that you have their best interest at all times. I have been successful in my career because I take the public trust seriously and I want to take that commitment to Maplewood City Council. 3. The main idea I have is to make sure that we are constantly discussing ways to expand our tax base and not raise taxes. Have regular conversations with local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and other thriving cities to our east and south about creating the right climate to attract new businesses and residents. 4. My vision of Maplewood is one of civility towards each other particularly in the Maplewood City Council. I would like to set a positive example for others to follow. I would like to see more collaboration between the council and the citizens, businesses and other local communities to help shape our collective futures. I would like to see Maplewood viewed as a leader of suburban cities in Minnesota. I think I can help with that. James |
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| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | James Dykes With the thought that it is important for someone to be working toward the future of Maplewood, 22-year resident James Dykes said he decided to run for City Council. "Maplewood is one of the oldest suburbs in the east metro, but I don't think we are viewed as a leader. I would like to help change that," said Dykes, who resides in southern Maplewood. Dykes is a safety manager in the public works department in Minneapolis, but said he has worked in both private and public sectors. "My experience in the public sector has been instrumental in my understanding of how crucial it is to achieve public trust and confidence in local government." Dykes said a collaboration with citizens, government and businesses will ensure the city's competitiveness in the metro area. "I would also emphasize civility in relationships with staff, colleagues and city leadership. As a public figure it is imperative that other points of view be heard and considered, even when there are major philosophical differences," Dykes said. On the campaign trail, Dykes plans to attend city meetings and meet residents to learn about their concerns. "I think there are so many candidates because many feel the perception of Maplewood has not been positive. I think we can do much better, and apparently there are others that feel the same way," Dykes said. |
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| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| James E. Meehan, Jr. | trust and fairness, green initiatives |
Mr. Meehan's long experience and in-depth knowledge make him an effective advocate for public safety and the future of the Maplewood Police Department. As he gains recognition and support in the wider community, we expect to stand behind him in future opportunities for public service. | |||
| 3029 Bartelmy Ln. Maplewood MN 55109 |
25 years experience as Maplewood employee |
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| COPSX4@MSN.COM | |||||
| no website supplied | |||||
| H# 651-770-0850 C# 651-274-5342 | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | Candidates Name: James E. Meehan, Jr. Your campaign website address: COPSX4@MSN.COM Phone number (best number for voters to reach you): H# 651-770-0850 C# 651-274-5342 Date 8-2-07 1. What is your reason/purpose for wanting to serve on the Maplewood City Council? With 25 years of experience working for the City of Maplewood, I would bring a wealth of knowledge in the workings of city government. Because of the current council’s response to selected city employees, I believe the council needs a voice of fairness and reason. 2. What expertise do you have to offer in serving on the council? I worked for the City of Maplewood for 25 years, and I have lived in the city for 27 years. I understand the issues facing the community and I have been a resident, employee and “sounding board” within my community. 3. What ideas do you have to increase the tax base and decrease taxes? This is a very problematic issue for all metro cities. How do we deliver needed services and still maintain a reasonable property tax for our citizens? I admit, I need to further study the property tax situation, but I think we need to look at an increase in user fees, investigate more state and federal funding, and form a citizens committee to get input and ideas from the general public. 4. What is your vision for Maplewood? (Consider relationships with citizens, with local and regional governments, environmental issues, development and diversity issues) I want to see the citizens of Maplewood trust their local government. I want Maplewood to again be respected as a wonderful place to live and work. All citizens should be concerned with the environmental issues. I would like to see an education program to encourage “green”, as well as careful consideration to any proposed development within our city. I think Maplewood is already a diverse community. We welcome all races, religions and economic status. I can’t see how this can be improved. |
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| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | Bartol and Meehan were not available as of press time. | ||||
| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| DelRay (Rocky) Rokke | Cleaner, Leaner and Greener city. |
Mr. Rokke participated in an endorsement interview. He has joined with Ms. Cave in at least one combined mailing. | |||
| 454 O'Day St S. Maplewood MN 55119 |
Public employment experience, 15 years as financial professional at 3M. CPA and CIA exams completed. |
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| delray@q.com | |||||
| www.delrayrokke.com | |||||
| (651) 739-0230 | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | DelRay (Rocky) Rokke August 2, 2007 www.delrayrokke.com (under construction—available next week. E-Mail: delray@q.com (651) 739-0230 1. What is your reason/purpose for wanting to serve on the Maplewood City Council? a. I am running for Maplewood City Council for several reasons. . . First, I want the City of Maplewood to be Cleaner, Leaner and Greener city. We can transform our “flag-shaped city” into a “flagship community” among its peers if we make a few easy choices. Second, I want to see the city council representing the needs and the desires of current residents in the city above all others. In the rare occasion where the council may need to over-ride the will of the people, the reasons for the choice should be made clear and understandable to all with adequate compensation if needed. And finally, I want to bring common sense and accountability to the voting board of our community. Quite simply, this means that a city council should continually strive to do the right things—even if we do not get them right the first time. Nothing can be gained by living with a bad decision when better choices become known. 2. What expertise do you have to offer in serving on the council? a. I have a Summa Cum Laude Degree in Accounting from Moorhead State University and I have completed the examinations for both the Certified Internal Auditors and the Certified Public Accountants with many years of continuing professional education. In addition, I have more than sixteen years of Finance-related experience at 3M Company having served more than a half-dozen different divisions to date. Also, before attending college, I spent several years managing a construction crew which sandblasted and painted municipal water towers, so I have seen at least parts of how dozens of city governments operate to serve their residents. I also could oversee many of the activities on these major projects should the need arise for a new or refinished water tower during my tenure in to office of City Council. Moreover, before settling in to life in Maplewood where my children were born and where they have attended Carver Elementary and Maplewood Middle Schools, I lived in a half-dozen different communities in three different states and those experiences led me to choose Maplewood for all it has to offer its residents, so I want to keep this city’s status as the best place I’ve lived. And finally, I was raised on a diversified Minnesota farm where general knowledge and common sense in areas too broad to mention are the most basic necessities of life. I sincerely believe I can apply all of my experiences to the decision I will make on the City Council. 3. What ideas do you have to increase the tax base and decrease taxes? a. This is a great question and it deserves more than a simple answer. Taxes on existing residential properties are a serious issue to me as I have seen mine double in the last six years due in-part to inflated property values that are likely not sustainable and partially from School Bond issues. Residential Property Taxes—painful as they seem—are nevertheless deductible expenses for most of us and at least partly refundable for many of the rest, so they are often preferable to far-reaching fees or Sales Taxes which hit all of us, but are neither, deductible by or refundable to residents. With that said, I am quite concerned about whether we are getting the full value of our tax dollars sent to the City of Maplewood. Given that a certain amount of taxation and special assessments are unavoidable, I want to see these spent in the most efficient manner possible. Maplewood borders ten other communities—all of which should be approached to form a multi-city procurement consortium, so that we can combine our purchasing power to negotiate the best prices possible on needed equipment, supplies and services. In addition to helping our neighboring communities save money, this will allow us to use some of the savings to Maplewood for matching funds on any grants we may be eligible to receive. Grants can be an important source of revenue and jobs creation for a city like Maplewood to help pay for urban renewal or beautification projects, transportation or other infrastructure improvements as well as needed fire protection or police related equipment. The key to lowering the Property Tax burden on existing homes is to make smart developmental priorities which will slow the flight of affluent residents and attract more great jobs and higher-income families to the city. We should openly encourage the construction of some hi-rise office buildings and luxury condominiums in selected areas to get our slice of the economic pie rather than sending it further and further out into the suburbs or deeper into the downtown cities. Generally speaking, these types of additions require little added cost for infrastructure or law enforcement and they can add a great deal of new revenue to the General Fund. They can also add a great number of new paid memberships to the Maplewood Community Center to increase revenue from that asset. I’d like to see that facility so busy that it gets extended to a 24 hour operation. We should make an effort to work with the U of M or another university to get a satellite MBA and other educational programs offered nights and weekends at the Community Center for both the convenience of residents and an appropriate share of the tuition for the city. To encourage renewal and genuine property value increases on existing homes, the city should provide no-cost building permits for installation of Energy Star rated improvements to windows and siding or for installation of renewable any energy production equipment. We should also encourage power company rebates to homeowners on the same types of home investments. If there is a way to graduate the increased property value from these improvements over a period of several years for these improvements, I will support that as well. Nothing discourages people from upgrading their homes more than the fear of immediate and excessive taxation on any kind of major improvement. Delaying home improvements not only keeps the assessed value of the individual homes lower, they also keep the assessed value and real market values of the entire neighborhoods lower. To increase building permit revenue for the city and/or to increase the creation of good-paying local jobs, the city should adopt a building permit fee structure which rewards contractors who use local craft people for new construction or weather-related repairs to existing homes. Perhaps the best way to do this is to greatly increase the permit fees and then give a significant generous discount to those who only use union labor or to those who can prove they pay equivalent or better wages to all their workers. 4. What is your vision for Maplewood? a. I clearly see Maplewood as a city with burgeoning opportunities to be made Cleaner, Leaner and Greener. The lakes and ponds need attention on their excessive algae and debris, the Parks and nature areas need to be adopted by caring citizen groups willing to walk through them with a garbage bag once a month or so and landscaping around many public buildings need some attention once in a while. All of these are activities which can be done by a coordinated effort to organize volunteers to do community service. As mentioned above, the city should spend tax dollars wisely and seek grants which can help keep the city’s appearance and infrastructure up to date. A greener city makes it easy and inexpensive to upgrade homes for energy savings and does everything it can to reduce the amount of carbon it produces. All of these will make Maplewood a better place to live and allow us to see rising property values. Maplewood will always be dear to our hearts as the birthplace of our two daughters. My wife, Barbara, and I chose Maplewood as the ideal community in which to raise our family for many reasons other than the just the convenience to 3M where we both have worked for more than sixteen years. Maplewood has a great balance of diversity in most of its neighborhoods. The current mix of young families with young retirees gives children a secure feeling like having an extended family living next door. The mix of cultures in the community gives us a flavor for much of the world without the need to travel a great deal. We have great Churches and Schools that teach the lessons that nearly everyone can bring value to our lives. Maplewood has a great opportunity to prove this is true by electing an advocate for community responsibility to its City Council this fall. That advocate is me, DelRay (Rocky) Rokke. |
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| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | DelRay Rokke "A large number of candidates can attract even larger masses to participate in the public discourse over diverse issues and solutions. The greater the number of candidates, the more likely it is we will have fresh topics to consider by the City Council," DelRay Rokke said. Rokke's enjoyment of living in Maplewood and interest in state and national politics were some reasons he decided to make a bid for City Council, he said. "My interest in local government has always been quite high because of the more immediate impact it has on the people I know and respect," Rokke said. His interest in local government started more than 25 years ago when he worked for a company that painted new city water towers - which often involved daily meetings with elected officials and city employees. Rokke now works for 3M in Maplewood and lives in the city with his wife Barbara and two daughters. The candidate's campaign platform includes supporting issues that "will make Maplewood a cleaner, leaner and greener city." Cleaning up lakes and ponds, use of community service projects, combined purchasing power, renewable energy and taking advantage of available grants to fund projects are some of Rokke's campaign goals. |
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| MVC Clarification | [email response to request for clarification of CPA/CIA status] I did indeed pass the CPA exam and I hold a certificate and maintain a license in North Dakota, were I lived while going to college in Moorhead. I took the exam and passed it on the first attempt while still in college. At the time I took the exam, only about 10% of candedates passed all four parts on the first sitting--so I am proud of that accomplishment. I do not hold-out by using the CPA title in my name in Minnesota, because I have not worked in a CPA firm for the two years required for the Minnesota license. I can however say that I have completed the exam. North Dakota did not have that requirement when I lived there, so I am considered a CPA there, but I am inactive in that state. A similar situation relates to the CIA exam in that I have completed the exam, but have not worked the one year of actual auditing requred to hold the certificate. Since that is a test of similar difficulty, I want people to know I have completed it as well. As for work experience, I have over 16 years of Finance-related work at 3M since I passed the CPA and finished college. Before going to college I spent about 2.5 years at American Crystal Sugar working with the Grain Millers union and I spent about four years painting new water towers all around the country--some of that time was in the Operating Engineers union. Besides these, I have about 18 years of growing-up and working on a Farm in NW Minnesota. All of these have contributed to my balanced sense of business, labor and common sense. Cleaner by use of volunteers and simple solutions to clean our lakes ponds, parks and other public areas. Leaner by using grant money and combining our purchasing power with other cities to get more for our taxes. Greener by increasing the amount of renewable energy used by the city and adding Farmers' Markets. I am well aware of the 3-2 situation in Maplewood and I hope to be part of the solution by coming in beholden to neither side and having an open mind. I believe in compromise and collaberation not a "my way or the hiway situation," so I will always seek cooperation before voting. There seems to be too much passion and very little compassion in the current situation. One advantage I have is that I have no relatives in the city and certainly none working there. Another is that all my friends at work and in the neighborhood are all gamefully employed or they own businesses not operating in the city. Thanks for asking for clarification. I hope this helps. I also look forward to the interviews. |
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| Lillie Newspapers 8/23 | DelRay Rokke runs for Maplewood city council DelRay Rokke The following information was submitted by the candidate. My name is DelRay Rokke (Rocky) and I am running for Maplewood City Council for several reasons . . . first, I want the city of Maplewood to be cleaner, leaner and greener. We can transform our "flag-shaped city' into a "flagship community.' Second, I want to see the city council representing the needs and the desires of current residents in the city. In the rare occasion where the council may need to override the will of the people, the reasons should be made clear to all. And finally, I want to bring common sense and accountability to the voting board of our community. This means that a city council should continually strive to do the right things - even if we do not get them right the first time. The "cleaner' communitywill have a community service director whose purpose is to maintain a list of community service activities which can be adopted by businesses, churches or other organizations. There are parks and nature areas in need of regular cleaning and lakes and ponds that need a great deal of TLC to get rid of algae and debris. There are also public buildings that need refreshed landscaping and places where weeds have taken-over. These are some activities that would be most appropriately assigned to people who have community service requirements as a part of our corrections system. The "leaner' city I mention is not one that cuts costs by cutting services, but rather a city which increases the value of our tax and special assessment dollars spent. We share a border with 10 other communities - all with similar needs. We should create a limited-use East Metro procurement consortium for the purpose of getting the best bids on common needs. We might even consider the possibility of extending some of these savings to businesses and churches in our cities. For the city of Maplewood, this savings could provide seed money or matching funds which would allow us to go after grants for transportation or urban renewal projects available to the city. Lastly, I want to see Maplewood become a "greener' city. We have many opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of the city by increasing the use of renewable energy. We could partner with power companies and fuel suppliers to purchase from renewable sources. We can require that flex-fuel options be available on many of our equipment purchases and we can buy natural gas supplied from renewable sources at competitive prices. We should explore opportunities to generate renewable energy using capital invested by those individuals and companies that can take advantage of federal or other tax credits and renewable energy credits. I want all the voters of Maplewood to consider my 16 years of experience in finance at 3M, my background as a construction worker and union member, along with my degree in accounting and completion of CPA and CIA examinations before making their choices for city council. |
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| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| David D. Bartol | Did not participate in MVC endorsement process. Rejected based on his public record. | ||||
| 1249 Frisbie Ave Maplewood MN 55109 |
Part year interim council seat after Jackie Monahan-Junek resignation until special election. |
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| no email supplied | |||||
| no website supplied | |||||
| no phone number supplied | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | has not responded | ||||
| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | Bartol and Meehan were not available as of press time. | ||||
| Themes | Qualifications | Endorsements | MVC comments | ||||
| Rebecca Cave | televising council and commission meetings |
Did not participate in MVC endorsement process. Rejected based on her public record. | |||
| city council - 22 month term to fill seat vacated by Jackie Monahan-Junek resignation |
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| rebeccacave1@hotmail.com | |||||
| no website supplied | LELS 153 | ||||
| no phone number supplied | |||||
| MVC Questionnaire | has not responded | ||||
| Lillie Newspapers 7/30 | Rebecca Cave Incumbent Rebecca Cave said she is seeking re-election because she wants to continue working on the various tasks set before her. "I found that I really enjoy working together with the citizens to solve community issues," she said. Cave gained a seat on the council in a special election in 2006. She replaced interim member David Bartol, who had been appointed to the council in September 2005. Cave is a homemaker who lives in Maplewood with her husband George, a paid-per-call firefighter and their five children. Focusing on getting information to citizens, Cave said her platform is to support having all City Council and commissions meetings televised on cable TV public access channels. "My efforts to bring the Roseville School Board meetings to public access TV for those in Maplewood to watch have been successful," Cave said. "I think it is great we have so many candidates, and it goes to show that people in Maplewood are interested in local municipal government." |
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