A total of six candidates are competing for three seats on Crystal’s city council. In Section II, incumbent John Budziszewski is running against Olga Parsons. In Ward 1, incumbent Mark Hoffmann is running against Elizabeth Dahl. In Ward 2, incumbent Joe Selton is running against Jeff Kolb.
Section II
Section II is generally located north of 45th Avenue North in the city and encompasses the city’s third and fourth wards.
John Budziszewski
Budziszewski
Address: 5308 47th Ave. N.
Family: My wife, Heidi, and our two kids, Wyatt and Bria.
Education: Humboldt High School; B.A. from the University of Minnesota in International Relations.
Occupation: Commercial banking; delivers news overnight for an independent news service.
Years you have lived in the city: 17
Community/civic organizations involvement: Habitat for Humanity; ally of PRIDE; blood donor of 10 years.
Have you run for any other office in the past?: Yes.
Contact info: 612-207-3704
What do you anticipate to be the most important issue facing Crystal in the coming two years?
If re-elected I will work to to reduce the amount of traffic on busy side-streets, the cut-through streets that are used to avoid stoplights and stop signs. Most of these streets should have posted axel weight limits and signage to established truck routes. I would ask that the secondary reliever streets would receive occasional extra patrols to enforce our traffic laws.
If re-elected I will work to eliminate the train whistles along the Canadian Pacific rail crossings by installing crossing barriers that prevent traffic from driving around the crossing arms. This will create quite zones at the rail crossings and I will work with state and federal officials to make this happen.
It is essential that the city council be committed to logical and sensible leadership, that your representation support our community and work together to resolve all issues. I believe the best leaders have a passion for the people and their community, and with that humility and compassion.
What has the current council (or past councils) done well, in your opinion? What could the current council (or past councils) improve upon?
Democracy is loud and noisy and the last two years have been very noisy. Positive talking points would be the management of the city through the Great Recession, the development of the Cavanagh Senior Living Complex, the reconstruction of the joint powers agreement for the West Metro Fire Department, the breaking of the glass ceiling for management. We have women in leadership positions, a goal many major organizations and companyies struggle with in recruiting and retaining women in upper management positions.
We have women leading major departments something not every company can tout. I see the advent of solar energy as cost saving measure for the city as a huge success. Lastly, I am proud of the Crystal Human Rights Commission bringing awareness to our ever changing world.
As for improvements, I’m looking forward to the upcoming elections both current and future and that the candidates of the future should bring substance, show commitment by serving on city commissions, and attend the mandatory budget meetings. Lastly, it is always an honor and a privilege to be your councilmember, thank you and thank you for your vote on November 4th.
Olga Parsons
Parsons
Address: 4951 Jersey Ave N.
Family: Husband John of 10 years; sons Josiah, age 9, and Judah, age 5.
Education: Did not respond.
Occupation: Homemaker
Years you have lived in the city: 8
Community/civic organizations involvement: Volunteer as communication assistant helping kids and families through their adoption and post-adoption journey; volunteer flutist with the Medalist Concert Band; past volunteer as crisis-phone line counselor with Love Lines Crisis Center.
Have you run for any other office in the past?: No.
Contact info: 612-217-2337
What do you anticipate to be the most important issue facing Crystal in the next two years?
In the next two years, I believe we will be facing the following pressing issues:
1. Our approach to city government:
Residents feel disconnected from City Hall. Oftentimes, citizen input is invited only after major decisions have been made. Residents want to see a more holistic approach to government rooted in community, mutual respect and healthy discourse. Residents are averse to a top-down and authoritative system and want to be a part of the decision-making process.
2. Keeping our neighborhoods safe and clean:
We need to find methods that create and preserve a clean and safe environment in our neighborhoods, while protecting private property rights.
3. Fiscal Responsibility:
We need better fiscal management to keep Crystal financially stable, sustainable, and independent. We need to protect our core services, and make sure that property taxes are low.
What has the current council (or past councils) done well, in your opinion? What could the current council (or past councils) improve upon?
Council members, past and present, have had the difficult job of representing our residents in a fair and thoughtful manner. It is impossible to please everyone, and this position requires the ability to make tough decisions.
This job requires not only time, but also excellent listening skills, clear thinking, and integrity to remain honest and principled. I applaud anyone who has served our community as a council representative! There are council members who have done an exemplary job, and some that have failed.
The failures have damaged the relationship between residents and City Hall. This breakdown occurs when council members are disconnected from their community, behave disrespectfully, and make controversial decisions without the input of the residents. This does not serve our city well, and must change! A major aspect of a council members’ job is to be actively involved in their local community, not just during election time, but as a lifestyle.
They must be available for their constituents to listen, return phone calls and emails, and invite citizen participation. Section 2 needs a representative who will work to create a relationship of mutual respect and trust. This is a job I feel ready to take on. When elected, my commitment is to be an accessible, respectful, and involved councilwoman. I love our community, and want to do my utmost to preserve and improve all the qualities that make Crystal great!
Ward 1
Ward 1 generally occupies the southern portion of the city, below 45th Avenue North and opposite Section II.
Elizabeth Dahl
Dahl
Address: 8217 30th Ave N.
Family: Caleb Dahl (married 7 years) and three children
Education: Some college
Occupation: Small business owner
Years you have lived in the city: 4
Community/civic organizations involvement: Co-host and organizer for the Great Winnetka Hills Meet-Up 2014. Vice-President and later President of Minnesota Families for Midwifery 2009-2013. I am also the “Lead” for my Winnetka Hills neighborhood on Nextdoor.com and regularly organize neighborhood events.
Have you run for any other office in the past?: No
Contact info: 612-567-3353
What do you anticipate to be the most important issue facing Crystal in the next two years?
Over the next two years, Crystal has the opportunity to become even better. To become even more community-driven and neighborhood-friendly. To encourage and support more unique and thriving businesses. To give confidence to home buyers and sellers that the city will be easy to work with. Crystal could be the sort of city that everyone else wants to live.
To become this sort of city, we need to start by listening to our residents, prioritize spending based on the needs of individual neighborhoods and continue to place safe, clean neighborhoods as a primary concern.
What has the current council (or past councils) done well, in your opinion? What could the current council (or past councils) improve upon?
Our city council representatives love their city. They put in many hours of hard work that directly impact the lives of citizens. Many of the things we love about our city is a direct result of the work of past city councils, so I would like to thank the current and past council members for their years of dedication and service. City council is a huge responsibility that not many people are willing to take on.
That said, I do believe there is room for improvement. The city council of today needs to be able to connect with the citizens of today. I have knocked on hundreds of doors during my campaign, and as I do so I like to ask citizens “How do you enjoy living in Crystal?” The answer is almost always that they love the area and the people of this city, but if they have had interaction with their council representative or city staff it was unhelpful at best and often dismissive.
Overwhelmingly, citizens in Ward 1 feel that they aren’t being heard and this is a very serious problem. If our city maintains it’s top-down approach to government, City Hall will only become more and more disconnected from it’s citizens, making it much more difficult to meet the needs of the community. If Crystal is to thrive and grow it will need to govern & function in a way that will retain residents and businesses. We need a city council that will be responsive as well as responsible.
Mark Hoffmann
Hoffmann
Address: 3307 Zane Ave N.
Family: Joanie, three children, eight grandchildren
Education: BS Business Administration, St. Cloud State.
Occupation: Retired retail management and sales
Years you have lived in the city: 38 years
Community/civic organizations involvement: West Metro Fire-Rescue District Board of Directors since 2010; Long time member Sacred Heart Parish, past Finance Committee, Parish Council and President of the Parish Council; Crystal Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission 1980-1989.
Have you run for any other office in the past?: Mayor, 2004, not elected
Contact info: 763-536-0385
What do you anticipate to be the most important issue facing Crystal over the next two years?
I believe responsible financial stability, without cuts in current services ,will be the most important issue in the next two years. Current council leadership is to use revenue from all funds to pay cash, raise taxes for all to pay for mill and overlays, and cut services to recoup the 10 percent tax increase. My opponent is riding on this budgeting agenda that is the basis of the Tea Party and Libertarians, and we have all seen how well it works at the national level.
In an effort to pay cash for the new Public Works building the finance director and city manager have given us the total recommended cash options available without hurting individual funds or the city, and we are still a half-million dollars shy. Similar number also occurred with the payment for our emergency water wells being drilled now. We covered $600,000 of the cost by borrowing from existing funds to be paid back over 10 years on a water surcharge.
The cities funds have been degraded with little or no effective funds to deal with future needs or emergencies. I believe we have to blend the financial needs and take advantage of low rate bonding to maintain a reserve for future projects, such as a police update of some kind, that are coming in the foreseeable future when funding will be more expensive. I do not believe the city should drain itself of available funds and have nothing in reserve.
What has the current council (or past councils) done well, in your opinion? What could the current council (or past councils) improve upon?
The current council has gotten many projects moving ,but even after months of talk, can not be led to a agreeable funding solution. It has become more apparent that the ideological differences are great today, and to me, the days of cohesive and responsible budgeting that Crystal has enjoyed for years can not be taken for granted in the future.
Most of the cities operations and needs are discussed an worked on during our taped work sessions. It has become too regular of a process, that decisions that have been negotiated and agreed upon, then are disregarded when voted on at the council meeting. We always work under the presumption, that we will not always agree on an item, but it is certainly ingenuous to agree to solutions and negotiate outcomes that are then rejected at the time of the vote.
We must always be responsible, open and honest with each other and with our constituents.
Ward 2
Ward 2 sits in the central portion of the city, south of 45th Avenue North and opposite Section II.
Jeff Kolb
Kolb
Address: 6404 38th Ave N.
Family: Wife Erin (14 years), Son James (14 months old)
Education: Did not respond.
Occupation: Small business owner, technology industry.
Years you have lived in the city: 3
Community/civic organizations involvement: Crystal Planning Commissioner representing Ward 2; Board member with the Crystal Business Association; American Foundation for Cardiomyopathy
Have you run for any other office in the past?: No
Contact info: 612-314-5652
What do you anticipate to be the most important issue facing Crystal in the next two years?
I believe there are three important issues that must be addressed:
1) Responsible spending – ensuring every dollar spent by the city is spent wisely, keeping in mind that every dollar spent comes from the citizens.
2) Safe Neighborhoods – Continuing efforts to keep our neighborhoods safe through community building initiatives, and
3) Accountable and Responsive Government – Repairing the relationship between the council and the citizens by electing responsive representatives who will foster two way communication, actively listen to the concerns of the residents, and act as advocates for our neighborhoods.
I love Crystal. My wife and I chose to raise our family here. I believe Crystal is a great place to live, work, and shop, and by electing the right representation we can make sure we keep it that way for many years to come.
What has the current council (or past councils) done well, in your opinion? What could the current council (or past councils) improve upon?
I want to first start by thanking the current members of the council for their service to the community. I recognize that serving on the council requires an investment of time that takes councilmembers away from their families. It’s not a particularly glamourous job, but it is a very important one, as city government can have a huge impact on the daily life of a resident.
That said, I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think that there was room for improvement.
I believe that the current council has not always acted responsibly with the taxpayer’s money. Spending has not been properly prioritized. In addition, some of the decisions made recently have created a fiscal problem that must be addressed. We can’t continue to borrow endlessly and spend our cash reserves without plans in place to refill them.
But perhaps the most important thing that needs improvement is the relationship between the city government and the citizens. I have personally knocked on over 1,500 doors since this campaign began, and one recurring and disappointing theme in my conversations is that many residents don’t feel that they are being listened to.
I have heard far too many stories about people contacting their elected officials or city staff and either not receiving a response at all, or receiving a response that attempts to minimize their concerns.
This needs to change.
For any government to be effective it needs to be responsive to the citizens, and if elected, I will always listen and respond to the residents I was elected to represent. I hope I can earn your vote.
Joe Selton
Selton
Address: 3916 Edgewood Ave. N., Brownwood neighborhood, Ward 2.
Family: Wife ReNae; daughters Joann (and Rick), Elizabeth and Sheri; step-daughter Amber (and Brian); eight grandchildren.
Education: Patrick Henry High, Minneapolis; Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, Anoka; University of Minnesota – LES, Minneapolis; University of Wisconsin – ESW, Madison; William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center at Placid Harbor, Hollywood, Md.
Occupation: Journeyman truck mechanic and head shop steward for Bimbo Baking Group.
Years you have lived in the city: 34 years as a resident of Crystal Ward 2.
Community/civic organizations involvement: Volunteer with NEAR food shelf
Contact info: 763- 531-2074
What do you anticipate to be the most important issue facing Crystal in the next two years?
The most important issue we will be facing is the same issue we face every year as a City Council. Coming up with a justified and balanced city budget which holds the line on property tax increases, utilizes and protects reserves given to us by previous city councils, and protects and maintains Crystal’s infrastructure investments and services. We must also continue to plan and finance for the future needs of the city of Crystal.
What has the current Council (or past councils) done well, in your opinion? What could the current Council (or past councils) improve upon?
Thank you to past city councils for putting the city in a position where the current council during my tenure could manage the city through the current recession, even with a loss of $4 million in local government aid, with minimal cuts in services or increases in property taxes.
The development of the Cavanaugh Senior living complex in north Crystal.
The addition of solar energy to The Community Center where after 12 months online it’s reported that the total avoided cost of electricity was approximately $2,839.00. That’s the amount the solar panels displaced which the city would have otherwise paid to Xcel energy. City Hall and pool building projects are now online and it is projected that the numbers for both will look similar since they are the same size systems. A projected cost-saving measure in energy usage of $8,517.00 per year.
Continuing to finance a successful street and alley reconstruction program that’s affordable to the citizens and adding to the property value of the residence.
The current Council must continue to be aware of the changing demographics in our city. We must find ways to involve and hear the voice of the multicultural groups moving to our city. If we do a city survey online, we cannot assume everyone has a computer or is proficient with it or that everyone speaks or understands English. As taxpayers, everybody’s voice is important and we must be there to hear it. We must do more so those voices are heard.
Continue to work hard to assist businesses to locate or relocate to the city of Crystal.