HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 10-10 Candidates voice issues THE REVIEW Candidates voice issues
by Anne Skinner and it's resulted in enlargement of ment in Maplewood. In some respects,
utilities in the area surrounding the area maybe this is a reversal of an issue,but
With the Nov.8 city election not far off, developed and the residents getting I'm not in favor of firing the whole city
the four candidates vying for two vacant assessed. staff and shaking the whole thing up.
Maplewood City Council positions are "Residential development isn't quite so "I think the role of the city council is to
discussing issues. Almost without ex- bad as commercial.The Maplewood Mall _ truly reflect the taxpayer's appetite,to
ception,each of the four candidates ex- is a good example,it's really bad,the control costs and to provide the services
pressed dismay over the low voter turnout 'improvement'has resulted in sewer and the people want. It's very difficult to
during the primary held early this month. water added quite a distance from the reduce city expenditures when union
Out of 14,041 registered voters in the mall. contracts require cost of living increase
City of Maplewood, 609 or 4.3 percent "There are many people in the village for city employees.People costs must go
voted.Results were:Norm Anderson with who are old and still working or retired up."
440 votes,Earl Nelson with 285, Roger who are hit with big assessments and will
Fontaine with 155 votes and Chuck Kent be forced to eventually sell their homes.
with 82. "We should ask the development to pay
Ken Mobil lost with 71 votes and Bill for the improvement and any
Lorenz,with 90 votes,was disqualified enlargement that is going to be
from the race because he failed to file the necessary."
necessary financial statement prior to the He added he would like to see neigh-
primary,according to city officials, borhood organizations such as the
Candidates'views include: Maplewood-Ferndale"pop up all over the
—Norm Anderson feels strongly about place."
representing "what the people really Nelson was also concerned about the
want." He noted his concerns about city's hiring of private consultants and
development adding,"It's fine to have a wanted to see more work completed in
good tax base as long as its kept in the house.
proper zoning."
Anderson also has some concern about —Roger Fontaine said he was basically
parks and trails in the city,"we should interested in lowering the cost of building
abide by the wishes of the people." permits to increase development. "We
He added,"November 8 is really the need to bring more construction in here,
date to remember to get out and vote on. more development to broaden the tax
It is very important that Maplewood is base,"he said.
concerned enough and that it gets out and He would also like to see the city cut
votes." down on expenditures on park costs,
The councilman of four years explained "There's too much open space.I'd rather
he did not decide to run for mayor(as support youth activities like hockey,
announced earlier) because he did not already established activities, rather
receive the support from the council than buying new land."
members and from the community, Fontaine continued be was concerned
"people did not really come out until after about the future cost of the city's new
the primary,when it was too late." public works garage,"We had an election
He hoped to see continued citizen and gave the city permission to go ahead.
participation in government, "It really Since then costs have risen so high--are
keeps you on your toes,"he added. we going to get the garage the way it was
ordered and when?"he asked.
—Earl Nelson explained he became
interested in candidacy through his af- —Chuck Kent noted the scarceness of
filiation with the Maplewood-Ferndale issues in the campaign and attributed the
Homeowners Association and its concerns low voter turnout to it."I don't think it's
Taplewood's development. appropriate to dream up issues,but I'm
residential and commercial sure that will be done,"the councilman of
lent in the city," the attorney five months explain
't think it has been well done "I think we'veIS >retiy good govern-