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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 01-23 "I loved being mayor of Maplewood" Former mayor Nora Slawik MAPLEWOOD REVIEW “I loved being mayor of Maplewood” Former mayor Nora Slawik Submitted by admin on Wed, 01/23/2019 - 12:00am file photos Sean and Tori Slawik with their mom in her first year as Maplewood Mayor Nora Slawik, at the sensory-friendly performance of “Shrek” at the Children’s Theatre in 2015. Slawik was working on an inclusive art grant for Maplewood’s children. courtesy of Metropolitan Council Slawik speaks at her swearing in as Metropolitan Council chair. The winner, comfortably, of last fall’s election for Maplewood mayor put in hours, and hours, knocking on doors to get re-elected. Then, Nora Slawik, who’d been recruited by then Gov.-elect Tim Walz’s team to apply, got the call from the state’s new top executive asking her to join the Metropolitan Council. “When this opportunity came along to serve the governor and the people of Minnesota, it was something I couldn’t pass up,” Slawik, 56, said in an interview. Walz, now governor, chose Slawik, who was Maplewood mayor for five years and served seven terms representing the Maplewood area in the Minnesota House, to chair the Met Council. Those days door knocking and talking to residents, said Slawik, were not in vain — or even just for political purposes. First elected as mayor in 2014, she door-knocked last year as the sitting mayor, and also as someone who could actually do something about residents’ concerns. “One by one, we were solving problems in Maplewood,” said Slawik. If a resident had a situation with a neighbor, or code enforcement, or a city decision, Slawik said she set to solve it, right there on the campaign trail. “The thing I’ll miss the most is the residents,” she said. Desert to Maplewood The Tucson, Arizona, native grew up in the desert, graduated from Arizona State in Tempe and took a job in St. Paul. She bounced back between Arizona and Minnesota a few times before settling with her family in southern Maplewood. “A beautiful area with rolling hills,” Slawik said. “It was just meant to be.” So enamored with her new hometown — when Slawik’s family moved into a new house they went from south Maplewood to north Maplewood — she ran to represent the Maplewood area in the Legislature. Her passion paid off; she won as a DFL candidate in 1996, then lost the seat, then won it six consecutive times. In the House, Slawik was involved in important, high-level talks and passed bills. But a lot of those talks, with a lot of people with a lot of interests, were pretty politically loaded. “There’s a lot of politics at the Legislature,” she said. “You just don’t see that being mayor.” Eventually, Slawik called it quits, retiring from political life. The mayor of her beloved city, Will Rossbach, did the same in 2013, deciding not to seek re-election. Much like how Slawik was recruited and accepted the task of heading the Met Council, Maplewood residents — including Rossbach — reached out to her and encouraged her to lead the city. “Many people in the community expressed concern to me,” said Slawik, mainly about preventing former mayor Diana Longrie, who was running, from being mayor again. She said they wanted someone who could win. “I cared about Maplewood. I didn’t plan to be mayor,” said Slawik. But she couldn’t ignore her neighbors, who in turn voted her into office. City Hall highlights There are a couple massive monuments to Slawik’s time as mayor, including the 3M Carlton Science Center that towers over 3M Road, and the many stories of the HealthEast Clinic-Maplewood building, which overlooks Hazelwood Street. “Keeping 3M scientists in Minnesota and giving them a state-of-the-art facility,” she said, “that’s a big deal.” Some 15,000 people work on the campus every day. That shores up Maplewood’s tech sector, Slawik said. And the medical sector has been bolstered by the numerous sub-clinics and sub-businesses throughout the HealthEast building. Slawik said she’s proud of expansions by small “business after business” along White Bear Avenue. The entire North End area, around Maplewood Mall, as well as the businesses along Beam Avenue, though, could use some help. Sears leaving Maplewood Mall was an impact, Slawik pointed out. The North End study Slawik and the city started last summer will strive to identify how changes in retail are going to affect the mall and city. Other highlights, among many, Slawik said, include working with the YMCA so that the Maplewood Community Center no longer loses money — it currently breaks even — and building ADA-accessible playgrounds. She said she also appreciates having worked on transit, like getting approval for the Rush Line bus rapid transit through Maplewood. Every year had its ribbon cuttings and ceremonial events, or unceremonial events like an annual police ride along. Slawik’s 2018 ride along was a bit different. The officer she was with was the closest to an armed robbery, so they sped over. The officer got out and chased the man up a hill. “What if \[the armed assailant\] comes down the hill and jumps in the cop car?” Slawik asked, recalling the tense experience with a laugh. “I really enjoyed working with the police, fire and public safety employees. I think they are among the best.” ‘I so appreciate the people’s trust in me’ Slawik, as Met Council chair, now looks to be a leader for the entire state. She said her responsibilities are broad, but her three biggest goals are that the council has a special focus on affordable housing, builds a “modern transit system” in the metro area while meeting the transit needs of the rest of the state, and works to close equity disparities. Slawik said she was first called to apply for the council’s top spot because Walz wanted a mayor as chair. At the announcement of her nomination, Walz praised Slawik’s work in Maplewood. “I so appreciate the people’s trust in me,” said Slawik of serving her city. Together, with city staff and the other council members, Slaik said they accomplished a great deal for Maplewood. “The mayor and I would meet every week before the council meeting,” said Maplewood City Manager Melinda Coleman, adding she enjoyed working with the attentive and caring Slawik. “She was a very courageous mayor who was not afraid to make tough decisions.” Said Slawik, “Serving the people of Maplewood has been a great honor.” –Solomon Gustavo can be reached at sgustavo@lillienews.com or 651-748-7815.ublic servants.