Andover - 2014 City Elections Straight Ahead - Bukkila Running for Mayor

I don't agree with Sheri Bukkila's politics.  She's a conservative Republican.  I'm a progressive Democrat.  But, I have had the opportunity to chat with Sheri, in the context of our mutual employment with Hennepin County, and belonging to separate unions/associations that bargain for contracts with the County.  She represents what - and whom - she says she will represent in her statement announcing her candidacy for Mayor.  I know of at least two other local residents that I hope at least one of whom will enter this race against Sheri, and whom I will support for Mayor.  But that said, here's coverage of Sheri's announcement from the Anoka Union Herald....

ABC Newspapers:  Government

Bukkila will run for mayor of Andover

By Community Contributor

June 28, 2014

http://abcnewspapers.com/2014/06/28/bukkila-will-run-for-mayor-of-andover/

Andover City Councilmember Sheri Bukkila is running for mayor of Andover, following the announcement that current Mayor Mike Gamache will not seek re-election.

“While I’ve enjoyed my role as councilmember, winning the mayor’s race will ensure the rules are followed and the discussions are thorough to ensure we are protecting your investments in the community,” said Bukkila. “It’s my goal to keep Andover property taxes among the lowest in Anoka County. I love the city of Andover and strive to keep government ethically in check, promote fiscal responsibility and keep taxes low through new business growth.”

A strong advocate for property rights and common sense codes and enforcement, Bukkila added, “I believe government shouldn’t get in the way of homeowners and prosperous businesses, but rather be there to ensure that residents and businesses are unencumbered by unnecessary fees or permit approval processes.”

Bukkila said her 26-year work history, most recently as a career law enforcement officer, labor negotiator, coach and mentor, provides an in depth ability to work through difficult legal and social issues. Bukkila also said her civil and criminal history, whether in the courtroom or patrolling the streets, gives her personal experience with ordinance and statute enforcement and an understanding of the difficult time ordinary people have navigating government systems. Bukkila said she also believes in positive, constructive discussion and inviting residents and community partners to have a voice in the city’s government and she believes her no-nonsense style of leadership will help the council cut through the clutter and come to practical solutions.

Bukkila is an 11-year resident of Andover and has served on the Andover City Council for six years.  She has been married to her husband Brett for 14 years and has two sons.

 

Second Weekend of Door-to-Door & Literature Drop Completed

This was an interesting weekend.

• I did door-to-door campaigning in the neighborhood just off of Bunker Lake Blvd., and ran into Mayor Mike Gamache at one of the homes. 
• I actually fell on Sunday - I caught some loose sand, and felt my feet flipping out from under me.  Fortunately, nothing damaged, but my pride.
• I've had some interesting conversations, including with one landlord who is upset that the absentee owners of other properties off 138th & Xavis aren't being held to take better care of their yards and property - some of those places did look shabby.  Another wanted to know more about the city's water & sewer replacement work on Xavis - and the newly-tarred road and new curbing was clearly visible.  I also spoke with an engaging Andover resident, who is a native of Liberia, and shared some of my concerns about how we can provide a more complete presence in Andover, with choices in town for trestaurants and other amenities, instead of driving to Anoka, Riverdale and Blaine to find these places. 
• I have a great wife and partner.  We got out for about 5 hours this weekend, and did campaign literature drops in Precincts 7, 8 and 10, east of Hanson Blvd.  We probably placed literature at close to 900 homes this weekend.  I drive and Cheryl puts the campaign cards in the newspaper or direct marketing boxes - when they have them, or we use blue painter's tape to attach them to the posts at homes that only have mailboxes.  We try to respect folks by using the painter's tape, to prevent any tearing off of paint.  Cheryl has a process figured out, and it helped that these neighborhoods were very concentrated with homes.
• This hadn't been our original weekend plan - but Digital Printing in New Hope still has not completed my lawn signs.  So instead of trying to put up signs this weekend, we campaigned.  I purchased the signs August 26th.  It took three tries to get an acceptable proof OK'd on September 7.  The signs were supposed to be done in two weeks - by the 21st.  Then they were supposed to be done Friday night or Saturday morning.  But there was no 3rd shift on Friday and no cutters on Saturday, so now I'm looking at Tuesday.  And, I'll be tied up Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning at the AFSCME Council 5 Convention, so except for a little time on Tuesday ( I hope) and Wednesday morning, I won't get some signs out until next weekend.  Darn.
• One opponent - Tony Howard - put lawn signs out this weekend.  They look nice.  Tony, who's active in the Andover Youth Hockey Associatiion is using a variation of the Andover school colors - black & gold.  Tony's campaign is also on Facebook now, and he has a new web site up and running.
• I went in for a haircut trim Saturday noon, and through some miscommunication and bad info in the computer, I came out with a much shorter haircut than I've worn throughout my adult life.  Cheryl thinks it looks nice - but, I've felt out-of-sorts because it just doesn't look like me, and with the Convention and the campaign, the last thing I wanted to deal with was self-image.  It'll be OK, but it's unfortunate, and unfortunate it had to happen just now.

"A New Voice"

My lawn signs and campaign literature will call my candidacy "A New Voice." 

One practical measure of what this means is that Andover has had a very stable Council representation in recent years, and I propose that my election will infuse a new perspective - a new voice in decision-making on that body.  Don Jacobson, who is running for re-election, has been on the City Council since 1998 (although he lost a 2004 contest for Mayor to Mike Gamache).  Julie Trude, who is running for re-election, has been on the Council since 2000.  Mayor Mike Gamache was also first elected to the Council in 2000.  Council member Mike Knight has held office since 1992.  The lone newcomer is Sherri Bukkila, who voters chose in 2008 to succeed Ken Orttel, a 26-year Council member who retired.

From 2000-2008, the same five members of the Council held forth.  Four of the current five members of the Council have served together the entire past decade.  These Council members have been good stewards for Andover this past decade - a period of considerable growth until the past two or three years.  But now Andover voters should weigh whether those representatives are best suited to steward this City the next four years, a period in which the City must recognize the stagnant home-building and home-buying and selling markets, the necessity for new types of economic development, and the obligations of finding ways to complete the parts of the City that are missing its finishing touches.  These include bringing mass transit options - the MTC - into Andover, improving the quality of arterial roads that travel northward through the City, providing safer travel in the City - such as partnering to add right-turn lanes to our main key routes across Andover, and further developing the Station North and Clocktower Commons sites, as well as addressing blighted parts of the community, such as the Round Lake Blvd. & 161st Ave. intersection.


Yes, there is an anti-incumbency sentiment at work in many election contests this year.  I don't know that this necessarily reaches to a City Council election in 2010.

I will be presenting voters with a new voice this fall.  At the most basic level, I bring a different background and perspective than my opponents.  I am a union member - and activist - in AFSCME - the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (public employees' union).  I am a public employee - I have been a public school teacher and I work in the human services department of Hennepin County.  I have been an active Republican in my youth (in the pre-Reagan years), and an active Democrat/DFLer as an adult (in the Reagan years and beyond).  I am a progressive on social issues, and practical-minded on economic/financial issues. 

But at the level of governing and decision-making in Andover, my political leanings and labor background are not the critical determinants of whether or not I can serve the city well on the Council.  You need a Council member who will hear your concerns , take time to study and consider the issue, then reach a decision.  I will do my best to be that Council member, and to be your new voice on the Council.

This blog is my way of reaching out to you, and for you, the voter to dialogue with me  - at least through November 3rd.  In the future, I will be talking about union/labor issues, especially AFSCME issues in this space, and if elected, I will be here commenting on Andover-related concerns.