You Can't Beat an Incumbent? Hold My '89 Prior Lake Letter Jacket.

On the campaign trail I often here we need to improve our downtown. I agree.

The United States just went through one of the best decades in history for commercial real estate growth. Prior Lake did not participate. Part of the reason for this: Our current mayor is a retired pharma/med-device sales rep transplant from California with little connectivity to our regional business community. This is evidenced by the lack of investment in our downtown the past 8 years under his leadership and numerous projects that failed to launch.

We need a mayor that is well connected to our regional business community and can attract residential and commercial investment to Prior Lake. I've been an active Twin Cities entrepreneur for 30 years as a CPA (now retired), web and marketing expert having boot strapped a multi-million dollar agency from nothing creating 12 high paying jobs in our community. I'm also an active real estate investor.

I have the experience, network, ability and connectivity to attract residential and commercial investment to Prior Lake.

Some bullet points:

• Prior Lake community member since 1975.

• City Council Member Since 2017.

• Both my wife and I grew up in our community. This local knowledge is critical when seeking solutions to challenges.

• Local and Twin Cities entrepreneur for 30 years.

• I am the next generation of leadership we need.

• I believe in term limits and did so with my own Council seat. Now we'll have the next generation of Councilors being developed.

• I'm independent.

• I've been involved in government since the age of 18.

• A former CPA, I'm a true fiscal conservative.

• Being an entrepreneur, I'm a disruptor seeking unique approaches.

• I'm raising children in our community. I'm 53 with a 6, 4 and 2 year old. My boy Finn is at Westwood, the same school I attended in the 1970s. Both my wife and I went K-12 in our school district. A mayor with children active in our school district is a good thing.

• Leadership approach: Less talk, more listening. No drama.

• A more managed approach to government.

• I govern with these principles: Good public policy is simple, equitable, and easy to administer. 

• I am committed to no double digit increases in the levy.

What a wonderful opportunity I have to run for mayor in the greatest republic ever. We all won the lottery being born in these United States. We often lose sight of how much good there is here. Let’s focus on that goodness.

It speaks well of our community that we have two good candidates for Mayor, both passionate about Prior Lake.

If anyone is speaking negatively of either candidate in a personal manner, they’re wrong. We can have differences about policy, and we do, but both of us are good people. We can juxtapose our policy differences, our leadership differences, and black and white we can compare our skillsets, and I will do that. But personal attacks are not appropriate.

That’s the kind of good leadership you can expect from this Midwest boy.

Between both Briggs and I we know most of the people in town. So, I’m concerned about the fabric of our community. I don’t want this to be seen as a battle between he and I. Because it’s not. As I told Briggs when I met with him this past spring to discuss my plans, I’m not running against him for mayor, but I am running for mayor. And I will make an outstanding mayor.

He’s had the position for 8 years. He’s a corporate guy from California. Perhaps that perspective has been beneficial.

Our life stories are considerably different.

Voters now have the opportunity to hire a local leader for Mayor. A small businessman. An entrepreneur. Someone who knows our community from every angle from childhood on. A bit of a rebel not afraid to poke the establishment and tell staff to stop following "best practices". I'm a believer that following best practices is the opposite of innovation.

WHY TERM LIMITS?

I am in favor of term limits, in the least for the Mayoral position. Two 4 year terms and you're out. If elected, I'm committed to this. Two terms and out. I did the same for my Councilor seat. Two terms. And now a terrific young person signed up and will have my seat to learn and grow and lead. That's how it should be.

Why term limits? It is an exceptional experience to serve as Mayor. We need to grow the next generation of leaders and provide that experience to as many others as possible.

The electorate deserves periodic new leadership, new ideas and new approaches.

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