One of the first contacts I received, was an invitation from the North Metro Realtor's Association, which also wants to interview (or screen) candidates, and perhaps offer funds for campaign expenses, if they deem you worthy of their support.
Here are some of the main questions they asked, and my answers....
What civic/community groups do you belong to?
At present, I am a union activist in AFSCME Local 34 for Hennepin County Social Services, which is a part of the statewide AFSCME Council 5. I am Local 34's elected Vice President, I produce a 12-16 page monthly newsletter for the Local, and I serve on its negotiations committee. I represent the Local in Meet & Confer meetings with Management and I am on the County's health insurance committee. I am Treasurer of the Hennepin County AFSCME Policy Committee, a 12-person executive board representing each of the six AFSCME locals in Hennepin County. I am a candidate for Council 5's Executive Board in October.
I am a member of the United Methodist Church of Anoka. I am a member of the Minnesota and Anoka County Historical Societies.
I served on the City of Anoka Charter Commission for eight years, from 1992-2000.
What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
Andover faces some identity issues and challenges of balancing its rural concerns with its suburban bedroom community issues. I'd like to see the city partner with other agencies and the business community to bring some closure.
We have poor roads north of Bunker - Hanson, Crosstown, 181st, to name a few. Many of our roads lack marked right-turn lanes; either the turning car impedes those who follow, or people make right turns from the shoulder. I'd like to explore bringing MTC to Andover - perhaps along Bunker Lake Blvd. and/or north up Hanson Blvd. to City Hall and the Community Center. Andover does not have a full-service Post Office - we have the large Carrier Annex near City Hall and postal operations out of Super America. Clocktower Commons sits across from City Hall without a clocktower or restaurant that were planned years ago.
Do Andover residents take advantage of having restaurants and retail choices in its city? Oodles, Serendipity, Figaro's, Quizno's, Tasty Pizza... all are examples of 'failed' restaurants in Andover. Meanwhile, we have four pharmacies - two from one company - within two miles of each other. There is little or no commercial activity north of 161st Ave. in Andover - no gas stations, no convenience stores, no bar and grills... I'd like to see Andover partner to bring more enterprise throughout the city.
Tell us about your views on private property rights regarding residential and commercial property?
The Supreme Court's Kelo decision was a real eye-opener. I support government's right to eminent domain, but I believe the elected officials have to put it inside a narrow box. I do not support taking personal property to merely benefit other private development that is questionably in the public interest. I do support it when it is used to widen roads, or improve intersections, where necessary for the public's interest, or when it’s used to provide access for properties that otherwise would be inaccessible.
The North Metro REALTORS Association supports providing options for transit (buses, rail, etc.) and transportation, as well as the coordination of land use and planning policies with transportation and housing needs. What are some transportation options or plans that you would support in your city or county?
I don't know whether MTC's studies support expansion of bus routes into Andover, but I believe there is already significant ridership from Andover - and north Anoka County - that would sustain at least limited morning and afternoon rush hour routing along the busier thoroughfares - Bunker Lake Blvd, Round Lake Blvd. or Hanson Blvd. I am often a bus rider from the Coon Rapids' Foley Park & Ride - half my morning trip is just getting to Foley Park & Ride. I am a big supporter of the rail opportunities already running - and in the planning stages - for Anoka County.
What are your views on regional development? How will you address new residential and commercial development issues or demand?
I think Andover and Anoka County must partner with the Metropolitan Council to revisit where we're headed for 2020 and beyond. Should Andover be permitting new home developments, and if so, where?
As of March 2010, the City has 17 development agreements with City Sewer and Water, ranging from a small 6 unit development in Maple Hollow to large, significant developments at Grey Oaks (up to 300 units), County Oaks West (82 units - 33 available in March), Sophie's South (85 units, 57 available), Miller's Woods (86 units, 21 available) and Parkside at Andover Station (110 townhome units, 12 available). And there were seven acreage developments with Well & Septic choices, including a 19 unit development at Stacks Woods and a 16 unit development at Silver Meadows West. That's a lot of development projects in place.
Should acreage development continue in rural well-water areas instead of areas with City water and sewer? What is the state of Andover's water supply - can it sustain the current population? Can it handle 1500, 2500, 5000 more homes? In the August 27 issue of the ABC newspapers, there were 48 Andover foreclosures in the public notices - perhaps fewer than in Coon Rapids, Ham Lake and East Bethel, but far too many nonetheless. Is there already too much housing stock in Andover? With declining home values and rising costs of living in the farthest-out suburbs, will Andover continue to attract new residents?
Should Andover invest in city-wide Wi-Fi, for example, to make working from home easier for Andover commuters? What WILL make it easier to live in Andover, and be able to engage all the amenities that we drive to Blaine, Coon Rapids, Anoka, and beyond to find, and enjoy?
Tell us about your views for providing more attainable residential and commercial property in your area?
Should we further develop Andover's residential properties? Andover has a mixed character of some farm acreage, large 2.5 acre+ lots, a considerable amount of 'normal' suburban development properties, and a small amount of high density housing - generally isolated from other parts of the City. There are many concerns for the future of a commuter community 30 miles north of the two downtowns.
I'd rather Andover focused on bringing closure - or completeness - to what we have now, for the next decade, and encourage business developments, and bring suburban amenities to Andover, where churches and pharmacies are plentiful, but where there are only five gas stations, where the only brand-name restaurants are Subway and McDonald's (two), and there are no auto dealerships, libraries - or bookstores, laundromats, combination walk-in and drive thru banks, or "Super" anything retail giants in town, as you'd expect in a suburb of 30,000+. Perhaps, it'll be as simple as starting with shoring up our infrastructure.
REALTORS(R) don't just sell homes, they sell neighborhoods, and they sell communities. In what ways can your area REALTORS(R) be better partners marketing and selling your city or county as a great place to live, work, play, and do business?
You already know our community. You were there helping to get businesses started, helping us find or build our homes. Pat Von Mosch was critical to my wife and I being able to both get our Andover house built through TH Construction and Jim Borden, and then helping us sell our Anoka home - that I'd inherited from my parents - in the summer and fall of 2000.
So, step back and help the City of Andover find out what still needs to be done. Can your Association help our community to build a Night-Out campaign across the city to rival our neighboring communities who have thriving opportunities to engage one's neighbors and promote safety awareness on the neighborhood streets?
Drive throughout Andover with a new set of eyes. Look at Bunker, Hanson, Andover, Crosstown and Round Lake Boulevards. What impression do they make? Now drive down Main St. in Anoka, through Riverplace in Coon Rapids, along Coon Rapids and Hanson Blvds. in Coon Rapids, up Highway 65 in Blaine and back down Radisson Rd. and over to the Village in Blaine. Who or what is Andover compared to the aging, decaying routes in some places and the young, vibrant, thriving locales elsewhere?
What can you find to partner with Andover that will keep people happily living in Andover, when gas prices go higher and higher, when city services are cut back further, when home prices fall further? What types of shopping, eating or work initiatives can we bring to Andover? Is it Wi-Fi? Is it better roads, or availability of park & ride bus stops within blocks or shorter miles from home? Is it more shopping or restaurant choices? I'd like to see what creative alternatives NMRA can initiate and bring to the attention of Andover's City Council and commissions.
