Four candidates are running for the District 5 commissioner seat in the West End, three are running for office in District 3 and only one, Bobby Deschampe, is running for District 1.
With the upcoming August primary election just around the corner, the field will be pared to two candidates in District 3 and District 5. Bobby Deschampe is unopposed in District 1.
This week the Cook County News- Herald will feature the candidates competing in the District 5 primary. Those candidates are Bruce Martinson, Don McKeever, Bruce Zimpel and incumbent Ginny Storlie, who is running to retain her seat.
Each candidate received the same questions.
First, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Bruce Martinson
Bruce Martinson:
I was born in Duluth, Minn., moving from the Twin Cities to Cook County 26 years ago. My education includes a B.A. degree in business administration minoring in biology and economics from Bethel University. Additional MBA coursework was taken from St. Thomas University. My wife, Sheryl, is the lead Saplings teacher at Birch Grove Community School. We have three children: Ryan (25), graduating last month from UCLA with a master’s degree in evolutionary medicine; Kyle (23), an actuary analyst with Securian in St. Paul, and Alyssa (18), starting her sophomore year at Bethel University. In the past, I have enjoyed traveling, scuba diving and canoeing in the BWCA.
Don McKeever:
I am a fourth-generation resident of Cook County. I attended elementary school at Birch Grove in Tofte – went to Cook County High School, graduated in 1984. I went to Anoka Tech for construction electrical. Worked as a construction supervisor for a few years and then started a 20-man electrical company that is still in operation today in the Twin Cities.
Don McKeever
Fourteen years ago I moved back to Cook County to take over the family owned well drilling business.
I am married and have two children (fifth generation) that were raised in Cook County and went to school here.
I enjoy skiing—fishing—hunting— ATV riding – and cooking.
Ginny Storlie:
After being elected almost four years ago, I believe I can continue to serve the constituents and the county with an open mind and ear. To hear thoughts and concerns are extremely important and then search for the best conclusion.
Bruce Zimpel:
I am a 1976 Cook County High School graduate. After high school, I spent four years in the Air Force. I came home, and I still live in and own the family homestead. People that know me understand that I love to fish. I love to hunt deer, pick agates, hike, and take pictures of landscapes and animals.
Ginny Storlie
Why are you interested in serving as a Cook County commissioner?
Martinson: “I am interested in serving you as county commissioner to return the county to fiscal stability, sustainable staffing, and reasonable tax levies. Cook County needs to be run like a business.”
Bruce Zimpel
McKeever: Most of the problems that are in the county today are the same problems of 34 years ago when I was growing up here, and it seems nobody has come up with a solution to the issues of housing, jobs with livable wages or zoning. I also want to give a voice back to the people that have not been heard.
Storlie: The present board has begun the process of looking to the future 10 to 15 years out while dealing with the day-to-day immediate decisions. I have no personal agenda. Only to use this opportunity to make a difference and work for the common good.
Zimpel: I chose to run for county commissioner because of my concern for the environment and the rising taxes in Cook County. I worked hard to get people’s attention about the erosion into Poplar River. I would have to say that I am an environmentalist. I care about the land, water, the fish, and animals.
I am coming out of retirement to bring a voice to things that concern not just me, but many people in the West End and in the county. If I am elected, I won’t be a “yes” person on the county board. I will come up with a different approach. If I don’t know something, I will find someone who does know more than I do and learn about a subject before I vote on it. I will come at things with a different approach.
What background or life experiences do you have that you feel qualify you to serve as a county commissioner?
Martinson: A “Knowledge of local, state and county governance has been obtained through my 12 years as Cook County commissioner and eight years as a Schroeder Township supervisor. I have learned lessons on fiscal management as owner/manager of Superior Ridge Resort Motel since 1993. My work experience includes working at a large bank as an EEO coordinator in Human Resources and as a customer banking representative in the branch offices.”
McKeever: When living in the Twin Cities, I started an electrical company from scratch with three other people. Before that, I was a construction supervisor solving problems and working with budgets. Now I run a well drilling company in Cook County. I also have sat on a school board and helped start a school.
Storlie: The biggest background experience would be the curiosity of how things work. Being a multi-business owner I am aware that working together as a community brings the greater good. So that equals collaboration experience. Serving as a Lutsen Township supervisor led me to problem solving. Volunteering on the West End boards brought specific decision making. So bringing these skills: community awareness, collaboration, how things work, and being responsive to questions and concerns are some of the qualities I bring to the board.
Zimpel: I have a background working for the Forest Service. I worked on building trails, and planted trees.
In the mid-1980s I went to the DNR asking them to post signs for trout streams. They did. That was my idea. Over the years I’ve grown to care dearly about the rivers and lakes. I think people know that about me. I can’t go to a place of business where people don’t ask me about fishing. I have an active community background. Plus, I’ve got some wit and can make people laugh. I will be very approachable.
As a candidate for commissioner, what would you like to see done differently by the county board if you are elected? Or do you feel the county board fairly represents the majority of voters in its decision-making and doesn’t need to change?
Martinson: To better inform the public of county decision making, the county board needs to return to transparency. The board needs to video record all meetings held in the boardroom with a quorum of commissioners present.
The board should return to commissioners individually giving reports on WTIP after each board meeting. As before, email addresses of county department heads should be added to the county website. Public attendance at the county board meetings tends to be dominated by persons residing within Grand Marais for the obvious reason of proximity to their home. An occasional meeting of the whole should be held elsewhere in the county, or public hearings on issues primarily affecting our district should be held in the West End.
As done by most businesses having public contact, the county staff should have customer relations training.
McKeever: I would like to see more transparency and fiscal responsibility. Need to hold more people accountable – from the department heads for their decisions for their departments. They need to have two to three key goals that county and department heads are aware of.
Storlie: Over the past two to three years we have accomplished a lot of progressive ideas, which has led to doing things differently. We employed county administrators who implement government policy and work with the board in public service. We supported the committee of the Whole idea as a better way to hear concerns through dialog.
During the budget process, we added representation from each district. Flexibility is the key to responding to change. I will continue to evaluate and be responsive to what is best in the interest of all people.
Zimpel: Yes, the board needs to change. We don’t need “yes” people on the board. Before making any decisions, I will think and reflect before voting. If I don’t know something, I would be very good at finding someone who knows more about a topic than I do and get the information that I need. I will be more of a hands-on person. I will keep learning and promise to be open and listen.
In closing, Cook County has led all Minnesota counties with the highest levy the last two years. Do you see any way to bring our levy down to two-three percent, or less, in the next four years, the length of the term that you are running for?
Martinson: “Levy increases of 17.5 percent and 11.2 percent are not acceptable to a majority of Cook County taxpayers. With the depletion of the fund balance and the burden of additional staffing over the last three years, bringing the levy down 2 to 3 percent will be next to impossible without some reduction in staffing and copayment of benefits by employees.
“A county our size doesn’t need a full-time Emergency Management director with PR responsibilities added. Recently, the board voted to add a PR communications assistant. These positions are defending the status quo of the board and administrator.
“One option is to look at sharing an Emergency Management director with Lake County. The county board should reevaluate the need for a full-time Parks and Trails director.
“After two years, anticipated revenues to support the position from timber sales and land management of limited county lands have not materialized. The board should review the need for any staff replacement at the time of a resignation.
“As done by previous boards, the county needs to lobby the state to completely fund mandated state services. The replacement of graders and dump trucks by the county should be extended with a schedule like that of St. Louis and Koochiching counties which keep their equipment one or two years longer. The schedule should be in hours or miles used and not years. If elected, I will be part of the team to bring down the levy.”
McKeever: To bring the levy down everybody is going to need to be more fiscally responsible and have the goals set by the commissioners and the department heads need to follow those goals and plans year-by-year and living within their means.
Also, we need to find a long-term solution for health care, the public benefits need to match the private sector more. When people retire we need to reshape as not to replace—but move more duties around to stop hiring—as technology replaces the workload of those people.
Storlie: Counties were created by the state to provide local services such as law enforcement, Public Health and Human Services, Land Management and more. Cook County has taken steps to improve our planning for the future to avoid large swings in budget needs and levy impacts.
So the planning projects include: financial management plan that looks at the overall budget needs and fiscal capacity for the next 15 years; capital planning takes a look at the buildings we own and needs to maintain and provide effective services; and now we are looking at a comprehensive transportation plan and standards to help us improve the overall quality of our county roads system of over 300 miles.
Over the past three years, we have worked toward a balanced budget which we did accomplish without using the fund balance which many counties did use of over $161 million to pay for their low tax increases. However, we are still reliant on federal and state grants that often do not keep pace with inflation so a typical levy impact going forward would probably be in the 4-6 percent range.
As you can see, there is constant vigilance required to keep a steady hand as I will continue to do.
Zimpel: Some of these current county commissioners, you never see them. I would do my best to answer phone calls, meet with business people and anyone who wants to talk to me.
As far as the levy, I would try to make sure to keep the levies no higher than 2-3 percent per year, or lower. We have to say no to some things. You can’t spend and spend. You can’t have everything. When I get elected, I will be a good, firm representative of the people of the West End and for the entire county.
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