ABC newspapers reported last week before filings closed that at least four had filed:
David Jeffrey, who is battling pancreatic cancer, resigned May 31.
Candidates have until Friday, June 24 to file and paid the $5 filing fee.
As of today (June 23), four people have filed.
• Brenda Look, 5635 142nd Ave. N.W.
• former Councilmember Sarah Strommen, 14546 Krypton St. N.W.
• Thomas J. Towberman, 14991 Waco St. N.W.
• Tim Wrenn, 14712 Fluorine St. N.W.
This link for more of the ABC report.
There will be a short period where filed candidates can withdraw. I did the file-withdraw thing last election, it is a five-dollar fee to file, and I withdrew because I did not really want to campaign and serve at that time. I was satisfied that the primary included people I could support.
This special election will be without a primary, so all filing individuals who do not exercise the opportunity to withdraw will have their names on the special election ballot.
Certainly a filed candidate can later publicly indicate a change-of-mind, but that will not strike the name from the ballot.
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I know nothing of Towberman or Wrenn. I believe Towberman ran previously against Jeffrey, but am unsure about that. I am unaware if others besides those four filed subsequent to the ABC report.
Normal protocol is for the City Clerk on the website - elections subpage - to post names and contact for all candidates remaining after the withdrawal period, so that should be posted sometime this week.
Look: Brenda Look appears to be wedded to the idea of pushing the Town Center string - per the attempt to resuscitate that CORpse.
The City of Ramsey’s HRA owns 150 acres of land located near City Hall. This land (The COR) is the key to the financial future and stability for Ramsey. Increasing the commercial tax base will offset the taxes needed to be collected from citizens and provide us with services, employment, and enjoyment.
Big surprise, the mayor endorses her, (as does her spouse and Dustin Reeder, the guy who did her campaign website). The flavor is strongly ultra-right-wing GOP at first sight. We may learn more. I have no knowledge of what qualifications Look offers, in terms of education, public sector experience, or private sector experience. She touts Matt's sign printing home-business operation as, "small business owner," but beyond that I have no knowledge. Other than, "Matt's wife," I need to learn more.
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| This Link. Find a Democrat or IP person on that Page. |
Strommen: Sarah Strommen would add to the institutional memory on council, where all (except Elvig) have not served a full term; and where only Elvig's term of service exceeds Strommen's council service. Each was elected to council 2002, with Strommen interrupting her service while she and Jon expanded their family with the birth of their son, William. Strommen served two terms, a full six years, finishing a full term beginning 2004, and having a two-year term when the Ward system was instituted in 2002, (where the remaining two at large seat terms were staggered). She did not seek reelection in 2008.
Strommen was on council when James Norman left, and when Kurt Ulrich was selected to replace him as lead administrator. On staff, Kapler, Way, Olson, Lund, Thieling, and Nelson predate Strommen's council service, as does Goodrich as city attorney; but all of those people have implementation duty with policy making being the council's power and function.
Strommen earned her master's degree from Duke if I remember correctly, and besides having council experience she has extensive employment history in the private sector, primarily regarding environmental advocacy and public lands.
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I am unaware if Dave Jeffrey has any viewpoint about possible successor candidates for the remainder of his Ward 4 term. He has not told me of any, nor have I pressed him about it. I am outside of that Ward and have no vote.
Readers valuing Dave's viewpoint, particularly those who reside in Ward 4 and would be voting, should ask Dave.
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ABC Newspapers traditionally allows candidate viewpoints to be published, fairly with set questions and word-count limited responses; but has the vexing precedent of not posting that helpful voter-oriented information online. Buy the print edition or remain in the dark.
Because of that I might take that identical approach, with a Crabgrass opportunity for each of the candidates to define himself or herself, (in some balanced and controlled fashion with specific questions and word count limits, but without any editorial interference [including grammar and spell-checking]). My questions may differ in some details from those of ABC, so that even those buying the print edition with candidate statements might learn more, if I do solicit and post responses. I have not made any firm decision to do that yet.