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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 09-19 Five vie for city council seats REVIEW VOLUME 18, NUMBER 19 Publication #328680 e F ve vie for In an effort to serve the voters of Maplewood, the Review asked the five council candidates for biographical data, community background and statements on what they see as the three major issues in this fall's election. Candidates are vying for two council seats. The four top vote-getters in the primary election Tuesday, Oct. 2 will face each other at the general election Nov. 6. ticularly true where the state's levy limit law puts a cap on our ability to generate new revenues. We must be prepared to fully utilize state programs which provide :of aid for local municipalities in meeting their expenses and needs.Approximately 38 percent of the $8 million Maplewood Gary d will need in 1980 will come from property Bastian tax levies.The remainder will have to be found elsewhere or services will have to be cut.I believe the city needs to establish r an advisory committee to study the fiscal Biographical Data: Married, wife impact of wages, gas price increases, Kristine Funk, expecting first child in state aid formulas levy limitations and January.Age 30.Purchased home at 2997 other items which affect the city budget. Chisholm Pkwy. in April 1978. Attended Citizen input is badly needed in this St.Peter's Elementary School in North St critical area. Paul and Maplewood Junior High. Property Taxes — No one runs on a Graduated from Roosevelt High School in platform to raise taxes. Most run on a Des Moines,IA,and received a BA degree promise to cut taxes.This is easy to say, in sociology and political sciene from the but we must all recognize that you cannot University of Wisconsin-River Falls. cut taxes without cutting spending. . .and Graduated from William Mitchell College that can mean cutting services. Almost of Law in 1974 and was awarded a Juris all of Maplewood's spending is service- Doctor degree. Was employed by the related — police and fire protection, Minnesota Taxpayers Assn. from 1970 to water and sewer,street repair and parks 1974 as a research analyst handling state and recreation. The services that government tax and finance issues. residents demand must be provided but Currently employed by the Minnesota within our financial capability. We need Senate as the Minority Caucus Research to carefully balance the two, eliminate Staff Director in charge of six resear- waste and keep a close eye on the city chers. Areas of responsibility include budget to insure that we are getting the finances,higher education and judiciary. most value for our tax dollar. Community Background: On board of directors of the North St. Paul- Maplewood-Oakdale Division, North . Suburban Chamber of Commerce. ° Member of the Minnesota State Bar Assn. and the Ramsey County Bar Assn. Involved In Maplewood and North St. Fran Paul men slo-pitch softball leagues. , Major Issues:Housing—With inflation Juicer constantly driving up the cost of buying a home and the interest rates which must be paid on home mortgages, housing is a crucial issue facing the city.The need for Biographical Data: Age 40. Married, housing and the problems in obtaining husband Dick,four children.Owned home adequate housing are particularly acute at 1965 Barclay for 16 years.Husband is a among young families just starting up truck driver for Metcalf Mayflower and and our senior citizens.The city should be has been a volunteer fireman for 15 years. actively involved in promoting the Works with her husband as dealers for development,in acceptable areas of new Petrolon,Slick 50,a teflon engine coating. housing with a particular eye to the needs Community Background: Member of of young families and senior citizens. the Housing Redevelopment Authority Government management — The and has been secretary for four years. management of all local units of govern- Served on the Maplewood Wage Com- ment has become more difficult because mittee as secretary. Served 12 years on of the effect of inflation. This is par- the Gladstone Fire Department city council Auxiliary, two years as president. Was costs down. But we have to t� assistant Girl Scout Leader and helped development continue.I hope to serve and with the Boy Scouts. see the work get done. Major Issues: Development of Traffic—The transportation system in Maplewood—I am concerned with all the Maplewood has to be updated. I believe undeveloped land in Maplewood. I feel more effort should be put into citizens these areas will become developed.I want input towards such improvements. to know just how,where,and what type of Seriously,there is a move in the country development will occur. Efficient land to upgrade transportation.The system for use is important.Presently with the HRA, moving people across the city needs to be I am concerned about the need for a community effort. A good tran- housing for senior citizens. sportation system is the answer to better Interested in Maplewood — I am in- traffic control, speed and fewer ac- terested in all of Maplewood. I want to cidents. help people with their problems,concerns Community Involvement—I think it is and complaints, and I want people to feel important for the city council to have free to call on me.I want the people to feel representatives from all parts of our city. they belong to our city. I believe in the We don't have voting districts per se, but manager form of government that we each area should have a representative. have. We have an excellent police This is important because then that department, fire department, paramedic councilmember knows the roads, houses program, snowplowing, park facilities and development in that area, and can and recreation programs. I want these conveniently keep an eye on problems and good services we have to continue. construction and traffic,etc.,in that area. Wise Spending—As a housewife,I have Citizen participation is so important in to work on a tight budget and I would governing our city.I think it is too bad we apply the same principles to Maplewood don't have a specific high school ear- spending. marked for Maplewood, because i� - : education draws people together in the i future of their children. That cohesion is what we lack, and what I hope we can gain. r Burt , �. � Murdock ,, k1z' _ °- David Biographical Data: Age 47, married 25' Narog �' years, wife, Diane. Four children. Resident of Maplewood since 1965. Resides at 2082 E.Kenwood Dr.Graduate r of Murray High School,spent two years at Biographical Data: Age 41, married, Hamline University in St. Paul and two wife Susan, three children. Assistant in years in Marine Corps.Since 1955 been in engineering department in North St.Paul the family plumbing business, Murdock for one and one-half years. Worked in and Sons Plumbing and Heating. He is a Maplewood engineering department for master plumber. three years.Started at 18 working for the Community Background: Member of state highway department. Maplewood Athletic Assn., Parents Commuiity_ Background: Union Teacher Assn., in the Roseville School steward, member of caucus,volunteer at District. Served one full term as coun- VA hospital,member of Maplewood wage cilman 1972-76. Appointed to fill council committee, involved in community position of Roger Fontaine in April. • projects in neighborhood. Major Issues: Development of Major Issues: Overstaffing of Per- Maplewood—I know this may be a cliche sonnel — There is total overstaffing of but it is very pertinent today. We have personnel in the city. When I worked at been mandated by Metro Council to Maplewood, there were four full-time develop in an orderly and proper way.We people in the planning department. Now are a first tier city. The development is there are more,yet the population hasn't going to come. The city council cannot increased at that great of a speed. financially maintain open space and Engineering department had a staff of playgrounds in every piece of property. seven and now there are 10 or 11. My Citizens have to realize it is going to question is, are these people really come,and what we have to do is develop it necessary?I have no objections to a man in an orderly fashion. Maplewood has working. I just feel as a councilman I done a good job on keeping an economical would want the positions explained and government for the citizens.We have held duties clarified. Then, positions will either be combined or people removed. Single Copy 30� f `." ` WED:, SEPT. 19, 1479 seats High Cost of Building Permits — The clerks for 30 years. cost of building permits in Maplewood is Community Background: Union too high. I understand they are between steward, currently legislative $1,400 and$1,500 per building permit. Yet representative for Brotherhood of in Maplewood,water and electricity is not Railroad CIerks 1900,Chicago.Member of included. Those utilities are shared with the Dist.622 school board for four years. other cities.That is simply too expensive. Served as the school board's legislative I feel if a person wants to build a home in representative, and treasurer of the Maplewood, and goes to the trouble of board. Member of Maplewood's Wage getting a bank loan, we don't have to Committee. increase the costs on that home. Another Major Issues: Assessments $1,000 may be the extra money that Maplewood is expanding and is going to builder can't come up with. I know in continue growing. There is a lot of open Maplewood there are park charges,and I space being prepared for building don't object to that. But,maybe the price projects and developments. I cannot see could be reduced.We have to stop gouging people being assessed and reassessed. the taxpayer. I would want to assure all Our mayor has always talked about a the costs indexed in a building permit are public works fund. The city would take a necessary. small portion of city taxes and begin this Election—I truly feel that this primary fund. Then, if the city needs a water and general election may put some tower, the money could be taken from political life back into Maplewood.Citizen that fund. Then residents would not have participation is so important for citizen to continually be assessed.That's the kind satisfaction. I urge every voter to get of planning that is needed. involved this fall. Spending — Are the Maplewood I've been involved in politics since residents getting their money's worth?As growing up in northeast Minneapolis and a member of the citizens wage committee like to work with people. I think people I was annoyed at the brief look it got. I need a chance to express themselves.It is don't think Maplewood got a fair frustrating not to be able to communicate, evaluation. We need a thorough and I want to assist them as a coun- evaluation of city employee positions and Gilman. accurate job descriptions. I'm not out to fire large numbers of employees, I ' merely want satisfaction as to their roles. I endorse the concept of the wage corn- mittee. Split of Administration—I don't believe Mike ., communication can be what it should be considering our administration is Wasiluk k physically split between two buildings. It t: has to get bogged down. I believe the ° ' entire administration should be in one °'/ building.I'm not talking about building a new building, hut e needs to be Biographical Data: Age 62, wife looking for the besttutilizatiion of facilittiies. Charlotte, three children. 1747 Frank St. If elected, I plan on meeting with city Maplewood resident 33 years. Retired employees once a month or every six recently from Burlington Northern weeks, to understand what is being done Railroad as an Amtrak employee, in the city. I want to get involved with all Member of the Brotherhood of Railroad factions of the city government.