Election 2008 Candidate Profiles

The Daily Journal polled candidates in the primary election for Minnesota Representative District 3A, and Koochiching County Commissioner Districts 3 and 5 seats.
Their answers to the following questions are provided mostly unedited.

County commissioner candidates were asked to provide the following information and answer the following questions.
1. Describe the top three goals you have if elected, and describe how you would achieve these goals.
2. What prompted you to seek this office?
3. During the past year, the Koochiching County Board has faced issues regarding state and federal wetlands laws. How would you urge development while addressing those challenges.

Koochiching County Commissioner District 3
Kallie Briggs, 51, 3675 County Road 21, International Falls
Education: I graduated from Falls High, attended Rainy River Community College, graduated from Institute for Organizational Management and am currently the county commissioner for District 3.
Relevant experience: My experience as commissioner and community leader has been and continues to be a learning one. My ability to collaborate with others, taking a team approach and making fair and balanced decisions adds to my experience.
1. Continue working with staff and employees on reorganizing/combining departments making county government efficient. Reevaluate, revitalize and provide cost effective services to county residents, and ensure employees have the tools needed to effectively do their job while wisely spending taxpayer’s dollars.
Continue to foster a climate for growth in building and construction in our county. County taxes have not increased because of the investment by citizens in new homes along the lake and river and the efficient delivery of services.
Continue working on economic development both within District 3 and county wide by staying involved with the gasification project, the sewer project extension to Sha~Sha, new water lines in Jameson, French Addition and Three Points North, the newly formed Koochiching Community Development Association, Backus Community Center and foreign trade zone. When reelected I will become Koochiching County Board chair and will recommend the board engage in another strategic planning session with citizen input. Our last adopted strategic plan was successfully implemented and carried out over the past three years.
2. As the incumbent commissioner, I am seeking this office to continue making a positive difference for our county. Four years ago residents of District 3 elected me to represent them and that is my first priority. While representing the citizens of District 3 my work has been on behalf of all county residents and employees. I have listened to concerns, issues and comments and do appreciate citizens who have taken time to call me. It would indeed be an honor to serve another four years for the residents of District
3. Wetlands are, and will be, an ongoing issue for not only Koochiching County but for all northern counties. Development is difficult because of the regulations the state and federal government has imposed. I represent the county on the Minnesota Rural Counties Caucus and as part of the team I was able to work with 26 other counties to seek changes in legislation regarding the wetlands issue. MRCC took a position seeking a change in the language of the federal legislation. Our initiative has been to change the language and not leave interpretation of the law to those who could make it more difficult for rural development. I will continue to work with federal and state officials as well as other counties to limit wetland restrictions in a county that is 96 percent wetlands. As a commissioner, I have supported county assistance with the hospital site on its ongoing wetland issue. My thoughts are to propose discussion on the employment of a county employee who would assist citizens and businesses with their wetland issues.

Paul Eklund, 57, 703 16th St. E., International Falls
Education: Two years college.
Relevant experience: Four years as East Ward Falls City councilor and four years as chair of the Human Resources Committee and member of Economic Development, Finance and Legislation and Infrastructure and Public Works committees for the city council. Member of Charter, Airport and Recreation commissions the last four years. Member of the city of International Falls Labor/Management Committee. Member of the Highway 53 Commission representing the city of International Falls. Five year president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1843 at Falls Memorial Hospital.
1. Goal 1: There is a widening gap between the city council and the county board. I would like to help bridge that gap by using the experiences I have had as a city councilor and as a union leader. I would attend city council meetings to update the council concerning county business. I would also listen to concerns and ideas from members of the county board, the city council, school district, business leaders and our citizens to try and resolve issues we all face together.
Goal 2: As a member of the Recreation Commission I have found that it is difficult for many parents to be able to have their kids participate in sports and other recreational activities because it costs too much. I would work for more collaboration between the county, school district and city so that every child that wants to participate can participate.
Goal 3: Find new opportunity as it arises. Follow the lead that community leaders have taken with ideas such as the gasification plant, riverfront development and the airport runway extension. All levels of government have been involved with these projects to bring them to success.
2. During the past four years I have worked to make our city government more open to the citizens. I would like the opportunity to represent the citizens of District 3 the same way.
3. During the past few years I have had the opportunity to be educated about the issues this county faces with wetlands and developing just about anything. The city council voted to make them a part of the wetland technical evaluation panel for the city of International Falls. Being part of the panel gave us the ability to ask questions. It can be such a confusing issue that it’s hard to even know what to ask. Developing wetlands is a complicated process that most of the time seems impossible to overcome. If one agency isn’t objecting to filling in some swamp another one will. A good start to urge development is education of the general public of the permitting process and the time it takes to get the development started. Then you work with good legislators like Tom Anzelc and Tom Saxhaug to get some rule changes like they did this year to make it a little easier for those of us who live in a county with more than 80 percent wetland. We need to keep on asking for exceptions for areas like Koochiching County.

My name is Sheila Johnson. I am 48 years old. I graduated from high school and got an associate of arts degree in computer-aided drafting. I am also a veteran of the U.S. Army where I served as a military police.
Most relevant to this campaign, though, is my experience as a small business owner here in the Falls. From that viewpoint I see economical development as a priority — not a sound bit or a nice thought if we have time to get around to it. Most folks in town make their paychecks regardless of the community’s economic growth. My fellow running mates have that kind of security. I see the issue from a different standpoint. I want the local business community represented at the table.
I believe many more assets of this county could be tapped to bring in money if the county commissioners were willing and able to do some hard work. I’m afraid to say this out loud but I believe it will take leadership at the county level to start talking differently about Voyageurs National Park. I know there are folks that lost a lot 25 years ago and have what I think are good reasons to be angry. That being said I want to see our leadership rise above that and move forward with the potential money making possibilities of that local asset. The first thing that has to happen though is that the bickering needs to stop. Deliberating is part of the debate process. It should bring out issues that make us all better informed. Bickering however is nonproductive and a luxury we cannot afford in this process when we have so much to do. Please remember part of what I bring to the table is my not being embedded. I have a clean slate and the ability and desire to dig for all the pertinent information.
As for the wetlands issue, what I believe is that we are stewards of a very valuable national asset, that is these wetlands. AND we will grow as a community. I do not believe the two are mutually exclusive. Once the city and county personalities quit with the disruptive posturing, there will be energy to spend on building through this issue. I am one to believe that this is the best country in the world. Few, very few things stymie us for long. If the wetlands issue is a federal one then we should tap federal resources to proceed with the projects that we need to continue to grow as a community.
If you feel things are fine the way they are, then either Kallie, Paul or Brian will do well. I am the only candidate in this race that has something new to bring to the table. My family has been in the service industry here on Rainy Lake for generations. Being of service in the community is a family value for me. If the folks of the third district would see me as their best representative I would be honored to serve.

Brian McBride, 58, 2311 Second Ave. E., International Falls
Education: 1968 Falls High School graduate; 1970 Rainy River Community College graduate; attended Bemidji State University.
Relevant Experience: 35 years Maintenance Department for Boise Cascade (20 years union member; 15 years supervisor); served on the initial BUCKS Safety Process Steering Committee for Boise which is an employee driven safety initiative; have served on negotiations committee for IWA union; past Falls Country Club Board member; assisted in the start up of the industrial technology program at RRCC; and presently a part time instructor at RRCC and member of Minnesota State College Faculty union.
1. Job preservation and economic development. We need to partner with other communities in the county, state and federal agencies, business entrepreneurs, and existing businesses to enhance the job and business climate within the county. We need to be aggressive in pursuing industry and job opportunities while maintaining focus on existing businesses and jobs in the county.
Improve communication between Koochiching County and the city of International Falls. We need to bring all parties to the table in a calm and non-threatening atmosphere and find solutions through discussions in a “win-win” manner. In the current economic climate, it is imperative these two entities work together for the common good of all.
Do not raise taxes. We need to be sensitive to what all county residents enjoy, such as good health, safety, security, and enjoyment of life while remaining within budget constraints in these difficult economic times.
2. I have always been interested in politics and now with working part time, I have the time it takes to be a dedicated commissioner. Improving communication between the city of International Falls and Koochiching County is an important aspect of this office. With my past job experiences, I have the necessary skills to make a difference.
3. We need more commissioner involvement in the wetland issues. We need to continue to press all state and federal officials to find amicable solutions. The battle International Falls is experiencing with wetland rules and regulations is now being felt by other towns and it will also be felt by outlying areas such as Jameson and French Addition along with the entire county. We need to fight for our constituents on each and every wetland issue at the legislative level and in the courts.

Koochiching County Commissioner District 5
Mike Hanson, 59, 1740 County Road 86N, Birchdale
Education: Falls High School — college credits.
Relevant experience: Six years School District 363 Board member — chair experience; 12 years Koochiching County Board — chair experience; 14 years North Star Electric Board of Directors — current secretary/treasurer
1. Enhance and mend partnerships; explore ways to further communication with constituents; relieve or greatly reduce taxpayer of solid waste disposal expense.
1) Seek to forge compromises and find cooperative avenues to work together in a positive atmosphere with other units of government including exploring the creation of a countywide law enforcement/emergency services initiative. Seek the council of our neighboring counties to identify areas that have the potential to share financial responsibility and jointly deliver core or mandated services. Continue discussions with our area state and federal elected officials to lessen the burden on the local taxpayers by examining the mandated services that fall to the county without revenue streams attached.
2) The goal remains unchanged: make sure the taxpayer receives as much information as possible about Kooch County government. Continue to publish weekly newspaper columns, keep penning a daily log of the issues and activities that monthly befall me and send it to the organized city councils in Kooch Commissioner District 5, the school board of District 363, the supervisors of the Kooch Soil and Water Board and a number of other folks and organizations that have been mentors. I continue to publish and advertise a toll free telephone number to facilitate contact.
3) Koochiching County pays more for solid waste disposal than any other county per capita in the state. I will aggressively continue efforts to bring to reality the Renewable Energy Clean Air Project using our garbage as a renewable energy resource. Currently the feasibility study is underway and more than $4 million in federal and state funding has been awarded to the project to explore the potential of plasma gasification technology. It will greatly enhance and improve our current waste stream program, reduce costs, create renewable energy jobs and is simply the right thing to do.
2. I have always felt I could make a difference and feel there is tangible proof.
3. I sought the advice of our local folks and state professionals who deal with the wetland laws on a daily basis. Firstly our state legislators were successful in their last session to make changes that may have the potential for Kooch to build a larger wetland banking system but legislative efforts at both the federal and state levels must be continued to make the replacement ratios easier to work with. The bureaucracy and the sheer size of it make it very difficult to delineate and identify what are and what are not wetlands. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stance that they have jurisdiction over all wetlands has expanded the challenge. It appears that currently the best way to wrestle with the impacts is to be up front about what you are going to do, address the impacts and while not ideal work though it. Comments ranged from making the forms less complex and easier, no valid consistency, the zealous overlapping of jurisdictions and lastly the whole process is overwhelming and there is no common sense need for it. I strongly suspect that on the horizon an issue will result in drawing the proverbial line in the sand.

Louis Kurhais, 67, 4660 Hwy. 71, Littlefork
Education: Two years college towards an engineering degree and many management and leadership seminars and training sessions.
Relevant experience: Local resident for 21 years. President of Mokena, Ill., Chamber of Commerce. President of Mokena, Ill., Cable Access League. Commissioner on the Mokena, Ill., Economic Development Commission. Board member of Kankakee, Ill., State Hospital Work Advisory Board. Small business owner for 15 years. Organized an engineering department and instituted a quality program at two companies.
1. 1) Economy! Koochiching County has been in a depression for the last 20 years, at least, while all the time having formal economic development program. After spending millions of dollars our economy has continued to decline; job losses, population losses, etc., etc., etc. This economic development activity, under various names, has displayed a complete lack of capability relative to this very necessary endeavor.
The Koochiching Economic Development Authority must be completely reorganized from top to bottom, with a new director that is proficient in attracting employers that would compliment our area, and increase the employment of the area; with good, well paying jobs, while all the time retaining our existing jobs.
I would use my leadership capabilities and experiences to achieve this objective.
2) Strive to institute a system of oversight, accountability and frugality in all activities in the county. The county has, literally, wasted our tax dollars on frivolous, or incomplete projects.
I can use my budgeting and decision making experience as both a small business owner and industry management positions to accomplish this task. And, hopefully stabilize or reduce our taxes.
3) Investigate instituting a county-wide smoking cessation program and drug assistance for needy seniors that are electing to “do without” certain drugs because they can’t afford them, especially when they enter the “donut hole” under the Medicare Part D drug program. Either with direct assistance or through a supplemental insurance program.
I believe that there may still be funds available from the tobacco settlement of a few years ago to fund the smoking cessation program. I feel we can fund a senior drug benefit from the money we save by reducing our spending on frivolous projects.
2. I decided to seek the office of county commissioner because I finally just got fed up with our declining economy and frivolous spending.
3. Relative to wetlands issues. I had a recent conversation with the Koochiching Soil and Water Conservation District. According to the information I received, most all wetlands issues in the county have been settled or are currently being mitigated.
Wetlands issues are here to stay. Ignoring them, defying them, or neglecting enforcement have cost the county a lot of money and have degraded our reputation with various experiences.
However, for future development, the county must identify sites in a comprehensive plan or land use plan, and if wetland is an issue, revise the site to a different location. If that’s not possible, work towards mitigation before it becomes an impediment that would delay or even threaten the completion of the project. In other words — foresight!

Louis Slapnicker, 205 Second St., Box 44, Big Falls
I was born in 1938 at Hibbing. After graduating from high school, I attended a trade school to become the youngest professional bricklayer in Ohio.
I have been in the construction trade all of my life, working in Ohio, Virginia, Texas, Arizona and Minnesota. Most of the time it was as the supervisor of major construction projects. I am a lifetime member of the International Union of Bricklayers and the Allied Craft Workers.
I developed a comprehensive growth plan for Evansville (Douglas County, Minn.) that has resulted in advancing the economy of that area.
2. I have been a resident of Big Falls for four years and became concerned with the lack of change that a progressive economy demands to stay viable. We cannot continue with the old status quo. We are the forgotten county of Minnesota and I’m radical for the need for change. Change may be hard and hurt but must be accomplished. That has prompted me to run as District 5 county commissioner.
1. The top three goals that are necessary for our county to compete in today’s business market are:
(1) to get the local, state and federal politicians, officials and agencies working together for the common development of the county which also support of our timber industry. There are a number of projects right now that are being delayed by the lack of agencies working together for the development goal. Besides the trash burner and the peat project, wood chips as an alternative for heating fuel needs to be brought online but can be only if the forest management structure also becomes supportive of it. Why waste our most abundant resource?
(2) We must work to attract outside businesses and their jobs by contacting stable potential ones with incentives and creating resources that will encourage their locating here.
(3) Part of our economy is based upon tourist trade and expanding that may be done by locating another state park in the middle or southern area of my district. Perhaps even damming one of the rivers to create a lake and hydroelectric generating station are options to consider. We must look ahead and work toward future renewable sources of electricity. At the same time, it may be well to explore relocating the Koochiching County courthouse more in the center of the county as another fuel-saving concept.
3. The wetland issues cannot be solved unless the different agencies, politicians and officials start working together for the development of Koochiching County as an industry-based economy. There must be exceptions created in the present wetland rule structure for Koochiching County. We must put pressure on to bring those exceptions along with educating both Washington and St. Paul of our unique situation.

Minnesota Representative District 3A
Because incumbent Tom Anzelc and Marv Ott are running unopposed as the Democrat and Republican candidate for office, they will move on to the November general election. Their profiles will be provided as a part of the general election coverage.
The primary election will narrow the field between W.D. (Bill) Hamm and Chris Pfeifer, the two candidates seeking the position on the Independence ticket
1. Why are you seeking this office?
2. What do you see as the two most important challenges facing District 3A and how would you address them?
3. What do you want to tell voters about yourself that may convince to vote for you?

W.D. (Bill) Hamm, Bovey
1. Most of my adult life has been as an activist for causes such as education, forest management, proper wetland management, real economic development, and issues related to those below the median income level. While some of this knowledge has been paid for by public monies most has been born of necessity, in keeping with a lifelong tradition I would like the opportunity to put this knowledge to work for those I’ve served.
2. First, land development and how we control it. Then it's about taking back control of so many of our institutions such as education, Department of Transportation, Social Service, forestry, Department of Natural Resources, law enforcement and the list goes on of our organizations which have effectively relinquished control to the federal government for the carrot on the string (money). This Socialist invasion has to stop before we have nothing left of our government but the flag.
3. While I hold three vocational degrees I have spent all but two years of my working life below median income, by moving I could have made more but raising my children in the northland took precedence so we lived through the hard times that were the 80's.
When not working additional education and public involvement kept me from feeling too sorry for myself a habit that has made a tremendous difference in my life and understanding of it. Politically the biggest life lesson is learning that if your willing to give away the glory you can get a heck of a lot more done. As an Independence Party candidate I have no party machine to answer to, no authority to keep me from doing what must be done to get the job done. Much like (former state Sen.) Bob Lessard in his last term I would truly be serving you and I would take that as a sacred honor.
My focus this election will be on those groups not being served well by either party such as medicinal marijuana for our sick, industrial hemp for our farmers, an end to forest certification so we can again compete, support for tobacco addicts and hatred for the companies who addicted them, men's rights, uniform fishing regulations, and an end to catch and kill slot limits. Remember, I can't do anything without your support at the Sept. 9 primary, thanks.

Chris Pfeifer, 41 year old politician, southern Koochiching County; Campaign Web site: cp-for-3a.com; To contact: 218-897-5079, chris@cp-for-3a.com
1. The core issue in the 3A primary is one of ideology. Should candidates raise and spend money to influence elections? My opponent says yes, it’s necessary. I say no, political fundraising and campaign spending degrade the democratic process; if you must spend money, at least spend your own.
2. When we had a big surplus I said save it, hard times are coming. We didn’t save it and now hard times are here, and we have no money to work with. Life is too expensive and paychecks are too small. Our state should restrict the labor pool by hiring more workers. This will cause low wage earners to see bigger paychecks. Making full employment a state policy will magnify the effect, even if we start small.
3. I bring fresh ideas and more honest speaking to the contest. Without me, this election becomes a matter of marketing, whoever sells themselves best wins. A candidate who will tell the truth forces the others to shape-up, and that's good for everybody.