2018 Voter’s Guide information
The purpose of the 2018 Voter’s Guide is to share information about area candidates seeking to serve their communities by being elected to city council, school board, county board and legislative seats. This guide concentrates on candidates in contested races, and includes their answers to three questions in hopes of helping voters decide who to cast votes for at the polls Tuesday,
Nov. 6, or via absentee or mail ballot. The Echo Journal reached out to candidates multiple times via email and telephone to receive as many responses as possible. Because of space constraints, only contested area races are included in this guide, and candidates were limited to 75-word answers per question. The following area candidates are uncontested, so are not featured in
the Voter’s Guide: Pine River Mayor: Incumbent Tamara Hansen. City council (elect 2): Incumbents Tony Desanto and Patty Melby. Backus Mayor: Incumbent Kurt Sawyer City council (elect 2): Incumbents Ann Birge and Rae Borst. Breezy Point Mayor: Incumbent Tom Lillehei.
Pine River-Backus School Board
City council (elect 2): Incumbents Gary Bakken and Michael Moroni. Jenkins Mayor: Incumbent Jon Lubke. City council (elect 2): Incumbents Andrew Rudlang and Donna Stricker. Nisswa Mayor: Incumbent Fred Heidmann. Lake Shore City council (elect 2): Incumbents John Terwilliger and Doug Miller.
Pequot Lakes School Board Elect 3
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Katy Botz Leslie Bouchonville (See page 2) Wanda Carlson Garny Gaffey Ryan Trumble (See page 2)
Name: Katy Botz Position sought: Pine RiverBackus School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? Teacher licensure changes, teacher shortages, College in the Schools opportunities and vocational focused classes. Pine River-Backus High School students have the opportunity to take college classes for college credits while they attend high school Katy locally. However, teacher licensure Botz changes and staff turnovers affect program offerings. It’s vital to the district that we hire and retain quality teachers so these classes can continue to be offered and possibly add vocational trade classes. How would you address those issues? As a school board member, I’ve been a vocal advocate for our students to have a variety of class choices while obtaining a quality education at PR-B. If I’m re-elected to serve another term on the board, my focus would be to make sure our administrators have the teaching staff, budgets and in-service time to achieve our district goals. Why are you the best candidate? During my time on the school board I believe my passion for education, my willingness to ask the tough questions and manage the budget speaks for itself. As a board we must always strive to find the balance of doing what’s best for students and spending district dollars responsibly.
Wanda Carlson
Name: Wanda Carlson Position sought: Pine RiverBackus School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? Bullying, nurse needs larger space, expand our vocational opportunities, decline in sports, to name just a few. How would you address those issues? Bullying: Our school district needs a better policy and not such a broad plan to only address when it arises. I would have staff and students partake in helping solve this
issue. Nurse spacing: Find a central location between the high school and elementary. Vocational: Not every student will attend college or tech school, so if we can help teach them life skills while in high school they then succeed after graduation. Why are you the best candidate? I have lived in this school district most of my life. I have children in this district in 10th, ninth and seventh grades. I am active in everything my boys participate in. I have worked in the school district as well. You get a feel for things that could use some change. I volunteer or have volunteered for our local PR-B Boosters club, Cass County Agricultural Association, local wrestling association and the local 4-H Association.
Name: Garny Gaffey Position sought: Pine RiverBackus School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? There is always room for improvement in any organization and Pine River-Backus is no different. Having said that though, I believe our district is in a good place. Our staff, administration and support staff are top shelf and believe student needs Garny come first. I do see a need, howGaffey ever, to encourage our students to look at a career in the trades. Our shortage of skilled workers is real. How would you address those issues? Young men and women entering the workforce at any level need to be able to communicate effectively with the spoken as well as the written word. Be critical and analytical thinkers and problem-solvers. PR-B has offerings to hone these skills, which I as a board member support. Our board has had an ongoing conversation about ways we can improve our facility to better accommodate the needs of our students wanting to take this tract. Why are you the best candidate? I bring many years of experience to the board, so I’ve experienced the full gamut of public school climate change. I am first and foremost an advocate for the students of our district. I see my duty as a board member to facilitate as best I can the work effort of our staff and administration and work to provide a safe and secure environment in which all at Pine River-Backus can thrive.
Name: Brandon Andersen Position sought: Pequot Lakes School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? We need to continue to raise the bar of success. We have done a good job in academic achievement. We need to strive to be great. Increase our academic rigor, continue to enhance our professional staff development, increase the diversity of academic Brandon course offerings, and find different Andersen ways to reach struggling students. We need to continue to make improvements in our interventions with struggling students by finding alternative teaching methods for children that learn differently. How would you address those issues? Our district success has been a magnet for attracting students outside of our district, which has brought in additional net revenue (positive to our local taxpayers). To take us from good to great, we should continue to make our school attractive, manage resources responsibly, invest in facilities improvements that have long-term payback/cost-savings, invest in professional development to make teachers more effective, and invest in technologies that allow us to be more efficient and focused. Why are you the best candidate? As a former CPA, I audited schools and municipalities. I was responsible for saving more than $1 million in interest by convincing the board not to sell all construction bonds upfront. As a manufacturing business owner, I have direct experience and success in applying improvement strategies. I believe in hiring the best people, giving clear direction and letting them do their job. We have done a great job of executing this strategy during my tenure.
Name: Valarie Wallin Position sought: Pequot Lakes School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? 1. Educating our students to be college and career ready upon graduation. 2. Funding. 3. School culture/student mental health issues, such as suicide and bullying. 4. Developing effective communication with other local leaders. How would you address those issues? 1. Individualized student learning plans are a district goal. Advanced learning should be responsive to student/parent desires. 2. We need to equalize school funding. ISD 186 receives state funding at less than 97 percent of all other schools in the state. Post Secondary Education Option is not fully reimbursed. 3. We need to support mental health services. Welcoming student initiatives should be supported. 4. I continue to advocate with local leaders for district needs. Why are you the best candidate? During the 10 years I have served, we have successfully navigated some difficult issues: from contracts to new educational initiatives, from large-scale building remodeling to implementing new state/federal standards. I take pride that we have 100 percent graduation rate. We also received Best of the Lakes High School Award in 2018. I support fiscal responsibility to best use every tax dollar. I work to create positive school culture - for students and employees.
Name: Derrek Johnson Position sought: Pequot Lakes School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? The top issues in our schools, I believe, are how to attract and keep the best administrators and staff. With top talent in all of our departments, we are able to continue to provide our children with a great experience in all aspects of their schooling.
Derrek Johnson
House District 10B Elect 1 ► Dale Lueck (See page 2)
Phil Yetzer
► Phil Yetzer Name: Phil Yetzer, Crosby Position sought: House District 10B state representative Party affiliation: DFL What are the top issues your district needs to address? The top issues for the state are always schools and transportation and this year is no different. Additionally, our health insurance system forces too many citizens to choose no coverage over the cost of individual plans. Lastly,
Emily Mayor: Incumbent Roger (Buddy) Lund. City council (elect 2): Bryce Butcher. Chickamaw Beach Mayor: Incumbent Bob Hobson. City council (elect 2): Incumbents Mural Backman and Michael Sandy. East Gull Lake City council (elect 2): Incumbents Scott Hoffman and Jim Ruttger.
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Brandon Andersen Derrek Johnson Dena Moody Tracy Wallin Valarie Wallin
Name: Dena Moody Position sought: Pequot Lakes School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? I see the top issues facing ISD 186 as being the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act, insuring that the increasing use of technology does not supersede the importance of actual classroom instruction, keeping our students and staff safe, recognizing Dena and addressing the impact of stress Moody on our students, teachers and support staff as the demands on our classrooms grow, and improving the collective bargaining process for all employees of the district. How would you address those issues? These issues need to be addressed by the continuing collaborative efforts of our school board, administrators, teachers, support staff, students and the communities within our district boundaries. In order to be effective policy makers, I believe that school board members need to be more accessible and visible in our schools. I would take advantage of every opportunity to advocate for public education by communicating our needs to all levels of government - local, state and national. Why are you the best candidate? As a classroom teacher, substitute teacher, coach and parent educator for the past 46 years, I have a vested interest in public education. I have been a student myself, a parent and a child advocate (guardian ad litem) for the 9th Judicial District as well during that time. Having “been there and done that,” I will bring insight and a broader perspective on the issues facing our school district to this position. Name: Tracy Wallin Position sought: Pequot Lakes School Board What are the top issues your school district needs to address? Some key points that are important to me are making sure we are up-to-date with technology available to both staff and students, preparing students for post-graduation opportunities and providing a safe, welcoming atmosphere. I would like to strengthen the relationTracy ship between staff and administration. Wallin Everyone is there for the same goal - to provide top-quality education for our students. I also want to grow the district’s platform for a safe district with a positive learning atmosphere. How would you address those issues? I believe the best way to accomplish these goals is communicating directly with staff (teachers to administration, janitorial to paraprofessionals) to learn their needs and the best way to fulfill them. Quality education is a direct result of quality staff. I also want to encourage more parent and community involvement within the school at each level. I want to continue what the board has already done in making our district No. 1! Why are you the best candidate? As a parent I have been actively involved in my children’s education as scout leader, PTA member, Junior Achievement, classroom volunteer, and helped with community education sports programs. I am involved in the community and feel that I am in touch with the district’s needs. My bachelor’s degree in business and professional experience provides me with practical business sense, dependability and strong work ethic. I believe the way to ensure student success is being involved. How would you address those issues? I currently feel we have great talent and in order to keep them we need to have: fair compensation, open communication, continued education for staff, great facilities, a safe environment and engaged parents. Why are you the best candidate? I have owned my own business in the lakes area for 19 years. I have learned how to be fiscally responsible and run a successful business. I have learned how to surround myself with great people and lead them toward a common goal. I am a team player and over the past 7.5 years on the board I have worked well with other board members to solve difficult issues and conflicts when they arose.
we must budget responsibly to avoid last-minute standoffs, across-the-board cuts, and threats of shutdowns. How would you address those issues? I would support increasing our public school funding formula to make up for years of neglect as well as introduce prepaid college tuition credits as an inflation-proof savings plan. I would support the public option to allow individuals to buy into MNCare, giving individuals a group rate alternative. My budget process would start with a critical look at spending rather than creating a revenue crisis to force arbitrary spending cuts. Why are you the best candidate? The best answers to our most critical questions are found in the middle, between our two parties’ extreme wings. I will bring an open mind, informed by years of business ownership, a history of working for companies big and small, union and nonunion, and from local government experience and civic involvement, to seek out solutions through process rather than party. I will be a moderate voice of reason to help our district move forward.