►
Description
The LWV gave each City Council Candidate a maximum of five minutes for their testimonial.
A
A
In
1980,
a
small
Filipino
boy
came
to
the
United
States,
seeking
an
education
and
to
be
reunited
with
his
family.
That
same
Filipino
boy
would
move
to
the
great
city
of
Bloomington
33
years
later,
to
start
a
family
hello,
my
name
is
Micah
ruleth,
oh
and
I
am
an
immigrant
from
the
Philippines,
a
business
leader
with
18
years
experience
in
the
private
industry.
A
community
activist
and
I
would
like
to
ask
for
your
vote
for
Bloomington
City,
Council
I.
A
Think
the
mission
of
local
government
is
to
enrich
the
lives
of
residents
and
to
build
sustainable
communities,
booming
tonie's,
a
great
city
that
has
done
well
around
big
business
and
strip
malls.
I
would
like
to
shift
the
focus
to
neighborhoods
small
business
and
families.
This
is
my
vision
for
the
city
of
Bloomington.
My
family
and
I
came
to
the
United
States
when
I
was
seven
years
old.
A
At
the
request
of
my
grandmother
who
wanted
me
and
my
younger
brothers
to
be
educated
in
the
United
States,
she
believed
that
education
was
the
key
to
a
successful
life
and
away
from
my
family
to
escape
the
poverty
of
the
Philippines.
My
grandmother
was
an
incredible
person
who
raised
seven
kids
as
a
single
mom
and
ran
a
small
business.
She
is
the
inspiration
for
my
career
and
my
life.
She
was
the
first
person
to
teach
me
the
values
of
debt
of
dedication,
hard
work
and
a
good
education.
A
My
teachers
spent
extra
time
teaching
me
how
to
read
and
introduce
me
to
the
local
librarian
who
was
in
charge
of
the
children's
books
each
day
after
school.
My
mom
would
drop
me
off
at
the
library
and
would
spend
countless
hours
reading
about
u.s.
history,
mythology,
mysteries
and
politics.
My
mother
encouraged
me
to
read
a
lot
of
books
and
she
was
a
tremendous
role
model
for
me
because
she
had
a
voracious
appetite
for
reading.
There
was
always
books
in
the
house
that
support
helped
me
get
a
scholarship
to
st.
A
Cloud,
State
University
and
then
to
Georgetown
University
in
Washington
DC
to
study
politics,
and
he
cannot.
My
career
has
taken
me
to
many
different
kinds
of
organizations
from
small
medical
device
companies
to
high
tech
organizations
like
Optim
and
world-class
health
care
providers
like
the
Mayo
Clinic
I,
currently
lead
teams
that
focus
on
solving
some
of
the
biggest
issues
in
healthcare.
A
My
ability
to
understand
budgets
and
complex
government
regulations
and
innovate
under
pressure
set
me
apart
from
others,
but
my
but
most
importantly,
my
skill
to
listen
carefully
and
to
form
effective
partnerships
with
business
partners
and
government
agencies
makes
me
uniquely
qualified
for
this
role,
I'm
also
an
activist
in
the
community
and
have
been
involved
in
political
campaigns.
Most
of
my
adult
life
to
move
Bloomington
forward.
We
need
to
work
together
in
this
pivotal
time
when
some
families
are
struggling
due
to
declining
wages,
the
increasing
cost
of
home
ownership
and
also
health
care
costs.
A
I
have
experienced
the
struggle.
My
family
lived
in
public
housing
until
my
parents
were
able
to
secure
good-paying
jobs
which
allowed
us
to
purchase
our
first
modest
home.
My
father
worked
in
a
glass
factory
earning
$10
an
hour
to
support
our
family
until
he
entered
a
union,
sponsored
jobs,
training
program
and
became
a
corrections
officer
for
the
county.
My
father
would
remain
an
Apps
May
union
member
for
30
years.
A
My
mother,
a
trained
nurse
in
the
Philippines,
had
to
gain
experience
and
also
had
to
pass
the
Nursing
Board
exams
in
the
US
before
she
was
allowed
to
practice
nursing
after
passing
the
nursing
exam,
she
accepted
a
position
as
a
full-time
nurse
at
the
local
nursing
home
and
became
a
member
of
the
local
nurses
union.
If
elected.
One
of
my
top
priorities
is
to
engage
the
neighborhoods
on
a
regular
basis
and
to
actively
solicit
community
feedback.
Bloomington
residents
are
incredibly
smart
and
want
to
be
engaged
residents
like
Shawn.
A
A
recent
graduate
of
Kennedy
High
School,
who
struggled
with
dyslexia
at
a
young
age
Shawn
supports
my
City
Council
campaign,
because
we
both
share
a
passion
for
education
and
for
also
supporting
the
most
vulnerable
populations
living
in
Bloomington.
When
a
look
at
the
key
issues
facing
Bloomington
the
increasing
diversity,
the
aging
city
infrastructure
in
population
and
the
protection
of
the
city's
green
space,
I
think
that
I
can
make
a
difference
and
help
the
city
solve
these
issues.
I
have
occurred.
A
The
cross-cultural
skills
and
experience
required
to
form
effective
partnerships
with
the
growing
diverse
population
in
Bloomington
I
understand
how
the
vill
affected
partnerships
to
gain
their
access
to
the
resources
that
are
required
to
rebuild
the
city's
aging
infrastructure.
I
also
believe
in
protecting
the
city's
green
paid
space,
but
I
recognize
the
need
for
the
city
to
grow
and
expand,
so
the
seniors
and
younger
families
can
afford
buy
houses
in
Bloomington.
I
would
like
to
ask
for
your
vote
on
November
7th
for
additional
information
on
my
campaign.
B
B
Hi
I'm
Nathan,
Coulter
I'm
running
for
Bloomington,
City
Council,
the
at-large
seat
and
I'd
be
honored
to
earn
your
vote.
As
far
as
my
background,
I've
lived
in
Bloomington
my
whole
life
and
I'm,
proud
to
be
a
product
of
our
Bloomington
public
schools,
I
hold
a
degree
in
music,
education
and
political
science
from
st.
Olaf
and
I
just
recently
started
my
master's
in
public
affairs
at
the
Humphrey
School
at
the
U
of
M
I
work
for
and
with
our
Bloomington
legislators
in
st.
B
Paul
and
I
also
serve
on
the
boards
for
the
Bloomington
housing
and
redevelopment
authority
and
the
purpose
Center
for
arts
education.
My
wife,
charity
and
I
lived
by
Moyer
park
and
love
that
were
close
enough
to
walk
to
9
Mile
Creek
I'm
running
because
now
is
not
the
time
for
status
quo.
Leadership.
B
Bloomington
is
a
well-run,
well-managed,
City
and
I
believe
that,
if
new
forward-looking
leadership
with
a
fresher
perspective,
steps
up,
we
can
achieve
incredible
things
together,
I'm
running
because
I
believe
that
our
government
needs
to
focus
not
just
on
where
we've
been
or
where
we
are
now.
But
where
we'll
be
as
we
look
to
our
future,
the
reality
is
that
the
thinking
that
got
us
where
we
are
today
will
not
be
the
thinking
that
gets
us
where
we
need
to
go
tomorrow.
B
My
priorities
for
our
city
focus
on
the
changes
that
are
already
occurring
and
how
we
can
welcome
them,
embrace
them
and
become
a
stronger
City
because
of
them
more
and
more
folks
are
getting
around
without
using
cars,
whether
they're
older
residents,
who
aren't
able
to
drive
or
younger
ones
who
simply
choose
not
to.
We
need
to
do
a
better
job
of
ensuring
that
our
city
is
more
walkable
and
bikable
and
that
our
neighbors
all
over
Bloomington
have
better
access
to
public
transit
and
transportation.
B
Affordable
housing
is
a
need,
that's
already
going
unmet
in
Bloomington,
and
will
only
increase
as
we
look
to
the
future.
Seniors
want
to
stay
here.
Young
families,
students
and
workers
want
to
come
here
and
Bloomington
should
welcome.
All
of
them
serving
on
the
HRA
I've,
been
part
of
a
working
group
focused
on
preserving
naturally-occurring,
affordable
housing,
and
there
are
a
number
of
other
innovative
ideas
on
both
the
policy
side
and
the
investment
side
that
we
can
pursue
to
encourage
development
and
preservation
of
affordable
housing.
B
Finally,
I
believe
in
a
government
that
is
responsive
and
accessible
to
anyone
who
needs
it.
A
lot
of
what
we've
seen
over
the
last
few
years,
regardless
of
where
you
sit
politically,
is
that
folks
are
just
sick
and
tired
of
feeling,
like
their
voices,
aren't
being
heard.
I
believe
it
does
fall
to
elected
officials
to
proactively,
seek
out
those
voices
and
have
those
conversations,
whether
it's
a
formal
Town
Hall
and
the
council
chambers,
or
even
just
hey
I'll,
be
at
the
caribou
on
France
and
old
shakopee
on
Saturday
morning.
B
Come
have
a
cup
of
coffee
and
talk
to
me
about
the
things
you
want
to
talk
to
me
about
when
folks
are
actively
engaged
and
their
voices
are
respected.
Even
when
we
still
have
disagreements
which
will
happen-
and
everybody
may
not
like
the
outcome,
we
can
all
respect
the
process
and
that's
how
we
move
forward
together.
B
They
say
the
first
rule
of
politics
is
always
ask
for
their
vote.
So
I'm
asking
for
yours
I'd,
encourage
you
to
check
out
my
website,
WWN
Abers
for
Nathan,
calm
and
get
in
touch
with
me.
There
I'm
always
happy
to
have
conversations
and
talk
about
the
issues
that
are
important
to
you,
so
please
feel
free
to
reach
out
I
love,
my
hometown
I
value
Bloomington,
not
just
as
a
place.
B
I
happen
to
live,
but
as
my
home
and
my
community
and
I
believe
when
you
value
something
you
work
hard
to
make
it
better
I'm
running
because
I
know
what
this
community
has
given
me
and
I
want
to
give
back
I'm
running,
because
my
roots
in
Bloomington
and
my
experience,
working
with
federal
state
and
local
leaders
has
prepared
me
to
do
the
challenging
work
that
we
need
to
do
to
make
things
better.
I'm
running,
because
I
know
where
we've
been
and
I
know
where
we
need
to
go
I'd
be
honored
to
serve.
C
C
Hi
I'm
Shawn
Nelson
and
I'm
a
candidate
for
Bloomington
City
Council
in
district
2
I
lived
in
Bloomington
for
18
years.
My
wife,
Anna
and
I,
along
with
our
girls,
Stacia
and
Emma,
have
made
our
home
in
Bloomington
because
of
the
wonderful
people,
schools,
parks
and
community
groups.
Bloomington
is
a
great
place
to
live
and
raise
a
family
I'm.
A
small
business
owner
of
a
couple
of
companies
and
I've
been
actively
involved
in
leadership
positions
in
the
business
community
and
housing
industry
for
20
years.
C
I
will
use
my
education
and
experience
to
help
the
city
of
Bloomington,
foster
a
healthy
business
environment
and
manage
its
services
effectively.
I
am
running
to
help
build
a
community
where
we
can
eat
shop
and
play
in
or
near
our
neighborhoods.
The
city
should
be
proud
of
the
great
development
around
the
mall
and
along
494.
C
However,
it
is
time
to
also
focus
on
the
needs
of
our
residents
and
businesses
in
our
neighborhoods
I
will
work
to
bring
in
new
restaurants,
so
we
have
more
options
for
our
families
and,
together
with
our
friends,
it
won't
be
easy,
but
we
can
attract
new
restaurants
by
reducing
the
barriers
that
make
it
difficult
for
them
to
open
and
succeed.
I
will
work
to
develop
a
forward-looking
plan
to
address
the
retail
challenges
facing
our
local
strip
malls
and
their
business
tenants.
We
can
encourage
innovative
new
businesses
to
open
and
grow
in
Bloomington.
C
C
Bloomington
is
blessed
with
great
natural
spaces,
including
the
river
bottoms
Highland
Dred
Scott,
just
to
name
a
few
that
are
in
district
2.
We
need
to
maintain
these
community
assets,
so
they
are
available
for
the
use
and
enjoyment
of
our
residents.
A
few
of
my
other
priorities
for
the
city
include
housing,
transportation
and
education.
We
need
to
have
a
plan
to
help
with
the
housing
and
transportation
needs
of
our
boomers,
whether
they're
seeking
to
stay
in
their
house
downsize
or
looking
for
senior
housing
options.
C
We
need
to
attract
and
meet
the
knee
of
families
with
children,
and
we
need
to
make
it
possible
to
provide
workforce
housing
with
cars
as
the
primary
mode
of
transportation.
Maintaining
our
roads
is
paramount.
We
need
to
also
address
the
increasing
control,
increasing
concerns
about
traffic
flowing
off
of
our
major
roads
into
and
through
our
neighborhoods,
and
we
need
to
meet
the
demand
for
biking
and
walking
traffic
within
the
city,
providing
safe
corridors
for
commuters,
recreation
and
children.
Importantly,
we
need
a
transportation
system
that
efficiently
connects
workers
with
jobs.
C
The
city
needs
to
be
a
strong
partner
with
the
school
district.
I
will
also
explore
options
to
expand
worker
training
and
pathways
for
those
looking
to
go
directly
into
careers
after
high
school
I
also
encourage
you
to
vote
YES
on
the
school
referendum.
This
small,
our
schools,
are
a
vital
component
to
a
thriving
community,
healthy
business
environment
and
help
keep
our
property
tax
or
property
values.
A
high
I
am
also
running
to
build
a
community
where
we
cherish
and
celebrate
our
diversity.
I
will
work
to
ensure
all
are
welcome.
C
We
love
Bloomington,
it
is
a
great
city.
I
am
running
to
enhance
this
wonderful
city
to
be
a
place.
We
can
eat
shop
and
play
in
or
near
neighborhoods.
We
will
continue
to
be
a
place
that
will
attract
young
families,
be
a
great
place
for
older
residents,
provide
decent,
safe
options
for
working
families
and
be
a
community
that
welcomes
all
people.
C
D
D
Hello,
I'm
Eldon
Spencer
and
as
your
district
councilmember
since
the
council
appointed
me
in
March
from
among
13
qualified
applicants,
including
my
opponent,
to
fill
a
vacancy
in
this
seat
until
after
the
upcoming
election
I
have
attended
every
council
meeting
and
every
study
session.
I
responded
to
many
constituent
questions
and
calls
and
I
hope
to
walk
through
each
of
your
neighborhoods
before
the
election
on
November
7,
my
council
appointment
followed
nearly
30
years
as
a
resident
of
our
Bloomington
neighborhood.
My
wife,
Ann
and
I
raised
our
daughters.
D
High
among
my
professional
honors
has
been
the
opportunity
to
share
my
experience
with
students,
as
a
professor
at
both
Mitchell
and
Hamlin
law.
Schools
on
the
community
site
and
I
have
engaged
in
many
volunteer
activities
from
charitable,
fundraising
to
Block,
Watch,
neighborhood,
captaincy
and
other
neighborhood
activities.
D
Over
twenty
years
ago,
I
joined
a
number
of
men
and
women
in
chartering
the
Bloomington
day
makers,
Rotary
Club
and
through
the
club
I,
had
the
opportunity,
numerous
service
activities
such
as
staffing
that
the
annual
teen
job
fair,
serving
as
a
mentor
for
the
Jefferson
strive
program
and
taking
regular,
turns
packing.
Beep,
backpacks
and
gift
bags
for
needful
students
and
seniors
in
our
city.
I
have
also
had
the
chance,
during
six
years
on
the
Bloomington
planning
commission
to
sharpen
my
perspective
on
a
wide
range
of
issues
facing
our
city.
D
Let's
consider
three
of
those
types
of
issues
that
are
going
to
come
up
for
whoever
you
elect
to
this
council
position.
First
of
all,
is
the
issue
of
green
space
and
preservation
versus
land
sale.
This
came
up
recently
when
the
council
sent
out
r.fp
over
my
objections
that
the
action
was
being
taken
prematurely
and
with
inadequate
advanced
research
that
invited
proposals
to
redevelop
the
former
former
driving
range
or
even
the
entire
area.
D
That
includes
the
current
Highland
greens
course,
although
amendments
to
the
RFP
that
I
offered
or
supported
were
added
to
require
retention
of
an
open,
public
and
reasonably
accessible,
golf
course
with
practice
facilities
as
part
of
any
proposal
that
would
be
considered.
I
remain
skeptical
that
any
proposal
consistent
with
reasonable
neighbourhood
expectations
will
emerge
once
we
sell
the
land
we'll
never
get
it
back.
We
must
make
every
effort
to
preserve
the
quality
of
our
neighborhoods,
and
that
includes
preserving
the
quality
that
the
residents
have
reason
to
expect.
D
Secondly,
our
continuing
issues
regarding
infrastructure
maintenance
and
making
careful
spending
decisions
when
we
balance
those
against
the
other
city
needs
whether
we're
recorded
coding
water
towers,
accommodating
new
fire
station
needs
our
dealing
with
flood
zones.
Our
city
is
facing
a
number
of
issues
that
require
immediate
and
prioritized
attention.
It
is
simply
unfair
to
future
residents
to
defer
action
on
these
items
until
the
until
they
need
even
more
urgent
attention
and
escalated
costs
for
which
no
earlier
contributions
have
been
made.
D
Finally,
let
me
make
the
following
promises
to
continue
to
exercise
my
best
judgment
informed
by
your
input
and
real
facts.
Secondly,
to
explore
public
private
nonprofit
partnerships
to
meet
public
needs
in
the
most
cost,
effective
ways
and,
finally,
not
to
sign
other
any
pledges
other
than
to
be
true
to
my
oath
of
office.
E
E
In
the
afternoon,
my
name
is
Jack
Beluga.
Thank
you
to
the
League
of
the
League
of
Women
Voters
for
creating
this
video
forum
again,
I'm
Jack,
belongin
I'm,
the
incumbent
city
council,
representative
and
I
represent
the
3rd
district,
which
is
the
northwest
quadrant
of
the
city.
It's
been
my
honor
to
serve
you.
E
Thank
you
for
your
trust
and
confidence,
I'm,
also
a
30-year
resident
of
the
city
and
I'm
blessed
having
a
wonderful
family,
including
three
children
and
seven
grandchildren,
one
of
whom
lives
here
in
Bloomington
I'm,
a
University
of
Minnesota
graduate
with
a
bachelor's
degree
in
business
and
accounting.
As
to
my
professional
experiences,
I've
enjoyed
the
successful
business
career
as
a
commercial
real
estate
developer.
E
First,
as
an
employee
of
a
fortune,
500
company
and
later
as
a
small
business
owner,
I
know
what
it
means
to
run
a
business
and
make
a
payroll
I,
bring
that
business
and
financial
acumen
to
the
city
to
help
address
and
solve
its
problems.
I
founded
a
not-for-profit
in
2000
and
I
continue
to
be
actively
engaged
in
it.
This
venture
is
dedicated
to
assisting
the
unemployed
in
finding
work.
Opportunities
through
networking.
I
have
also
served
on
the
boards
of
many
other
nonprofits,
my
civic
engagement
and
participation
spans
more
than
20
years.
E
During
that
time,
I
served
on
many
advisory
boards
and
commissions
for
Bloomington.
During
that
time,
I
learned
how
the
city
operates.
I
now
use
that
knowledge
and
experience
as
a
member
of
City
Council
to
better
serve
you
its
residents,
the
city
of
Bloomington
is
in
great
financial
shape.
That
condition
is
evidenced
by
the
fact
that
Bloomington
is
one
of
just
19
communities
out
of
31,000
nationally
to
receive
triple-a
bond
ratings
by
all
three
rating
services.
E
I
have
worked
along
with
the
other
City
Council
members
to
create
six
strategic
objectives,
which
we
will
focus
on
going
forward
over
the
next
three
to
five
years,
the
first
of
which
is
community
amenities.
We
have
and
will
continue
to
have,
to
provide
community
amenities
to
residents
and
visitors
to
make
Bloomington
a
destination
city.
E
Environmental
sustainability
is
number
two,
and
in
that
area
we
established
a
sustainability
Commission
to
advise
the
council
on
environmental
policy
last
year.
The
third
is
focused
renewal.
We
need
a
healthy
business
and
residential
sector
as
each
compliment
and
support
the
other
as
our
infrastructure,
commercial
areas
and
housing
ages.
We
need
to
leverage
those
assets
to
ensure
that
Bloomington
continues
to
remain
a
vibrant
city.
The
fourth
is
high
quality
services.
Delivery
Bloomington
continues
to
deliver
city
services
that
rank
among
the
best
in
the
metro
area.
E
Fifth
is
community
image
and
the
results
of
the
National
Citizen
survey
are
now
in
you.
The
residents
have
ranked
the
city
of
Bloomington
at
its
highest
all-time
rating
in
the
areas
of
quality
of
life,
feeling
safe
value
for
tax
dollars,
environment
and
recreation
and
wellness.
There
is
more
work
yet
to
do,
though.
E
Inclusion
and
equity
is
the
last,
but
the
most
important
of
all
these
objectives
as
a
community,
our
demographics
are
changing
and
evolving.
We
need
to
be
a
city
that
welcomes
and
supports
all
we
are
one
Bloomington
I
am
closing
by
presenting
you
five
reasons
to
reelect
Jack
belaga
for
City
Council
on
November
5th,
my
civic
participation,
my
business
experience,
my
educational
background,
my
leadership
skills
and,
lastly,
my
vision
for
Bloomington.
That
vision
is
high
quality
of
life,
good
jobs
in
housing,
superior
educational
opportunities
and
outstanding
city
services
at
an
affordable
cost.
F
F
Hi
I'm
Larry,
frost
and
I'd,
like
your
vote
this
year
for
City
Council,
Ward,
3
I've
lived
in
Bloomington
since
2001.
In
fact
my
wife
and
I
moving
into
our
dream
house
that
we
built
in
West
Bloomington
five
days
before
9-1-1.
That
was
the
last
time.
I
saw
it
for
about
a
year.
I
was
at
that
time.
In
my
final
assignment
in
the
US
Army
I
was
a
lieutenant
colonel
stationed
at
Fort
McCoy
and
my
job
was
to
mobilize
all
of
the
soldiers
we
were
sending
overseas
to
war.
F
It
was
my
responsibility
to
guarantee
they
were
as
ready
for
combat
as
possible,
so
I
didn't
come
home
and
see
my
family
till
about
a
year
and
a
half
later
when
I
did
come
home,
I
retired.
At
that
point,
we
had
the
opportunity
to
raise
our
two
sons
here:
they've
been
through
Bloomington
schools,
one
of
them's
in
college.
Now
one
of
the
senior
I'd
like
to
give
something
back
to
the
community
and
what
I'd
like
to
give
back
is
the
experience
I
had
working
for
five
general
officers
throughout
my
career
in
the
military.
F
It
taught
me
a
lot
about
staffs
and
about
how
you
get
things
done.
I'm
also
concerned
about
representation.
I
think
that
I
want
to
see
all
the
people
in
the
city
represented
I
have
had
a
number
of
Latinos
come
to
me
and
I
have
spoken
with
them.
They
don't
feel
like
they're
represented
on
the
City.
Council
I
will
represent
the
Latinos
here,
not
only
in
my
district
but
all
over
the
city.
Let's
prometo
que
le
roi
yot
represent
odd.
F
They
don't
owe
money
on
a
boy
Anna
I
speak
Spanish
and
I
grew
up
in
a
Spanish
family,
even
though
I'm
not
not
Latino.
What
I
would
like
to
do
is
represent
your
voices
in
the
City
Council
in
a
way
that
perhaps
is
a
little
different
than
is
being
done
right
now.
I
promise,
all
of
you
that
I
will
have
quarterly
meetings,
open
houses
and
you
can
come
and
talk
to
me,
I'll,
be
available
in
social
media
and
I
will
try
to
represent
you
on
the
issues
that
matter.
I.
F
Think
your
representative
should
listen
to
you
not
lecture
you.
There
are
a
number
specific
issues
that
motivated
me
to
run.
One
of
them
is
the
whole
Highland
Park
issue.
Now
I,
don't
really
care
whether
we
use
Highland
Park
for
golf
or
something
else,
that's
the
decision
the
City
Council
can
make
later,
but
the
City
Council
has
voted
to
begin.
The
process
of
selling
some
of
our
green
space
to
build
Apartments
on
I
think
that's
short-sighted
and
foolish.
We
can't
make
more
green
space.
It's
a
bad
idea
and
I
oppose
it.
Eirick
my
opponent
favors.
F
It
I
also
oppose
the
idea
of
paving
part
of
the
Minnesota
River
to
make
a
trail.
Does
the
council
know
that
that
trail
floods
twenty
feet
every
year?
That
trail
is
going
to
get
washed
away?
It
doesn't
make
a
lot
of
sense.
These
are
the
kinds
of
things
that
I
think
common
sense
tells
us
a
city.
Councilman
ought
to
be
able
to
do
without
referring
to
a
lot
of
technical
data.
I
am
also
concerned
about
city
governance.
F
Our
city
council
has
done
a
number
of
things,
especially
with
reference
to
land-use
that
favor
one
group
over
another.
That's
divisive
and
I.
Don't
think
it
helps
the
city
at
all.
That's
your
city,
councilman
I'll.
Try
to
see
that
everyone,
especially
residential
areas,
are
treated
well
and
equally
in
our
land-use
proceedings.
F
Okay,
there's
another
issue
that
comes
to
mind
to
me,
and
that
is
city
governance.
We
have
a
well
governed
city
in
most
respects,
but
our
City
Council
is
really
not
in
charge.
Our
City
Council
gets
most
of
its
information
through
this
professional
staff.
I
learned
working
for
those
five
general
officers
that
you
never
get
all
your
information
from
one
source.
For
example,
I
would
like
to
see
our
union
representatives
be
able
to
come
into
every
City
Council
meeting
and
answer
questions
and
provide
information
from
the
worker
level.
F
G
G
Hi,
my
name
is
Patrick
Martin
and
I'm
running
for
the
City
Council
seat
in
Bloomington's
district
four,
over
on
the
east
side,
I've
spent
my
career
working
with
local
churches
and
nonprofits
like
the
Salvation
Army,
to
equip
families
with
the
tools
they
need
for
success
and
self-sufficiency.
I'm
proud
of
my
service
on
the
Bloomington
parks,
arts
and
Recreation
Commission,
the
Advisory
Board
of
Health,
and
serving
as
Bloomington's
representative
to
Tri
City
partners
for
healthy
communities.
G
Now,
over
the
course
of
that
service,
I've
dove
headfirst
into
data
that
outlines
the
long-term
demographic
changes
facing
the
community
of
Bloomington
and
while
they're
gonna
pose
challenges.
I
know
beyond
a
shadow
of
a
doubt
that,
with
optimism,
determination
and
with
fresh
perspective,
we
can
turn
those
challenges
into
the
opportunities
that
will
fuel
our
growth
long
term.
Now,
I
just
want
to
touch
on
a
few
of
those
areas
here
today.
First,
we
need
to
make
sure
we
are
supporting
the
senior
population
that
built
Bloomington
into
the
thriving
city.
It
is
today
right
now.
G
Data
shows
that
one
in
three
bloomington
seniors
currently
live
alone,
and
that
figure
is
expected
to
double
by
2030.
Now
we
need
to
proactively
invest
in
creative
initiatives
like
senior
home
health
visits.
The
program
which
sends
public
health
nurses
out
to
visit
seniors
well
in
their
home
is
proven
long-term
to
improve
medical
outcomes
and
reduce
emergency
costs.
The
public
health
nurses
provide
training
on
things
like
fall
prevention,
medication
management,
they
liaison
with
insurance
companies
to
make
sure
that
seniors
needs
are
met
and
quite
simply
reduce
isolation
and
lonliness.
G
Second,
we
need
to
attract
and
retain
the
families
that
will
serve
as
Bloomington's
economic
and
cultural
foundation
in
the
decades
ahead.
Now
simply
put
Bloomington
is
an
expensive
place
within
which
to
put
down
roots.
Your
average
two-bedroom
apartment
in
the
city
of
Bloomington
has
gone
up
nearly
three
hundred
dollars
a
month
in
the
last
four
years
alone.
That's
if
you
can
find
one.
The
vacancy
rate
is
under
1.6
percent.
Now,
average
wages
for
a
Bloomington
worker
haven't
gone
up
since
1997
meeting.
G
It
is
harder
and
harder
to
find
place
to
put
down
roots
and
start
a
family
I'm
in
thumbed
process
of
that
right.
Now
myself,
it's
critical
that,
as
we
face
the
largest
turnover
of
housing
stock
in
nearly
40
years,
we
are
protecting
and
preserving
the
naturally
occurring,
affordable
housing
we
already
have
in
the
city.
G
We
can
do
this
by
investing
in
programs
like
Bloomington's,
home
housing,
loan
rehabilitation
fund
and
the
Greater
Minnesota
housing
rehabilitation
fund,
so
that
again,
as
that
turnover
occurs,
were
preserving
and
improving
the
housing
we
have,
as
opposed
to
tearing
it
down
and
putting
up
more
luxury
options.
In
addition,
we
need
to
make
sure
that
we
have
affordable
childcare
options
for
these
young
families.
G
As
42
percent
of
those
same
employers
said
they
had
little
to
no
confidence
in
our
city
council
addressing
those
problems
long
term
it
is
critical,
but
as
we're
anticipating
2/3
of
ours,
2/3
of
our
city's
population
growth
being
in
East,
Bloomington,
South,
Loop
district
home
to
the
majority
of
our
service
in
retail
industry.
We
need
to
make
sure
they
are
at
the
table.
They
feel
confident,
engaged
and
involved
in
the
planning
process.
Moving
forward,
51
percent
of
our
total
tax
base
is
paid
by
retailers,
service
industry,
construction
in
the
finance
industries.
G
If
we're
going
to
make
sure
we
have
a
stable
and
prosperous
long
term
project,
they
need
to
be
involved
from
the
get-go
and
throughout
the
planning
process.
Now,
I
would
so
appreciate
your
support.
Come
November
7th
when
it
comes
to
the
general
election
for
more
information
feel
free
to
check
out
the
website.
Www.Rockymountainatvmc.Com.
H
H
Hello
thanks
to
the
Bloomington
League
of
Women
Voters,
for
the
hours
of
work
that
they
put
into
producing
this
candidates.
Video
I'm,
John,
Olsen
IVA
preached
I,
appreciated
the
opportunity
to
represent
the
people
of
Northeast
Bloomington
for
the
past
four
years.
I
seek
reelection
because
I
need
to
continue
on
several
issues
that
are
important
to
Northeast
bloomington
important
to
all
of
bloomington.
I
want
to
keep
positive
momentum
going.
I
speak
about
three
issues:
community
center,
affordable
housing
and
supporting
our
neighborhoods.
H
The
City
Council
responded
in
2015
to
numerous
requests
by
Bloomington
residents
to
look
into
building
a
community
center
that
would
build
upon
the
services
of
Creekside
community
center
residents,
see
the
value
of
a
comprehensive
community
center
that
would
greatly
expand
health
supporting
community
building
opportunities.
Many
see
it
as
a
magnet
in
Bloomington
that
would
attract
young
families.
The
lifeblood
to
Bloomington
future
I
was
selected
to
represent
the
council
on
a
hard-working
resident
and
staff
community
center
task
force.
We
turned
over
many
stones
vigorously,
debated
many
issues
and
presented
recommendations
to
the
council.
H
You
perhaps
read
recently
that
the
city
in
the
YMCA
have
signed
a
non-binding
memorandum
of
understanding.
We've
agreed
to
meet
together
to
further
research
what
our
residents
want
and
need
discuss
things
like
design
and
location
and
negotiate
who
pays
for
what
I
started
promoting
such
partnering
while
on
the
task
force.
H
Secondly,
a
recent
study
of
Bloomington's
housing
stock
reports
that
we
have
a
severe
shortage
of
affordable
rental
units.
This
is
a
quality
of
life
issue.
Not
only
for
families
struggling
to
make
ends
meet,
you
know,
skyrocketing
rent
cost
market,
but
for
the
whole
community,
all
dynamics
in
a
community
need
to
be
strong
and
healthy.
I
serve
on
our
city's
housing
and
redevelopment
authority.
The
primary
agency
within
city
government
to
problem
solve
the
affordable
housing
crisis
I
also
serve
on
a
metro
cities
committee
that
lobbies
the
minister
Legislature
to
write
policies
and
provide
financial
support.
H
I
pledge
to
continue
working
with
developers
like
United
properties
and
nonprofits
like
Ian
and
common
bond.
Each
of
them
have
been
or
are
in
the
process
of
increasing
the
availability
of
affordable
housing
in
Bloomington,
with
very
limited
use
of
taxpayer
money.
Thirdly,
North
East
Bloomington
was
built
out
in
the
50s
and
60s
during
the
rapid
growth
of
the
suburbs.
Many
homeowners
still
live
where
they
raised
families,
I
smile
as
a
bike
or
drive
by
the
many
homes
and
yards
that
have
been
maintained
so
well.
H
Older
homes
need
maintenance,
some
houses,
yards
and
driveways
need
refreshing
enter
the
curbside
appeal
loan
that
I
started
promoting
three
years
ago.
It's
now
a
reality
as
a
pilot
project
in
a
large
portion
of
Northeast
Bloomington.
Now,
in
its
second
year,
it's
been
a
great
success.
It's
one
of
the
reasons
that
residents
in
North,
East
Bloomington,
are
feeling
even
better
about
living
in
district
4
I
will
expand
my
efforts
to
do
more
in
a
second
term.
Northeast
Bloomington
reflects
changing
dynamics
common
throughout
much
of
the
metro
houses.
H
They're
selling,
like
hotcakes
younger
people,
are
moving
next
door
to
seniors.
Bloomington
reflects
the
nation
and
becoming
evermore
culturally
diverse.
I
will
work
with
residents
to
figure
out
how
we
get
to
really
know
each
other
understand
and
relate
well
with
new
neighbors
I
want
to
talk
to
you
about
what
makes
a
neighborhood
function
well
and
I
firmly
believe
that
such
dialogue
will
lead
us
to
discover.
Good
values
are
common.
I
H
Cultures
years
ago,
the
local
grocery
store
was
a
social
setting.
We
walked
to
neighborhood
schools
and
churches,
places
that
were
an
extension
of
our
neighborhoods.
Somehow
we
need
to
figure
out
replacement
ways
to
develop
neighborhood
relationships.
Bloomington
is
a
great
city.
It's
why
I
chose
to
move
here
14
years
ago
during
those
14
years,
I
volunteered
at
Valley,
View
middle
school,
attend
events
there
in
a
Kennedy,
High
School
and
have
been
very
engaged
in
my
church
service
organizations
like
rotary
and
in
my
own
neighborhood
I
hope.