Since 2009, I have attended literally hundreds of Maplewood city
meetings and events. I have done so as a citizen, local business owner
and a representative of Maplewood residents and businesses on several city and
regional advisory groups. Five years of city engagement and plenty of
work in state politics have proven what I suspected. If you want to
understand how our state government works, you need to study it where the
rubber meets the road; at the city and county levels.
I support Nora Slawik for Mayor of Maplewood. I don’t support her because we are from the
same political party, we are not. I don’t
support her because we agree on all of the issues, we do not. I support Nora Slawik because despite our differences,
she is responsive, respectful and honestly listens to citizens who have a
different perspective on an issue. Disrespectful
disagreement has been a constant in Maplewood’s City Council chambers for too
many years. First it was between council
members, then it was between council members and visitors. I support Nora Slawik because I believe she
will be a respectful advocate for the citizens, businesses and visitors in
Maplewood.
My support for Kathleen Juenemann began at some of my
earliest city council meetings. She is the true independent on the
council. Too many elected officials think their vote on an issue is the
only thing that is important. Kathleen Juenemann
is one of the few city council members I have observed in the east metro that states
her position and then actually tries to sway her fellow council members before
the vote. Her advocacy and independence are
backed by a long history on the council and even longer history of support for
Maplewood.
My second choice for city council is Marylee Abrams. The reason I have chosen to support Marylee
Abrams is because of her interview with the Saint Paul Area Chamber of
Commerce. I was invited as a Maplewood business owner to sit in on the
Chamber's candidate interviews and share my insight with the panel.
Marylee did a good job addressing Maplewood's business opportunities and
sharing her enthusiasm for a revived council focus on Maplewood
businesses. I believe that Rebecca Cave deserves consideration as well,
unfortunately, she chose not to attend the Chamber screening process. With the Chamber as a powerful and willing
partner in supporting Maplewood businesses, Rebecca’s absence and Marylee’s responses
were deciding factors in my support for Marylee Abrams.
In the end, it came as no surprise that the Chamber's endorsements mirror my own. Please join me and the Saint Paul Area
Chamber of Commerce in supporting Nora Slawik for Mayor, Kathleen Juenemann for
City Council and Marylee Abrams for City Council. I truly believe that
all three will work well with Council Members Bob Cardinal and Marv Koppen to
make Maplewood a better city for its residents, its businesses and its
visitors.
