Meet your new Cloquet City Council members

Dave Manderfeld

What made you decide to run for Cloquet City Council? How does your past experience, job or education qualify you to serve?

The reason I decided to run for office is simply stated: “I want to participate in setting policy and give back to the community that has been good to me and my family.” In regards to my qualifications, I fall back on my education, job and life experience, and additional community involvement. I have a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from UMD. Secondly, my 17 years at USG Interiors, Inc. has given me valuable experience in logistics, administration, purchasing, safety and production management. In addition, I have been serving for the last seven years on the board of directors for the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) and four years on the Cloquet Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Lastly, I feel my experiences living in this community virtually all my life has given me valuable knowledge of its culture, values, and expectations.

What are the top three issues facing the city right now and how should they be addressed?

1. Job creation: Bring good paying jobs to our community. Even though government is not in the business to create jobs, the city does have the ability to attract industry by way of an arsenal of various tools. Some of those include the creation and marketing of an industrial park; tax increment financing; Job-Z; and the Economic Development Authority (EDA). I plan on utilizing and exploring further the use of these valuable tools.

2. Local Government Aid (LGA): The city has already lost $5.5 million in LGA funding since 2003. This will take working closely with city staff, legislators, EDA, and who ever needed to brain storm new opportunities.

3. Affordable housing for low income families: This again will take brainstorming and further learning of the processes and tools available.

Other than finding greater efficiencies, what areas would you look to trim first if there are unexpected budget deficits (for example, should the state choose to cut LGA even more than the city is already betting in its budget)

Again, the city has already lost $5.5 million in LGA funding since 2003 and it seems clear more cuts in funding are expected – the crisis is here. I have been following the council for many months and their cost-savings measures, we now have to look for innovative ways to further reduce spending and yet keep essential services for our taxpayers. The fire district is a good example of local communities banding together in a cooperative effort to save tax dollars, and yet improving overall service.

How can residents contact you to discuss city issues?

Residents can either call 218-590-3083 or e-mail davidmanderfeld@yahoo.com.

Roger Maki

What made you decide to run for Cloquet City Council? How does your past experience, job or education qualify you to serve?

My wife suggested last spring that I run for city council. I had thought about doing so for many years, but had not run due to family and work commitments. I have been interested in politics since my teen years, although I have never been a member of any political party. I served the city for six years as a member of what was then the Cloquet Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals. I have a Bachelor of Science degree from UMD, with my main areas of study being social science and political science. My career in real estate spans more than 40 years. I have owned and/or managed three different real estate companies, for a total of 25 years, and I was a certified appraiser for many years. I believe that my knowledge of real estate and my communication and negotiations skills will help me be an effective councilor. I grew up in Esko, but have lived in Cloquet for over 39 years.

What are the top three issues facing the city right now and how should they be addressed?

1. Housing: I believe the city should be actively engaged in addressing the issue of foreclosures, especially in cases where the homes have fallen into disrepair. I want to explore whether the city can lend money for people to buy, fix up and live in these homes, or whether it would be feasible for the city to buy some of these homes, hire workers to fix them up and then sell them, mainly to low- or moderate-income buyers. Also, I think the city should do what it can to encourage the construction of affordable rental housing for low-income families.

2. Business Development: I hope to be involved in helping new businesses come to Cloquet and in helping local businesses expand. Cloquet’s Economic Development Authority is already working hard in this area and is cooperating with Carlton County, so hopefully we will see good results soon, which would bring much needed jobs to our area.

3. City Revenue and Spending: Minnesota’s large budget deficit is making it very difficult for cities to do accurate budgeting, since the city does not know how much money it will receive in Local Government Aid (LGA). This topic is probably the city’s biggest challenge long-term.

Other than finding greater efficiencies, what areas would you look to trim first if there are unexpected budget deficits (for example, should the state choose to cut LGA even more than the city is already betting in its budget)?

I will need to fully understand all the aspects of the city’s operating budget before taking positions on this issue. I will work very hard with the mayor, city council, city administrator and city finance director in determining how to deal with these very significant challenges. It is also imperative that I work with my constituents in Ward 3 to understand their needs and priorities. I believe that the city of Cloquet provides a very high level of service to its citizens, but I realize that hard choices will need to be made in order to continue the city’s history of financial stability.

How can residents contact you to discuss city issues?

I can be contacted at my home office number, 218-878-0404, or by e-mail at rogmaki@msn.com.

Tags: city council, news, cloquet