Candidate Profiles: Cloquet City Council Ward 5

Question 1: How does your past experience, job or education qualify you to serve on the Cloquet City Council?

Question 2: What are the top three issues facing the city right now and how should they be addressed?

Question 3: 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 further cut Local Government Aid)?

Mark Roberts

Question 1:

I am a 25 year resident of the City of Cloquet and a lifetime Northeastern Minnesotan. Over that time I have tried to serve my community by volunteering on several committees such as the Lumberjack Days Committee, the St. Louis River Trail Committee, the Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Cloquet Planning Commission, and the past 13 months as the Cloquet City Councilor representing Ward 5. My 32 year career in Civil Engineering as a Designer, Construction Inspector, and Project Manager has led me to my present position as the Senior Laboratory Services Coordinator for the UMD School of Civil Engineering. My years of volunteerism and job experience have given me the leadership skills needed to be a visionary decision maker on the council.

Question 2:

A) Providing core services is our first and foremost job on the council. In spite of constant cuts in Local Government Aid from the state and growing operating costs, the city has continued to provide these services seamlessly. I will work to continue this legacy.

B) By promoting sound sustainable economic development that adds value to our community, we can have job and community growth that can expanded the tax base to help ease the burden for all.

C) We live in a great active and growing community. By supporting business and active living opportunities, we can maintain and expand on all that we cherish about this community for generations.

Question 3:

A) Past and present councils have worked hard successfully over the past eight years to budget in a manner so as to absorb LGA cuts without losing jobs or integrity of service. I will continue to support this proactive approach.

B) The local option sales tax is a perfect example of a method that can be used to enhance the quality of services and continue to build for the future at a minimum impact to our residents. Not only does this option provide resources needed for construction and maintenance costs, but, it also can be used to cover the preliminary and matching costs needed to apply for much larger grants. I fully support this option.

C) As I stated above the city has worked hard to cut its budget by over 1 million dollars a year for the past eight years. While this does put a strain on how services get delivered, Councilors, Administrators and Staff have accepted this challenge successfully. As issues arise, they will need to be evaluated and if needed I will support appropriate cuts to any area that does not compromise our ability to deliver those core services that are our responsibility to provide.

Steve Langley did not reply, nor did he attend the candidate forum.

Tags: election 2012, candidate profiles, city elections, cloquet