I was born and raised in Faribault...
I was born and raised in Faribault. I raised my family here and have been actively involved in a variety of ways. I have coached both football and basketball at the elementary level for many years. I have served on the Consolidated Catholic School Board and parish council. My wife and I have been mentors for engaged couples for over 30 years. We are also certified teachers with the Couple to Couple League.
As a lifelong resident of Rice County, I have a vested interest in this community. Currently I have the time to give back and serve the residents of Rice County. My thirty years as a Construction Superintendent have given me valuable skills and experience that I can bring to the Board of Commissioners. I have worked with owners, engineers, architects, city planners, contractors, and others on multi-million dollar projects. This included detailed coordination with all parties to bring these projects to a successful completion on time and within budget. Over the course of my career, I have learned the value of being a good listener and respecting everyone’s opinion.
The County Board needs...
The County Board needs to improve its community engagement. This topic came up many times while campaigning. People felt disconnected and uninformed on county issues. Why not have an evening meeting once a month so more working people can attend? Also, I propose changing current rules that only allow public comment once a month for 2 minutes per person on the agenda topic. I believe there should be a public comment period at all meetings for at least 15 minutes with a 3 - 4 minute max per person. Citizens should be able to address any county business and not be limited to agenda items. Lastly, if meetings were recorded and posted on the county website, citizens could be better informed about upcoming issues.
I believe...
I believe that the most significant challenge will be the economy. Inflation is at a 40 year high, gas prices are at an all time high, energy costs are skyrocketing, interest rates are rising, home ownership is becoming out of reach for many families. I think that now is the time to elect someone with experience. Raising a large family on a single income has taught me how to live within a tight budget by knowing the difference between needs and wants. My experience of running large projects within budget is invaluable. We need to find ways to keep taxes affordable while still providing essential services for the common good. In all of this, there is a great opportunity to make our county more efficient.