Patch Candidate Profile: Michael Bestler For ISD 833 School Board

SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY, MN — This fall, Woodbury and Cottage Grove residents will vote on school board members for South Washington County Schools.

Michael Bestler is one of nine 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): 72

Position Sought: ISD 833 School Board Member At Large

Party Affiliation

None: Family: Wife-Louise, 71

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

Education: Degree in Machine Design from St Paul College

Occupation: Retired

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None

Campaign website: Facebook page

Why are you seeking elective office?:

I have always felt it was important to give back to the community in which you lived. I have lived in SoWashCo for 60 years and have always given back in some form or another.

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

Financing. I hope to show the public how important it is to finance our children’s education and see how we can better spend our tax dollars.

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

I believe that all the candidates are trying to reach the same goal. They want what is best for the students education. I have been involved with the district from a lot of different positions from student to employee and therefore know a lot of people within the district. They know I’m very easy to communicate with and they can come to me with issues or ideas to make 833 better .

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

I feel the board could have been more prudent with tax payer monies. But nobody could have seen the pandemic and what that would do to the education system.

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

Again no one could have foreseen the problems the pandemic would have caused. It wasn’t something you could go to past practice on.they were trying to do what they thought was best for the general population

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

My platform is quite simple. I want what is best for all students so all can get the best education possible.

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

Whatever I have done as always been to improve whatever I’m involved with. I’m not a braggart. I’ve been able to root out and find issues that need to be addressed and then found ways to fix them.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don’t let praise go to your head or criticism to your heart

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

I know I would be a great fit for this school board. Every committee should have someone from different walks of life so an issue can be seen through different eyes and not from the same background. The body is made of different parts for good reason. Given the opportunity I would make sure all avenues are looked at before making decisions that effect the students well being and education at 833.