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The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents October 2014 It’s election season!Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. In Arden Hills, three people are running uncontested for City offices. Mayor David Grant filed to serve another term. Council Member Fran Holmes also filed to keep her seat. Council Mem- ber Ed Werner decided to retire; former mayor and council member Robert Woodburn filed to take his place. Learn more about the election and about Arden Hills polling places on page 4 of this newsletter. Below you’ll find a statement by each candidate. Linda and I purchased our home in Arden Hills in 1989 when our son Brian was three years old and our daughter Amy was only two weeks old. We were looking for a place to raise a family. Like most parents, we wanted a safe neighborhood and an out- standing school district. In addition, both being raised on farms, we wanted a city that had plenty of natural open space, yet close to employment. We settled in Arden Hills and have rejoiced in that decision over the years. As Brian and Amy were growing up, I realized just how much a gem Arden Hills is, and I decided to fill an open seat on the City Council in January of 2000. I felt it was my way to give back to a community that has given so much to enrich our lives. After being re-elected in 2004 and 2008, I chose to run for Mayor in 2010, believ- ing that Arden Hills has opportunities and challenges that need leadership, and my time on the Council had prepared me for the task ahead. Candidate’s statement: As I started as Mayor in 2010, I knew that we needed to make things happen on a variety of fronts. The largest of which was the redevelopment of TCAAP. In a down economy we couldn’t just wait for a developer to step forward, nor could we For the past eight years, I have had the privilege of representing the residents on the Ar- den Hills City Council. I have resided in Arden Hills with my family for over 25 years. My two adult daughters attended the Mounds View School system, and my husband Jeff is employed by Mounds View High School. My older daughter Carolyn teaches kin- dergarten in Colorado, and my younger daughter Corinne is a social worker in Minneapolis. Working in downtown St. Paul, I am an attorney employed by the Department of the Treasury. I am a graduate of Northwestern Univer- sity (Chicago, IL) BA, Indiana University MLS and JD, and New York University, LL.M. I am a member of Centennial United Methodist Church. For the past year, I was President of the Arden Hills Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedi- cated to improving life in Arden Hills for the people who reside and work here. Candidate’s statement: As an Arden Hills City Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem, my philosophy is to make sensible, proactive decisions that improve our City while still maintaining our safe, tree-lined streets and vibrant neighborhoods. I communicate and listen carefully to the views of our residents. As I have lived in the same residence in Arden Hills for 62 years. I was a pathologist in St. Paul and the owner of a hard- ware store for 18 years, and I am now retired. My association with the public affairs of Arden Hills started with the Arden Association, a civic involvement group composed of many Arden Hills residents. Among other things, we started the Town Crier, the forerunner of the Arden Hills Notes. From 1969 I served on six commit- tees and commissions, including the Plan- ning Commission (chair) and the Finance Committee. This was followed by seven years on the City Council and seven more years as Mayor of Arden Hills. I have the interest and time to serve again on the Arden Hills Council. Candidate’s statement: Most issues before the City Council require balancing an array of potential benefits and costs, such as inconvenience, diminished aesthetics, and increases in taxes. In my decision-making process, I am committed to seeking the input of resi- dents and to weighing the best available information with an open mind. I do not bring a specific agenda to the position of council member, but I bring a commitment to actively support a decision-making Fran Holmes, City CouncilDavid Grant, Mayor Robert Woodburn, City Council All candidate statements continue on page 4