Election 2008 discussion: Northfield Mayor – candidates and issues

Paul Hager Mary Rossing

Paul Hager and Mary Rossing are running for Mayor of Northfield. We’ve invited them to interact online with us (the LoGroNo Triumvirate) here in the message thread attached to this blog post for the next few days.

And then we’ll invite you, the citizens of Northfield, to also chime in over the next ten days or so.

Here are some links to find out more about the candidates:

Candidate web sites:

Representative Journalism (RepJ)

Northfield.org:

Northfield News:

Northfield East Side Neighborhood Association

78 Comments

  1. Griff Wigley said:

    Mary/Paul,

    Three weeks or so ago, the Northfield News ran a story titled Candidates disagree on settlement with Roder.

    Since then, Roder signed the agreement (link to Nfld News article here) that the city council approved Aug. 15.

    Do either of you have further comment on your differences on the issue?

    Some people contend the agreement with Roder is not yet a done deal because Mayor Lansing has not signed it. (See discussion starting here.)

    What’s your take on this?

    October 17, 2008
  2. Mary Rossing said:

    I don’t think Paul and my positions were distinctly different. Paul’s suggestion to table the issue came AFTER the current council voted. My point was that the council had already voted–they stated their opinion and that they should not waste time rehashing the issue if their decision was just going to be the same–they have a history of not being able to make decisions and move on. I didn’t agree with their decision, and wouldn’t have voted for the separation agreement had I been there. Staff had initially recommended tabling the issue until the report came out. I would have respected staff’s recommendation. I still think that the current council probably has information that we are not getting.

    October 17, 2008
  3. Griff Wigley said:

    Mary, I got your Gravatar working for you. Paul, let me know if you need help with yours.

    October 17, 2008
  4. Griff Wigley said:

    Here’s a leadership-related question.

    Looking back on the controversy re: Judy Dirks and the prayer ladies, how might you handle something like this if happens while you’re Mayor?

    My point is not to rehash an old issue or to try to get either of you to take pokes at those in a leadership position at the time. I just would like hear how you’d approach an incident like that that’s a tough policy issue but tangled in human relations problems.

    October 17, 2008
  5. Mary Rossing said:

    I don’t think it’s such a tough issue. There are two distinct parts to the solution. Regarding the space use issue, the problem, if I recall was that there was no clear policy in place–an oversight that is easily remedied once realized. As to the human rights issue, I would bring a question such as this to the human rights commission and ask for a recommendation. This isn’t “passing the buck”, instead it is using and respecting the expertise of of our citizen volunteers.

    October 17, 2008
  6. Griff Wigley said:

    Mary, it may not have been a tough policy issue but it was hugely contentious… a real ‘people problem.’

    Imagine yourself sitting there as Mayor at a council meeting and a member of a city’s commission publicly chastises the city administrator at open mic, which then prompts the city administrator and some councilors to publicly chastise that person in return.

    Tell us more how you think about this type of ‘people problem’ — addressing it, resolving it, preventing it.

    October 18, 2008
  7. Tracy Davis said:

    I have a few questions, too, but I’d like to wait until Paul Hager is “here” before I start so that he can address the questions Griff already proposed.

    October 19, 2008
  8. Ross Currier said:

    Tracy –

    I understand that Paul is “on his way” and that both candidates have asked how many essay tests must one take to become Mayor of Northfield.

    Mary and Paul –

    Not long ago, a prominent local leader summarized (what I believe to be) four important issues in our community thusly:

    Prayer Ladies in the Administrator’s Office: “Who cares?”

    Annexation of the Northwest Territory: “No brainer”

    Police Chief Allegations Against the City Administrator: “Sour grapes”

    Efforts to Create a Rental Ordinance: “Not the City’s Problem”

    Do you agree with his summary and, if not, how do you differ?

    Thanks much,

    Ross

    October 20, 2008
  9. Mary Rossing said:

    To Griff’s follow-up
    The great thing about the open mike is that it is a way for citizens to get the ear of the council, mayor and staff and it becomes part of the public record. The frustrating thing is that the conversation is one sided and it is hard to know if one’s concern fell on deaf ears. Please know that I will listen. But it is also the mayor’s job is to keep the meeting moving along–this shows respect for all the people attending. I have been at council meetings where citizens have been very upset. I have dealt with customers at my store or people in my life that are upset and need me to listen. Objective listening is a skill and it takes a certain amount of emotional maturity. I believe I possess these skills, and I hope that I will be able to always approach hard issues with careful wisdom.

    As to the negative personal comments by staff and councilors later in the meeting which you referenced, this is absolutely unacceptable behavior and will not be tolerated in any meeting that I run. I have always operated under the adage that we can disagree with an opinion, but that the person with that opinion must be respected. On another issue we may agree.

    On a related note, one of the things that I think we have lost site of is that the very act of governing must be treated with great respect. I will remind staff, councilors and citizens as we come together in the council chambers that we are there to serve the community and that egos need to be checked at the door. We are gathered there for a common purpose–to find the best solutions to the issues of our community.

    October 20, 2008
  10. Peter Millin said:

    Mary and Paul,

    Why would I vote for either one of you over the other?

    How does your approach to city government differ over the other?

    How will you address future budget shortfalls?

    Will either of you have the political will to cut spending?

    While I don’t believe that we should let businesses come in to Northfield at will, but there is a definite need to attract more business. If only to provide us with a more balanced tax base.
    How will you attract new business?

    October 20, 2008
  11. Mary Rossing said:

    Ross,
    I love brevity as much as the nest person, but some of these issues deserve a few more words :
    1) I think we should all be concerned about private citizens having un-attended access to a staff person’s office. And I don’t believe that it is appropriate for staff to give people of any faith special favors.
    2)Annexation should move ahead in an orderly but careful fashion. More importantly we must make sure that this area is reserved for its intended purpose: an industrial/ business park.
    3) Let’s wait for the Goodhue Co. report to come out.
    4) The business of the city is to provide for public health and safety. A safe place to live seems to fall into this category.

    October 20, 2008
  12. Mary Rossing said:

    Peter,
    I would think you would make your decision based on the information that you have on both candidates. I also encourage you to talk to people who have served with Paul and I on various boards, committees and on the council with Paul. That may tell you more than either of us could tell you about the way we will lead.

    Here and through out this campaign I have shown that I am actively engaged, accessible, and have an authentic commitment to this community.

    On the financial and business questions you raise, I will refer you to the candidate forum at northfield.org Griff and Ross made reference to these above, and I don’t want to overburden locallygrown readers by answering them again here. If there is still a specific question that you think has not been addressed that would be particularly helpful for you in making your decision then I encourage you to re-post.

    October 20, 2008
  13. Peter Millin said:

    Thank you for all your answers so far.

    The term “green jobs” or “green collar jobs” is being used quiet frequently, what exactly qualifies in this category?

    Would the Malt O’ Meal distribution center have qualified as a green job?

    Is Northfield going to place environmental restriction on interested companies in order to meet green requirements, and what would be the guidelines to those restriction?

    October 20, 2008
  14. Paul Hager said:

    To the moderator and all interested readers,

    Just a quick to note to say I spoke with Griff on Sunday about his timing for launching this discussion. I’m going to participate but not until I finish meeting a few requests that were in the que ahead of Griff’s request. So, stay tuned. I’ll be back.

    October 20, 2008
  15. David Ludescher said:

    Mary:

    You stated that annexation should move forward in a “careful” fashion. Of what should Northfield be careful regarding the proposed development?

    October 20, 2008
  16. Mary Rossing said:

    David,
    Perhaps a better word would have been “thoughtful”. We live in a community where citizens are very concerned about green issues, conservation of agricultural land and energy use especially as we look at develop 5-10-30 years out. Green field land is a valuable resource that we need to develop mind-fully. We can’t afford to do otherwise. The master plan must be developed, the environment impact issues satisfied, the transportation plan implemented and the infrastructure planned. The way to bring the public along is to show that we have done our homework. We must use the guidelines that the 20008 Comprehensive Plan outlines, as well as respect the recommendations of the Energy Task Force. The way to bring quality companies or developers along is to have our land “shovel ready”. Careful, thoughtful, deliberate planning is necessary so that we can have development of which we can be proud and that will provide quality jobs and an expanded tax base for our community.

    October 21, 2008
  17. Mary Rossing said:

    Peter,
    From wikipedia:
    “A green-collar worker is a worker who is employed in the environmental sectors of the economy, or in the agricultural sector. Environmental green-collar workers satisfy the demand for green development. Generally, they implement environmentally conscious design, policy, and technology to improve conservation and sustainability. Formal environmental regulations as well as informal social expectations are pushing many firms to seek professionals with expertise with environmental, energy efficiency, and clean renewable energy issues. They often seek to make their output more sustainable, and thus more favorable to public opinion, governmental regulation, and the Earth’s ecology.

    Green collar workers include professionals such as conservation movement workers, environmental consultants, environmental or biological systems engineers, green building architects, holistic passive solar building designers, solar energy and wind energy engineers, nuclear engineers [1], green vehicle engineers, organic farmers, environmental lawyers, ecology educators, and ecotechnology workers. They also include vocational or trade-level employment: electricians who install solar panels, plumbers who install solar water heaters, and construction workers who build energy-efficient green buildings, wind power farms, or other clean, renewable, sustainable future energy development workers could all be considered green jobs.”

    The energy task force report includes many exciting recommendations for development of the business/industrial park, such as exploring the idea of shared cooling/heating facilities and encouraging use of renewable energy sources. I would support green standards for ALL future development, including city facilities and housing. If we have the will, I believe we can position Northfield as a state and national clean energy leader!

    October 21, 2008
  18. David Ludescher said:

    Mary,

    Most people seem to be in favor of some restrictions on the development to ensure that is “thoughtful”. What I have not heard in public is a suggestion that the restrictive principles of the Comp Plan should also come with fnancial incentives to offset the additional costs associated with the restrictions.

    What do you think about offerring financial incentives to companies that want to expand or relocate infill or annexed land?

    October 21, 2008
  19. Mary Rossing said:

    David,
    Restrictive sounds like you have already decided that they are negative. How about “guiding principles”? Regarding economic incentives, I would love to hear what he EDA thinks we need; and maybe that will change with time/market and with infill/redevelopment vs. greenfield development. I do not want us to sell ourselves short. We have distinctive assets in this town that make Northfield a unique and desirable place to both locate a company and to live. Marketing is important. In retail it’s important to show the customer what sets you apart from the competition. Having a sale or a special incentive is not always the best approach, particularly when going after a higher-end customer. They want good, attentive customer service, and a quality product.

    October 21, 2008
  20. Tracy Davis said:

    Mary and Paul,

    As you may or may not know, I’ve been ranting about the City Charter here for quite awhile. (See the most recent/active post here.)

    What is your position on the current City Charter? Should it be amended? If so, how? If not, why not?

    I’m specifically concerned about clarifying the respective roles of the Mayor and the City Administrator, but there are other issues.

    October 21, 2008
  21. Mary Rossing said:

    Tracy,
    This question feels a little awkward. It is akin to asking someone who is applying for a certain job whether or not they think the responsibilities of that job should be changed, and if so, how. I think this is better left for the charter and the citizens right now.

    Do YOU think that the mayor should have a public opinion on this issue?

    October 21, 2008
  22. Tracy Davis said:

    Mary, I absolutely think the mayor should have a public opinion about this.

    The citizens think they are electing someone to a leadership position when, in fact, our current charter hamstrings the mayor and puts leadership responsibility into the hands of an unelected official. (Okay, guess what I think about the charter?) I believe that responsibility should lie with the mayor and the City Council, and the last time we had a referendum on the issue, that was the opinion of the majority of voters here.

    You’re running for an office which has leadership parameters which are unclear at best. If Teddy Roosevelt were mayor under the current charter, he could probably exert some effective leadership, but short of someone of that caliber, I have my doubts about how readily it can be done given the current structure.

    October 21, 2008
  23. kiffi summa said:

    It IS absolutely essential that whoever becomes Mayor has a strong, clear picture of what their role is with reference to the Charter.
    Much of the power struggles between the Mayor and former city administrator were rooted in the possible conflicts.
    Personally, after many careful readings I feel it IS clear that the Mayor is *#1*, but it could be stated a LOT more clearly than it is.
    There is no shame in being a city employee; on the contrary they have a marvelous chance to repeatedly prove the competency of their expertise by working FOR the community.
    I would like each of the candidates to explain how they think the *power* flows, and we don’t need the obligatory(sorry if that sounds harsh) statements about working together… That is a given.

    October 21, 2008
  24. Anne Bretts said:

    Mary, I thought your answer was very diplomatic. Of course you should understand and respect the charter. It seems, however, that the problems of the past two years were caused more by personalities of the mayor and administrator and the people around them than by any flaw in the charter.
    It would make sense for the new mayor to work with the incoming and continuing councilors to review the workability of the current charter, while the charter commission does the same. Sometime after the budget problems and annexation and CIP issues are addressed, the improvements to the charter can be made.
    These arguments over regulations are like the arguments over whether K-8 schools are better than separate elementary and middle schools. Educators will tell you that almost any system will work if the people are committed to it.
    Really, when was the last time you looked at a great community and said, “Boy, they must have a great charter.” You admire the people who show leadership, fairness and an ability to bring people together.
    Good luck to both candidates.

    October 22, 2008
  25. Anne Bretts said:

    Tracy, I’m not trying to be flip, but can you think of a single city where a good charter overhaul has turned two bad leaders into good ones?

    October 22, 2008
  26. Tracy Davis said:

    Anne, I don’t for a minute think that revising the charter is a panacea. However, the issue of city leadership vis-a-vis the mayor and city administrator, as articulated by the charter, HAS been a point of confusion/bone of contention at three discrete periods since I moved here in 1991; it’s not something that’s sprung up in the current administration.

    Northfield needs and deserves the best constitution it can get; the current Charter does not fit that description.

    October 22, 2008
  27. David Henson said:

    If the candidates state “this is my reading of the charter and how I plan to govern” then when elected he/she will have voter approval of their reading to justify their position. If on the other hand they choose not to address this issues then she/he will not be able to claim voter approval to justify their positions. I would think the first option would be the best for governing ~ unless, of course, voters don’t like the ‘reading.’

    Mary – how much do you think the Mayor should be paid ? I think even as a part time position the mayor should be paid $50K so they can dedicate the time required to promote the city.

    October 22, 2008
  28. Anne Bretts said:

    David, you make a good point. On the other hand, simply reading the charter and drawing conclusions without any discussion with other councilors or the charter commission or public could lead a candidate to stake out a position that might have to modified later.
    Perhaps the candidates can address in general terms the relationship between the mayor and administrator, since that seemed to be the sticking point.
    Does anyone have an example of a city where the charter works well?

    October 22, 2008
  29. David Ludescher said:

    Mary is absolutely correct. Whether she wants changes or not, if she is mayor, she must abide by the Charter. Her opinion is not only irrelevant, it could be divisive.

    David H: Regarding the mayor being paid 50K, no; we have staff that are paid 100K. The City Council is the general contractor; the staff are the plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc. Just tell them what to do, and get out of the way.

    October 22, 2008
  30. David Henson said:

    Thanks David L for answering my question to Mary.

    The language in the charter is a can of worms and rather than rely on attorneys to interpret after the fact – I would think voters would prefer to know the Mayoral candidates interpretation of the language before the election so their democratic selection could be deemed a voter endorsement of the Mayor’s interpretation.

    October 22, 2008
  31. Felicity Enders said:

    I’ve heard a rumor that, if true, has bearing on the question of which candidate I would vote for (for mayor).

    The rumor is that when Mr. Hager was mayor before, he was also running NTV. NTV was responsible for taping/broadcasting the council meetings. Mr. Hager paid himself (as an NTV employee) to set up the broadcasting technology during the same time that he was physically present in council chambers as mayor.

    I’ve searched online (Northfield News, Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and Google) to try to assess this rumor with any kind of fact, and I’ve come up short. Could someone who lived in Northfield at that time please speak up to help those of us who are newer in town? And I mean that either way – whether you remember something or not.

    I really don’t feel comfortable spreading rumors, but the election is now less than two weeks away. I need information in order to be an informed voter.

    October 22, 2008
  32. kiffi summa said:

    Felicity: Paul Hager was the Mayor when I first came to town in 1994-5. He was also the lead person of NTV, which originally had a founding board (That before my time, as to the structure, etc)
    I do not personally see the implied conflict unless the meeting tapes were being edited for a point of view, which of course they were not.

    Bear with me a minute here … this conflict of interest thing is very difficult in a small town.

    I do NOT think Mary, should she win, have to give up her downtown business because of a perceived *conflict of interest* on any vote that dealt with the downtown, its physicality or its finances.

    I do NOT think that Gary Franek, our very able Fire Chief who is also an electrical contractor, should be considered to have a *conflict of interest* in his capacity as fire chief because someone might say well, the fire dept didn’t save the building, and now the chief will get to do the wiring in the replacement building.

    These are obviously ludicrous… aren’t they?

    Would you question the rent paid by a city councilor to a building owner who is also a developer currently working with the city, (i.e. Scott davis renting from John Mathern)?

    What would you say about ANY local bankers being on the EDA? Would that be a concern for you?

    In a community of this size, many of these relationships are impossible to avoid, and the only concern should be disclosure, that too oft-used word transparency, and the obvious existence of a relationship, but one that is within the accepted business standards.

    I hope Mr. Hager will address this question when he joins the discussion here, and put this “rumor” to rest.

    October 23, 2008
  33. Paul Hager said:

    Finally, I’m here on the blog.

    I’ll try to respond to the previous questions while at the same time I address the most recent questions. And, I invite people with question to call me, yes, you can call me at home, 663-0267. I ave found that talking to someone one-on-one is still a great way to communicate.

    As to NTV.

    When I was Mayor in the mid-1990’s, the City hall was equipped with a multi-camera system used for video taping the council meetings. The system was operated by the City administrator, who started the tape and pushed the buttons to select the camera.
    I did not run the system.

    While I was serving as Mayor, David DeLong accused me of having a conflict of interest by serving as Mayor and also being president of NTV. The issue was sent to the Minnesota Attorney General, who ruled that I did not have a conflict of interest.

    NTV has an agreement with the City to operate the public access channel. If I am elected Mayor, NTV will end its agreement with the City to provide that service. There are two reasons for ending the agreement: one, I won’t have the time to devote to my job at Carleton, the Mayor’s position and operate the public access channel.
    The second reason is that the public access television landscape has changed since 1985, and a new model of public access is needed. I submitted a proposal to the Council in 2005 documenting those changes and proposing a new model for the Council to consider. Mine was just one proposal, I encouraged the Council to consider it, and call for other proposals, as well.

    The proposal was assigned to Scott Davis, who had a few ad-hoc committe meetings, but the proposal has never had a hearing or discussion at the Council work session level. Of course, the Council has had many, more pressing issues to address in the past three years.

    I am patient.

    October 23, 2008
  34. Paul Hager said:

    The Al Roder/ severance issue.

    Griff wrote:
    Do either of you have further comment on your differences on the issue?

    The Council passed the severance agreement on September 15. I read in the Northfield News that Al Roder wanted an amendment to the agreement that passed on the 15th. If the Council were to reconsider the previous motion (via Robert’s Rules of Order) to accommodate Roder’s request for an amendment, that would re-open the discussion and provide an opportunity for the Council to consider my resolution- which called for a time-out on signing any severance agreement until the results of the Goodhue county investigation are released.
    Roder, perhaps not wanting to risk losing the immediate ten thousand dollars, signed the September 15th agreement even though it did not include his requested amendment.
    I have never been in favor of a severance payment to Mr. Roder.

    October 23, 2008
  35. Paul Hager said:

    Griff wrote:
    Looking back on the controversy re: Judy Dirks and the prayer ladies, how might you handle something like this if happens while you’re Mayor?

    I would tell the City Administrator that it is not acceptable to sublet his/her office to anyone and shall not be allowed.
    If it was not already obvious and in City policy, I would ask the Council to consider adopting a policy that would prohibit the use of City staff offices for religious purposes.

    October 23, 2008
  36. Paul Hager said:

    Ross wrote:

    Not long ago, a prominent local leader summarized (what I believe to be) four important issues in our community thusly:
    Prayer Ladies in the Administrator’s Office: “Who cares?”
    Annexation of the Northwest Territory: “No brainer”
    Police Chief Allegations Against the City Administrator: “Sour grapes”
    Efforts to Create a Rental Ordinance: “Not the City’s Problem”

    Do you agree with his summary and, if not, how do you differ?

    Thanks much,
    Ross

    The prayer issue is separation of church and State. I have no problem with prayer- I do it often, but not in a formal manner in the office of the City administrator, after the office has closed for the day.
    So I care.

    Annexation of the proposed land adjoining the Northwestern part of the City.
    Yes, it is a no-brainer that we need more inventory of industrial land. However, the details of how the annexation is structured, how the land is serviced with utilities, roads, etc. how the land will be platted for maximum flexibility for use in the short and long term. The payment of taxes to Greenvale. These are all very important considerations with long term costs- we need to annex with our eyes open to the costs, not just the benefits.

    Police Chief sour grapes
    I’m not sure what the charges are, but a few signs tell of something substantial coming from the Goodhue county investigation. In the City Council’s motion of Sept. 15, the motion calls for the City to pay an additional $25,000 if Mr. Roder is exonerated in the the investigation. Exonerated (in my knowledge of the word) means that Goodhue county has not found anything substantial in its investigation to merit charges.
    Mr. Roder asked the Council to amend the Sept. 15 motion to in effect, grant the $25,000 if he is found not guilty of any charges resulting from the prosecution of the Goodhue county matter.
    This looks to me like Mr. Roder knows or assumes he will be charged, and he that wanted to protect his chance at the $25,000 with his amendment. Exonerated and not guilty of charges are not the same.
    As we know, Al Roder signed the Sept. 15 agreement without his amendment, thus receiving $10,000.

    Rental ordinance.
    Housing is a City issue. For more, check my answer to the NESNA questions, at my website or at the NESNA website.

    October 23, 2008
  37. Stephanie Henriksen said:

    Good to see Paul Hager join in. His clarification on the NTV issue should put any concerns to rest. I have to wonder who would attempt to dredge that up during this late stage of the mayor race.

    His response to the police chief/sour grapes topic I find very insightful. We need a mayor skilled at analyzing situations. Reminds me of an Ibsen play. Something about peeling an onion.

    October 23, 2008
  38. Griff Wigley said:

    Paul, great to have you here. Your Gravatar is now working, too!

    October 23, 2008
  39. Tracy Davis said:

    Paul and Mary,

    I’m posing the same questions to the council candidates; I’m looking for a brief paragraph or so as an answer. (If you’ve answered these questions in other contexts, please point me to that information.)

    1. Why do you want this position?

    2. What is your personal vision, passion, or hot-button issue as it relates to Northfield and public service here?

    October 25, 2008
  40. Mary Rossing said:

    Tracy,
    1. This was not a decision I came upon lightly, or alone. I gathered a group of citizens from varied backgrounds, points of view, and who had had experiences, both good and bad, with the city. I asked them what they thought we needed in a leader.

    They were looking for someone who could restore pride in city government, and heal the relationships between the council, staff, boards and commissions. They were looking for someone who had credibility with a wide variety of constituencies, who can listen to many points of view but then have the ability to move ahead in a positive way–someone who could get things done. I believe that I have shown these skills through my work throughout the community , and now am ready to serve as mayor.

    I have credibility with the academic community (family background) and also with the business community as the owner of a downtown business. I have served in leadership positions with the Historical Society, Arts Guild, Chamber of Commerce and the NDDC. I have shown an authentic commitment to my community and ultimately just want to make Northfield a better place. The question was: “where can I do the most good?”

    2. I don’t have a “hot button” issue, but there are two areas where I am particularly excited to be a part of future planning. I believe Northfield is poised to take advantage of some exciting economic development opportunities and that we can also position ourselves as a leader in the area of clean energy. Supporting the work of the EDA and the Energy Taskforce, (hopefully soon to be a commission) and bringing their work forward will be a way that I can make a lasting impact on Northfield’s future.

    October 27, 2008
  41. Julie Bixby said:

    Just a reminder to everyone that The Cow along with the Key is hosting a Mayoral forum tomorrow evening (Wed. Oct. 29) at 6pm. Both candidates, Mary and Paul will be in attendance.
    Please join us for an informative discussion.
    Thanks,
    Julie

    October 28, 2008
  42. Felicity Enders said:

    Paul, thanks for your responses. You cleared a couple of things up for me. Also, I really like your comments on the severance package.

    October 29, 2008
  43. Stephanie Henriksen said:

    Mary, I see you are interested in clean energy for Northfield. How do you feel about corn ethanol? Roder told me Northfield would look forward to providing housing, goods and services to the ethanol plant workers.

    October 29, 2008
  44. Mary Rossing said:

    Stephanie,
    I think we can agree that production of corn ethanol is a poor use of our limited and valuable resources–land, water, etc, and that it has created a hardship for those who depend on cheap corn. The only ones who are doing well are the corn producers, but this might not be sustainable.

    This question begs the questions: 1) why are you only asking me, and not my opponent and 2) what exactly does this have to do with the mayoral race in Northfield?
    As to Mr. Roder’s comments,
    I believe we would be happy to welcome ANY kind of workers and their families to Northfield!

    October 29, 2008
  45. Paul Hager said:

    Tracy,
    My answer to your question.

    Why I’m running for Mayor.

    I believe in public service and I want to help my hometown. Northfield has many volunteers that serve their community in so many ways, and through a variety of organizations. My interest is in government. My desire to serve doesn’t mean I have all the answers to the problems we face as a community, or as a people. What it does mean is that I have a desire to help, to step out of the crowd and work to find solutions that benefit the greater good of the community–not the demands of a single individual or group.

    I’m running this year, because I see a council without leadership, as evidenced by 18 months drafting a rental ordinance that is found to be unconstitutional; by dragged-out discussions about sidewalks on Lincoln Parkway, the Woodley Street infrastructure, the Fifth Street reconstruction, and the City’s Liquor Store. In censuring the Mayor, there was not leadership but gamesmanship.

    I am concerned that in a vacuum of leadership from the elected body, City of Northfield staff members are without direction and may act independently on issues of policy and development. This is ineffective, but more importantly, it bypasses the public’s role in decision-making.

    I’m running to restore the public’s trust in the Northfield City Council. I want the council to once again communicate with citizens and invite participation in the governing process. I want the council to work together for the common good. Governing is a difficult job, but leadership can make the job workable and successful. Leadership is needed to set an agenda, identify priorities, incorporate ideas from others, and direct a plan of action. I have demonstrated my leadership in previous service as
    both a councilman and as Mayor. It is this experience that I would like to bring the Mayor’s office again.

    An important issue is: how do we bring the Hispanic population into participation with the larger community ?

    October 29, 2008
  46. Paul Hager said:

    Tracy,
    My answer to your question.

    Why I’m running for Mayor.

    I believe in public service and I want to help my hometown. Northfield has many volunteers that serve their community in so many ways, and through a variety of organizations. My interest is in government. My desire to serve doesn’t mean I have all the answers to the problems we face as a community, or as a people. What it does mean is that I have a desire to help, to step out of the crowd and work to find solutions that benefit the greater good of the community–not the demands of a single individual or group.

    I’m running this year, because I see a council without leadership, as evidenced by 18 months drafting a rental ordinance that is found to be unconstitutional; by dragged-out discussions about sidewalks on Lincoln Parkway, the Woodley Street infrastructure, the Fifth Street reconstruction, and the City’s Liquor Store. In censuring the Mayor, there was not leadership but gamesmanship.

    I am concerned that in a vacuum of leadership from the elected body, City of Northfield staff members are without direction and may act independently on issues of policy and development. This is ineffective, but more importantly, it bypasses the public’s role in decision-making.

    I’m running to restore the public’s trust in the Northfield City Council. I want the council to once again communicate with citizens and invite participation in the governing process. I want the council to work together for the common good. Governing is a difficult job, but leadership can make the job workable and successful. Leadership is needed to set an agenda, identify priorities, incorporate ideas from others, and direct a plan of action. I have demonstrated my leadership in previous service as
    both a councilman and as Mayor. It is this experience that I would like to bring the Mayor’s office again.

    A civic issus is: how do we bring the Hispanic community into the larger Northfield community ?

    October 29, 2008
  47. stephanie henriksen said:

    Mary,
    I asked you about ethanol because you said (post 45) making Nfld a leader on clean energy was a goal for you. I will be equally interested in his response.

    October 29, 2008
  48. Paul Hager said:

    Griff,
    Sorry for the double post- my wireless connection went down and I wasn’t sure if my original posting went through.

    Paul

    October 29, 2008
  49. Joshua Hinnenkamp said:

    Great job Paul and Mary at the debate today at The Contented Cow. There is one question that I wanted to ask (it was touched on a little bit by Paul) and goes as follows:

    Public transportation is seen by many in this community as a joke. Recently our transit cut back hours (because the two colleges removed funding) and works more like a taxi service, picking up clients an hour or two after they call. With the economy headed south, chances are there will a greater need for these services (and more difficulty in funding public trans). Those suffering economic hardship, volunteers, youth, families, and college kids are most affected by the limited hours and service, and this in turn affects the schools, nonprofits, and employers in the community. With all this being said, is there anything you would advocate changing with the current system, and if so, how would you get it done?

    October 29, 2008
  50. Bright Spencer said:

    Hello, to Paul and Mary. I would to ask both of you if you have any larger view ideas about how to bring a world class tourist attraction to Northfield? (besides our colleges, the contentment and the cows, that is)

    Bowling Green, KY has the Corvette Factory tour, other small towns have beaches, bird watching, golf courses, etc. What would you bring to Northfield,if you could?

    October 30, 2008
  51. Griff Wigley said:

    Paul and Mary, any response to Josh’s question?

    A reminder: Only five days left till the election.

    Citizens, feel free to keep asking questions of the mayoral candidates and/or discussing the candidates and issues among yourselves.

    October 30, 2008
  52. Mary Rossing said:

    Josh,
    Thanks for your thoughtful question. This is an issue that will have to addressed but I would like to be sure to include the people that currently and would potentially use the transit system in the conversation.

    The economy will eventually drive expansion of the system, but we must also be proactive and realize that it IS the role of the government to help people get to and from work so that they can be contributing citizens. We put money into the roads and the infrastructure already for this purpose. Transit, though not self supporting, will drive our economy and should be seen as an essential service. Any plans for job expansion should also include talk about getting those people to work. One of the keys to success of any expansion will be marketing its availability to users. It’s a chicken/egg thing in many ways.

    This issue was also raised as part of the youth platform before the primary. I would also like us to look closely at youth needs–after school, in the evening, and in the summer and see if we can come up with a few regular routes that would run at certain times. What will they use and when? Maybe we can partner with the schools. Maybe with the seniors.

    I don’t have the answers, but I do have the will.

    October 30, 2008
  53. Curt Benson said:

    Paul, in your post #51 you wrote: “In censuring the Mayor, there was not leadership but gamesmanship.”

    Have you read the 33 pages of charges from Goodhue? If so, do you still believe that the council was involved in “gamesmanship”?

    October 30, 2008
  54. kiffi summa said:

    Curt : absolutely, in answer to your question to Paul Hager re: his use of the term “gamesmanship”.

    If you have read the Everett report, and the 700 pages of docs that back it up, you will see that much of the complaint against Mayor Lansing is a rehash of some of those issues… just look at the issue of the park dedication fee.
    That is an example of why I continue to hold the opinion that the ER was a ‘bought’ opinion. Within the ER it actually states the errors that the staff made in initially calculating that fee, the corrected fee brought to the council and voted on, and passed, and yet the Mayor is presumed to have had a conflict of interest.

    For a simple parallel, Curt: If YOU were an elected official, and your water bill came to you saying you owed $763. 54, would you question the finance dept about that bill? Would that be a conflict of interest if the staff then looked at it and said , oh, we made a mistake … and reduced it to $76.35? Would you have exerted ‘undue influence’ by asking the staff? And would it have been ‘undue influence ‘ if they stonewalled you the first three times you asked, and you persisted until they found their error and corrected it?

    You are certainly welcome to your opinion of the events as you perceive them, but it seems more like a vendetta … in the constant return to your presumed guilt of the Mayor, and presumed poor behavior by the former Police Chief.

    The ‘game’ of defense that this council played, was only achievable by creating a voting bloc (which , by the way, contained some pretty unlikely allies) and then trying to ‘unelect’ the Mayor which the community elected.

    Finally … Here’s the question:
    I would like to ask both candidates how, or IF, they think it is possible for any person who is truly engaged in their small town community to not have a ‘conflict’ in some arena? How will you remove all the possible conflicts within your existence in NF, if you are an elected official in NF?

    October 31, 2008
  55. Curt Benson said:

    Kiffi, the question was directed to Hager. He’s the one running for mayor.

    I do have a question for you, who are you and Victor supporting?

    October 31, 2008
  56. Bright Spencer said:

    I asked a question, too, #55. Any one care to acknowledge it?

    October 31, 2008
  57. kiffi summa said:

    Curt: in #56, Griff directs the ‘citizens’ to feel free to discuss the candidates and issues among themselves.

    I always (almost) follow Griff’s direction…

    as to my vote? there is a sign in my front yard.

    October 31, 2008
  58. Outstanding job by both Mary and Peter at last night’s League of Women Voters/Northfield News forum. I will be delighted to be governed by either, and to serve with either if I am elected to Ward 2.

    I have heard, at last night’s forum and before, for the candidates to prioritize their “to do for Northfield” lists in discrete categories, such as prioritize your Capital Improvement list, prioritize your Budget list, and prioritize your desired attributes in a City Administrator. These cover the first many months in office.

    We can’t predict what issues may come over the four-year term, but what I’d like to hear is how Mary and Paul prioritize their lists generally. Imagining a time when Northfield’s current priorities are past us, what method will you use to set the priorities for the unknown things to come?

    October 31, 2008
  59. Mary Rossing said:

    Bright,
    I’ve always said that if Northfield had a lake, an ocean or some mountains then it would be perfect! But all kidding aside, I think we are fortunate that the two colleges bring visitors from all over the world. Also, DJJD brings over a hundred thousand people to town each year, and the museum draws internationally. We are perfectly situated between the Twin Cities and Rochester and between the Mall of America and Cabella’s, all of which draw people to our area. The key is to capture some of this traffic. The CVB and the NDDC just partnered to put up a second sign on I35. There is much to do, but this is start. Soon we will have the Mills Town Trail and the skateboard park which will draw youth and energy to the downtown. I would like us to look at a comprehensive recreation plan for the downtown as these projects move forward, and I am intrigued by the idea of a canoe/kayak run replacing the dam. Right now the best thing we can do is effectively market our assets–we are a charming town with cool places to shop, eat, stay, walk, bike and ski. For a midwestern, small town experience we really are “world class”!

    October 31, 2008
  60. Mary Rossing said:

    Kiffi,
    You make a very good point, and it is virtually impossible to eliminate all “conflicts of interest”, perceived or otherwise, if you are “engaged in the community”. We live here, we work here, we do business here. If a council person owns a home, for instance, should they have to recuse themselves from voting on a property tax issue? Of course not. But if an elected official uses their office to give preferential treatment or for personal or familial gain this would be inappropriate.

    October 31, 2008
  61. Mary Rossing said:

    Jerold,
    Excellent discussion question. This is the type of philosophical approach that I had been hoping for on locallygrown since we have already answered about every specific issue question under the sun at forums, online and here! I look forward to having this sort of discussion with the council.

    First, public safety trumps all. Second, projects that deal with essential services (although this is a discussion in itself as to what is “essential”) Another thing to think about is if the project provides economic stimulus or generates revenue for the city, and at what cost–cost benefit analysis is vital.

    I would insist that all the council members gather information from their constituents, perhaps by holding ward meetings, and bring back relevant information. We might even try having a city wide survey–web driven would be least costly. Eventually the council has to come to some conclusions about what levy amount the citizens can stomach in exchange for desired services. Then we can project this out over 20 years, see what we can afford and make some decisions. If there are private dollars available this also would work to move a project along sooner, and how many people benefit from the project. The ultimate voice is still with the people through a reverse referendum or their vote. I think we also need to decide at what dollar number we go to a referendum, if at all.

    One question I have had, but have not had answered is: “how does a project get put onto the CIP in the first place? But that is more than you asked for at this point. Any other suggestions as to method would be greatly appreciated, by the way!

    October 31, 2008
  62. Mary Rossing said:

    By the way, Jerold, I love the slip of the pen on your post–all of a sudden there are three mayoral candidates –Peter, Paul and Mary! Makes me want to break out in song!

    October 31, 2008
  63. Paul: Sorry about the slip of the pen (that Mary caught). Good grief!

    Mary: I would add advertisements in the Northfield News, KYMN and other inexpensive media to encourage citizen feedback on key issues. The other media are necessary because some people don’t have easy access to the internet, and some don’t want access to it. Maybe the advertising media will give us a discount government/public service rate.

    A web page on the city’s site would be the most efficient way to manage citizen requests. All advertisements should direct citizens to the web page. I’d think the advertisements should also direct citizens to the library’s computers in case they have no internet access, and the ads should have a postal address as a last resort. I’ll volunteer to open envelopes in case we get a deluge.

    October 31, 2008
  64. norman butler said:

    Mary…”if an elected official uses their office to give preferential treatment or for personal or familial gain this would be inappropriate.” Are you sure about this? For it is the crux of much misunderstanding.

    Instead, a person in office can, as a citizen, apply to City Hall to benefit in some way (eg put a liquor store in their commercial building) but is bound, both as an elected official and as a citizen, by rules and procedures as to how they apply and as to how the application is processed. Is this not the case?

    I suppose the key phrase is “using their office”, whatever that might mean..?

    November 1, 2008
  65. Paul Hager said:

    From Josh on transportation:…..”With all this being said, is there anything you would advocate changing with the current system, and if so, how would you get it done?

    Transportation is one of the “off the radar” issues of the community. We currently have a service that ends at 4:30 pm. I know we are serving some riders, but we’re missing a lot- especially kids who are too young to drive and need to get home from after school activities and programs.
    I admit I don’t know all the details of why the service functions the way it does, but as Mayor, I would find out if we are getting the most benefit for the dollars we currently spend on the system. I would call a meeting with organizations, program providers and riders to identify their needs and what we (the City) can do to adjust our service to meet demand and improve ridership.

    November 1, 2008
  66. Paul Hager said:

    From Curt Benson….”Have you read the 33 pages of charges from Goodhue? If so, do you still believe that the council was involved in “gamesmanship”?

    Yes, I’ve read the 33 pages. And I also read several of the Lansing and Roder interviews in the Everett report when it released (read it at the Library).

    I just haven’t seen many examples of leadership on the part of the Council. As a former Council member, I took leadership positions on many issues, including annexation and redevelopment in the downtown (Petricka’s grocery store). And there is a history of other, past Council members who have demonstrated leadership in their time on the Council.

    The Council votes to take away Lee Lansing’s key to his office- this is leadership ? Or a game ? I witnessed the battle over appointments- leadership could have cooled down the arguments, but instead it brought out the worst of gotcha politics.

    I’m certainly not defending Lee Lansing, remember I was one of the former Mayors who called for his (Lansing’s) resignation.

    November 1, 2008
  67. Curt Benson said:

    Thanks for your response Paul. I think the word “gamemanship” applies to a couple actions of the council, mainly trying to extract an apology from Lansing in exchange for agreeing not to sue, and for offering Roder cash in exchange for not suing, prior to the results of the Goodhue investigation.

    Other than those actions, I thought the council did the best they could with a very difficult mayor. That report from Goodhue shows some really horrible (alleged) behavior–and yes, I know Roder is not off the hook yet.

    November 1, 2008
  68. Paul Hager said:

    Bright Spenser: … World class attractions…..What would you bring to Northfield, if you could?

    Well, Carleton and St. Olaf are world class places to visit. The Carleton Arboretum is great, too.
    We also have history and architecture.

    If I could bring something world class it would be something like the Mayo Clinic, or Howard Hughes Medical Institute. It would add to our presence on the map and bring good jobs to the community.

    November 1, 2008
  69. Paul Hager said:

    Jerold,
    I think the Safety Center is a “life safety” issue for the community and it should top the list for capital improvements. In addressing this issue, we have to look long-term, and consider placing the Center on a site where it meets the current ISO fire rating and affords us space to expand in the future.
    We should not act in haste, but in a well planned, forward thinking manner. That being said, we can defer City hall maintenance and transfer funds intended for that purpose to a Safety Center building fund. And, we also need to earmark funds on an annual basis to fund the replacement of our fire fighting trucks and equipment.

    November 1, 2008
  70. Mary Rossing said:

    Norman,
    Yes, “uses their office” and “inappropriate” are key.

    November 2, 2008
  71. Griff Wigley said:

    Paul, someone contacted me, wondering about the reasons for your not answering Northfield.org citizen-submitted questions 13-19 at:
    http://northfield.org/election/hager/

    I sure hope your answer is something like “because I thought it was a better use of my time to participate on Locally Grown.” 😉

    November 2, 2008
  72. Paul Hager said:

    Griff,
    As a candidate running in the (new to me) real-time world of on-line questions and answers, I have a few observations.

    I have to admit that it is easier to respond to questions as they are asked, or posted on a blog (this blog, specifically) as opposed to responding to a large batch of questions in one email. The benefit, for the candidate, is responding directly to a question with the possibility to follow up, or clarify a response. The on-line conversation is more fluid and dynamic as opposed to written responses with time or word limits.

    That being said, there are some pitfalls to the blog mode. If I’m offline, I can’t respond. The immediacy of the web dictates an immediate response; no response is taken as a refusal to reply, or a snub. Patience is advised. As you know, I missed your opening bell on launching the Mayoral blog because I was away from my computer for one day (which is a good thing to do).

    Responding to questions from Northfield.org is good, too, and offers side by side comparisons. Northfield.org had a deadline for responding, which I admit I missed by a few days–I’ve got a life, too. Their questions came in packets- one at a time, then multiples. When I did get the entire packet of questions, I got some duplicates and when I saw the responses posted, I obviously missed some of the questions. Sorry for that error. I realize Northfield.org is all volunteer organization and rather than make more work for them, I did not submit responses to the last questions. I have a lot of information at my website, which is noted at the Northfield.org elections page.

    The local election season has been civil and informative and that speaks well of our community.
    The on-line discussions, questions and answers, and blogging is, I believe, good for citizens who are on-line. In future campaigns, I would ask the information providers, hosts and bloggers to coordinate timelines for candidate participation in on-line forums and for submitting published responses. Candidates have lives outside of their candidacy. Let’s make it workable for all.

    My thanks to you, Griff and LGN , for hosting and the invitation to participate.

    November 3, 2008
  73. Andy Alt said:

    55 – Bright Spencer
    Posted October 30, 2008 at 2:01 pm | Permalink

    Hello, to Paul and Mary. I would to ask both of you if you have any larger view ideas about how to bring a world class tourist attraction to Northfield?

    Would a campground for tent-camping and RV-hookups be an incentive for people to come to Northfield? If I’m not mistaken, currently the only options are motels, hotels and relatives. If people have invested in an RV, are they interested in spending money to stay at a hotel when so many other tourist spots have RV hookups readily available? Is the closest campground to Northfield in Nerstrand Big Woods State Park?

    November 23, 2008

Leave a Reply to Jerold FriedmanCancel reply