Patch Candidate Profile: Craig Angrimson For ISD 196 School Board

EAGAN/APPLE VALLEY/ROSEMOUNT, MN — This fall, Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount residents will vote on school board members for ISD 196.

Craig Angrimson is one of 15 candidates running for School Board in the Nov. 2 election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Are you running for School Board? Contact Morgan Reddekopp at morgan.reddekopp@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Age (as of Election Day): 66

Position Sought: ISD 196 School Board Member At Large

Party Affiliation: Non-partisan

Family: Wife-Gail-66, daughter Rachel-24 who teaches 1st grade in our district

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education:

Many trade licenses- CDL, Wastewater Class B, Boiler license-1C, and others

Occupation: Maintenance chief at Metropolitan Council

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Current school board member of ISD196

Campaign website: craigangrimson.com

Why are you seeking elective office?:

I have gotten many things done in my first term and my work is not done yet

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it:

Right now it is working thru the covid pandemic while continuing to educate our students. I will continue to give our great teachers the tools they need to accomplish this. Professional development, in person support, books to educate current situation, or any other ask they have.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?:

I have the reputation of answering all emails, going to all in person events, and just my ability to listen to all sides. I am a great communicator, and I am giving everyone a person to have these hard discussions with, which very few people want to do.Surprising what both sides can learn thru conversation.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency):

I am the incumbent.

How do you think local officials are performing in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?:

We are doing the best we can given the seriousness of the current delta variant. I personally would have been open to mandating K-8, but the way the mandate was presented, with the parameters in place to give us the ability to flex when numbers dropped, I was OK with it as presented.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Our community is not in sync. I believe we all want our students to succeed. There is just so much negativity. By talking to thousands of folks, I am finding out what drives this, and trying to find ways to reunite us. I also have been working with our teachers and counselors to open doors for students to get into trades after high school. College is not for everybody. I have contacts to put students directly into apprentice programs. I have personally helped many students do this.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?:

Placement of students in apprentice programs, helping to get new stadiums for all our high schools, keeping our budget in great shape, and my promise to return all emails or calls sent to me!

The best advice ever shared with me was:

You cannot please everyone, just do the best you can without ruining your integrity.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?:

I do not take this job lightly. I do much legwork to come up with the best decision. I know my decisions affect everyone, and we do not all agree on these issues. This is why I listen to all to make sure that my decision is correct. Your opinions do matter to me.