About three years ago while watching a Duluth area local news program, they had a segment on replacing the sheriff ’s building in Cook County. I could not believe what I was hearing since there was no discussion of that topic in Cook County and besides, the current building looked new. A public discussion of the topic started maybe 18 months ago and there was significant voter resistance to the new sheriff ’s building proposal. I recall two major articles in the Cook County News Herald from sheriff ’s department staff trying to justify the project. Both were weak and somewhat misleading. I recall that one of the points made was that the windows leaked! Where was management and the Board of Supervisors?
There was also organized voter objection to the new building proposal and one of the leading figures in the movement was Bob Svaleson. He was instrumental in the gathering of relevant information and presenting a factual assessment of the issues surrounding the new building proposal. Due to the efforts of the group, along with other voter input, the Board of Commissioners finally stopped the project. I believe the voters of Cook County “dodged a bullet” so to speak. Bob’s concern for the voters/taxpayers of Cook County and his role in getting the new sheriffs building project stopped, occurred long before anyone dreamt there would be an opening for a District 1 commissioner.
Bob is also a firefighter and EMS first responder on the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department and a North Shore Health ambulance crew member.
I have found Bob to be one of the most effective communicators I have observed, which includes my professional career. I know who I would like as an advocate.
Glenn Gilyard, a County
property owner of 45+
years,
Hovland
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