Golden Valley City Councilmember DeDe Scanlon Won't Seek Re-Election This Fall

When DeDe Scanlon first decided to run for Golden Valley City Council she learned that listening to people would be the most important part of serving.

"I met a man who told me to keep in mind what happens in one area affects the whole," Scanlon said. "I always remembered that with the decisions I faced."

And she never stopped listening to people. In fact, it's been a big part of why she decided to serve on the Council and many other committees, boards and groups in the community during the years. Serving has been the driving force for most her life's work professionally and personally.

Scanlon grew up in south Minneapolis and has lived in Golden Valley since the late 70s. She's been married to her husband Tom since 1969 and has five children and 10 grandchildren with number 11 on its way this summer.

She always knew she'd want to get involved with local government and serve on a council or committees, but waited to run for City Council until her children were out of high school and no longer working part-time in the parks and recreation summer programs through the city.

"This is an incredible place to raise a family that's why people come back," Scanlon said. "I'm grateful for my time on the council and to those who elected me. I feel I stayed true to what I've said and done."

After nine years on the council Scanlon is looking forward to spending more time with family, friends, volunteer opportunities and traveling with her husband Tom who retires from his job at the end of this year.

"I believe in term limits and eight years has been a great time for me," she said. "There are now other things I want to try."

Scanlon announced she wouldn't be seeking re-election this fall at the May 21 council meeting at the same time as longtime Councilmember Paula Pentel. Neither knew about the other's intent to announce that they weren't running again at the same meeting.

"It's been a great way to serve the community that I live in," she said. "I'm excited to see who will run this fall."

Scanlon has been glad to be apart of so many changes, developments and improvement projects in the city facing them head despite the challenges along the way and sometimes being a minority vote on the council.

"The hardest thing is you can't make everyone happy," she said. "Not everyone is going to agree with you, but I'm glad our council has people on it looking at both sides. I hope whoever comes on board next keeps that same balance."

Scanlon said she was never afraid of asking whatever she needed to in order to make the most informed decisions possible.

"If it's something I believe in I've been very vocal in supporting that belief," she said. "That's something I've seen shown by many residents over the years whether its about chickens or about Bottineau."

She's never regretted her actions or speaking up when she has, Scanlon said.

Being service-oriented, Scanlon has been proud to be a part of working on Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Bridge Builders, housing maintenance programs, the Douglas Drive corridor study, pavement management plans, being involved with school district's work like the Robbinsdale Area Schools Divestiture Committee as a city representative and much more.

She hopes to see public input being a bigger part of the Bottineau Transitway project and growing the community base with younger families coming in the future.

"Golden Valley has a great city staff and had some strong leaders," Scanlon said. "I hope to see that strength continue. I don't have a lot of worries for the future."

Scanlon will continue to keep her commitments on community groups and service-oriented involvement. Golden Valley is her home and she plans to enjoy it more than ever and looks forward to future generations doing so also.