Why I'm Running for Mayor of Bloomington

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Bloomington is a great place to live, work, and raise a family. We can make it even better.

By many measures, Bloomington is thriving. Unemployment is barely over 2 percent. Crime has decreased for each of the past five years. The housing market is red hot. And 93 percent of residents say Bloomington is an excellent or good place to live. 

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But we all know there is work to be done. We need to revitalize our neighborhood commercial centers and spur redevelopment along our major streets. We need to make community decisions on big issues like the community center and other amenities. We need to prepare and plan for coming demographic changes. And we need to build on the strength of the vibrant diversity in Bloomington. 

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Effective, proven leadership matters.

A successful mayor must have a thorough knowledge of how local government works and in eight years as a Councilmember at Large, I have learned and fully understand the mechanism of local government. I know how budgets are created and accounted; how boards and commissions function and what their responsibilities are; I understand the policy role of a City Council; I know the vital importance of a good organizational structure, accountability, and clear and frequent communication with staff; I know what a mayor does and does not have the legal authority to do.

 

Leadership is also about vision. I understand that what is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right. I have been willing to make difficult decisions that are in the best interest of the entire city of Bloomington.

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Community involvement is the key to a thriving and successful city. 

Like most things in life, I believe the benefit and joy you get out of your community is proportional to what you put into it. That's why I spent years coaching youth basketball and baseball and serving on my Parish Pastoral Council. I've enthusiastically logged countless hours on City Council-related work, and I've had the privilege of serving on the Boards of Bloomington Heritage Days, the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota River Valley chapter of the Izaak Walton League, and the League of Minnesota Cities. Strong community involvement leads to strong connections and collaborations on efforts big and small. I want to see everyone in Bloomington make that same type of enthusiastic commitment to our city.

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We are One Bloomington

We're stronger when we all work together and as Mayor, I will continue to work to bring Bloomington together. A city can only reach its full potential if everyone feels included -- if we're all striving for the same goals and have the same values. We need to empower our residents, from every neighborhood, from every community, in our diverse and unified city.

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