Final Words: One Last Candidate Poll

In the 48 hours before the special election to fill deceased Council Member Charlie Crichton's seat, Patch asked the nine candidates one final question: "What is one, specific policy that you would try to push for if elected? Please note, the operative word is specific: "Cutting taxes," "keeping a lid on spending" and "fiscal responsibility" are not specifics, they are catchphrases. 

However, if that is more than rhetoric for you, please provide a detailed answer as to what specific parts of the city budget could be consolidated or cut to "cut taxes" or "keep a lid on spending." 

Seven of the nine replied. Donna Alberts and Aaron Hoy could not be reached for comment. 

Here are there answers.

Steven Atkins: "One specific policy that I would push for if elected is attracting higher wage employers to Burnsville. I believe that these employers would lead to an increase in the number of educated, well-paid citizens that choose Burnsville for their residence. That in turn will lead to the gentrification of the community with improvements to housing and infrastructure in the city, which will in turn attract even more high wage employers to the city. I believe that this cycle of improvement offers a much more preferable future for the city, especially when compared to the current path of more and more retail jobs and declining property values."

Bill Coughlin: "One specific policy I would try to push for is to have every Burnsville City department seek possible services sharing arrangements with its neighboring cities and/or Dakota County--to cut costs, but reasonably maintain services for our citizens and businesses." 

John Lynn Gullickson: "The one specific policy I would like to try to push for if elected, is to increase the representation on the city council; perhaps add two to four more members."

"More viewpoints could add to better discussion of policy and direction. I would prefer more decision makers rather than fewer. A larger city council would counterbalance the influence of special interest groups like the Chamber of Commerce."  

Tom Hanson: "My primary objective would be to protect our property values by fighting against neighborhood blight.   We need to keep our city marketable and a community of choice, especially in this tough economy."  

"'Blight' means areas that, by reason of deterioration, faulty planning, improper land use, unmaintained land, or the existence of unsafe or unmaintained structures, or any combination of these factors, are detrimental to the safety, health or welfare of the community."

Bruce Johnson: "The specific policy that I would try to push for when elected would be immediately work to lower the high unemployment rate by bringing in successful new businesses, and increase tourism to our city."

When further asked precisely how he would accomplish these goals, Johnson wrote "By promoting Burnsville as a high-traffic, high-volume area of the Twin Cities with low tax rates, we can draw in new businesses. Also with the large amount of traffic we get from Iowa and southern Minnesota to Burnsville. We can promote our city to these areas with hotel deals, ski packages and discounts at the Burnsville Center, etc. to increase and expand our tourism."

Shane McCartney: "I would request the permission from council to shadow all of the city’s departments as well as ask for an audit of  the city’s finances to see where Burnsville truly stands in its expenses."

However, the City of Burnsville recently completed its annual audit in June. To clarify, Patch asked Mr. McCartney "Would the city audit completed in June be acceptable or would you advocate to undertake a new one?"

McCartney said, "There needs to be a second audit by the State. The business and citizens cannot afford another burden toward these 'field of dreams' concepts. I would recommend that the citizens still petition for an audit regardless if I am elected or not."

Greg Tomlinson: "Firing VenuWorks, disbanding the (Burnsville Performing Arts Center) Commission and hiring a director for the BPAC with outstanding qualifications in arts and entertainment."