Last week the Cook County News-Herald introduced the four candidates who are running for the District 5 commissioner seat in the West End. This week we are presenting the three candidates who are running for the District 3 commissioner position: Mickey Brazell, Jean Marie Modl, and Dave Mills.
Current District 1 county commissioner Bobby Deschampe is running unopposed.
With the upcoming August primary election just around the corner, the field will be pared to two candidates in District 3 and District 5.
Jan Sivertson, who is the current commissioner representing District 3, has elected not to run.
Each candidate received the same questions.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Mickey Brazell: I’ve lived here since 1961, and I’m a 4th generation Cook County resident. I married my high school sweetheart, Dee, who is also 4th generation. We have two boys Darin and Jorey. Darin lives in Two Harbors, and Jorey is married and lives here in Grand Marais.
I graduated from Cook County High School in 1980. I left for a couple years then moved back and went logging for 20 years. I worked for Arrowhead Electric for 18 years doing the right-of-way clearing, and for the last two years, I started Northland Brushing.
I’ve been president of the ATV club for the last 15 years.
I like camping, ATVing, snowmobiling, fixing things and fishing on Lake Superior.
Dave Mills: Hello! My name is Dave Mills, and I am running for the District 3 seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. I am 37 years old and have lived in Cook County since 2004 when I came here to work on a portage crew for the Forest Service. I met my wife that same fall, and I have had a variety of jobs as we raised our children who are now 12 and 8 years old. The list of jobs includes landscaping, chimney sweeping, computer services, property management, bartending, waiting tables, laborer, carpentry, Grand Marais city councilor, and most recently a painting contractor. I had to resign from the city council when we moved out of the city limits this past January.
Jean Marie Modl: I grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin and moved to Grand Marais almost 30 years ago. I live in Grand Marais because of Lake Superior and the Art Colony. I am a painter. I have three science degrees in human biology and horticulture. It has been my privilege to teach math and science to local healthcare professionals. Also, I was a teaching assistant at the grade school in Grand Portage for five years. Currently, I am the office manager for a local construction company. I am responsible for all of the financial work.
Why are you interested in serving as a Cook County commissioner?
Brazell: I’m interested in serving because I now have the time to be commissioner and I’m ready to challenge myself.
Mills: I have many interests and am always looking to better my family’s lives. Most of my hobbies spur from efforts to develop a stronger connection to the land and community while gaining more independence in life. Homesteading summarizes my interests. We garden, raise chickens and harvest firewood. I also like to work on vehicles, dream up heating systems, and continually educate myself. I listen to audiobooks as often as I can while I paint, and prefer literature, both modern and classic.
Modl: I am concerned about rising property taxes and uncontrolled spending by the county board and the city council. The path we are on is not sustainable and threatens to destroy the fundamental character of our wonderful community. I have observed some serious communication problems between the county board and the general public in recent years, and I would like to help open up more of a dialogue, a conversation. I would like to see more trust and respect between the county board and the general public.
What background or life experiences do you have that you feel qualify you to serve as a county commissioner?
Brazell: I have no background in government or politics, which I think we have way too much of. I have an open mind to not be one-sided or the other. This is why I think I will be good at this.
Mills: I was on the city council for three years and represented the city on the Grand Marais Park Board, Cook County Community YMCA Advisory Council, Cook County Broadband Commission, Northwoods Food Project board, and the Cook County Parks and Trails Commission. I am currently on the Parks and Trails Commission representing District 3.
Modl: I was District 2 commissioner for four years from 1993 thru 1996. County government is big and complicated, it takes about a year to figure out what a commissioner is supposed to be doing. I bring all the experience of my first term to this second term. From 2001 to 2005, I served as the clerk in the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office.
My duties included processing property tax payments, setting up daily bank deposits, administering lodging tax, and administering elections. I have served this community as director of Cook County Higher Education and director of the Art Colony. My whole life in Cook County has been devoted to public service and community service.”
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?
Brazell: The county board has to stop spending like they’re rich and famous. There is a big difference in needing something and wanting something.
Mills: I have had opportunities to work with the county board while serving on the city council. I know the county board faces more difficult challenges than the city council. I am encouraged by changes I have seen, and hope to continue improving the county board’s public input process, responsiveness, and communication in general.
Modl: As mentioned earlier, I am interested in opening up communication lines between the county board and the general public. We have to be willing to look at a problem from many points of view before making the tough decisions. We need to carefully evaluate the true purpose of county government. The county has been an important partner in the development of the Superior National Golf Course and the Y Center, but we need to develop exit strategies so that these projects can become completely independent of the county.”
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?
Brazell: I hope we can get the levy to go down. I don’t think it will be easy, but it can be done if we cut back. The taxpayer can only pay so much. I hope you will call me (218-370-0202) and let me know how together we can make it work.
Mills: I was recently introduced to the idea that taxes are investments— investments in our children, in our community, and in ourselves. Some previous county boards did not raise the levy enough, and now we’ve had to catch up. Despite drastic increases, I believe the county board and staff have worked long and hard to keep taxes as low as responsibly possible. My understanding is that a 5 percent levy increase is a responsible and realistic future expectation. Let’s play this smart and steady. Our community relies on the county’s financial standing. Let’s not skimp on our community.
I am intelligent, levelheaded, compassionate, and an excellent listener. I can take a step back, look at the history of current challenges, and keep our community’s vision in the forefront. I have an open mind and am very willing to listen to all questions and concerns. I will work hard to find answers and solutions. Please consider voting for me to represent District 3 on the county board.
Modl: Rising costs of county government are directly related to staffing issues and facilities. We need to evaluate the effectiveness and productivity of every position in the county system.
The recent market correction for county wages and salaries failed to recognize the decade-long recession that the general public is still recovering from. The employee benefits package may be more generous than we can afford at this time.
I would like to see more flexibility in staffing hours: four-day work weeks, shorter days. Let’s work smarter and faster, get done and go home. There is no reason why everyone has to leave at a certain time, as long as the work gets done and public access is maintained.
We have combined some administrative positions with Lake County, can we combine employee healthcare groups? Larger groups should mean lower health insurance premiums.
I have tremendous respect for county employees and count many of them as friends. I believe that changes can happen in a way that feels like everybody wins.
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