3 Reasons I am Considering Running for County Commissioner

1. We need a vision for our County's future that provides a Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP), strong economic growth, transparency and shared services. I developed a LTFP for Isanti that has significantly lowered taxes, reduced debt and spending without cutting any City services. This must be repeated at the County level. I chaired the County wide group that brought cities and townships together and developed the County Economic Development Authority. After its development we handed it off to the County Board where it has been languishing for years now. Not one business project has been developed or enhanced by the County in the years since the County EDA's creation. They have not even decided on what type of organization they wish to be. Tens of thousands of dollars have been spent with no positive result. This needs to be turned around immediately. The lack of transparency at the County Board has been glaring for years. The board only recently, after we placed tremendous pressure on them, voted to record their meetings but has yet to appear on the County website. The Board holds meetings of the whole where they all discuss County business and these meetings are not recorded nor are they covered by the press. I have attended several of these over the years and it is clear why they hesitate to record these meetings. Transparency please in all County discussions so Citizens and Taxpayers know how decisions are being made. The County needs to take leadership on pooling services and purchases with the cities, school board and townships to help lower all of our cost. We have done these type of delas wit hthe City of Cambridge and currently working with Isanti Township on others - We know how to make this work even if the County does not. City, Township, School District and County taxes come out of the same wallet. We must streamline all levels of government and eliminate unnecessary redundancies.

2. The County Board and School Board do not have anyone from our Isanti Community on their boards. We pay the 2nd highest amount of County and School District taxes and we have ZERO representation. This is undemocratic and must be addressed. We need strong representation that will fight for our communities needs. We also need strong County leadership in dealing with State Government. We are all to often forgotten and left behind when policy is being developed on the State level.

3. We have a track record of reform, fiscal discipline and leadership. We have cut taxes and cost. We are spending less in 2012 than we did in 2006 in the City of Isanti. We have cut employee cost and improved city services. We must replace the good ole boy/girl style of County Government and usher in a wave of reform that breathes new life into our Community.

I am far from deciding if I will run or not and I hope the County Board does not play politics with redistricting. I love serving my Community as Mayor and hope to continue to do so but if the County continues on its normal course we may have no choice but to knock down the same walls of misgovernment of Isanti County as we did in 2006 in the City of Isanti.