There are two candidates on the ballot for mayor of Grand Marais—Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux and Lawrence Scully. Both agreed to participate in the October 16 Election Forum on WTIP radio and to meet with the Cook County News-Herald to answer a few more questions.
Although outgoing Mayor Larry “Bear” Carlson has made it clear that he no longer wants to serve as mayor of Grand Marais, there are a handful of “Bear for Mayor” signs posted in the city. The News-Herald contacted Carlson twice during the July- August filing period and both times, Carlson said he was not filing to run for re-election.
Carlson declined making any statement at that time and the News-Herald talked to him again on September 9. In a phone interview at that time, Carlson said, “I know there is a small movement to re-elect me, but if I wanted to run, I would have filed.”
“In the event I was written in—and won, I would—reluctantly—serve,” said Carlson.
The official mayoral candidate answers to News-Herald questions follow.
Please tell News-Herald readers a little about yourself.
. Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux: I’m a local business owner. I operate the Art House B&B with my wife Rose. She’s my co-owner.
We have a 4½-year-old son at preschool at ISD 166.
As long as I’ve been in town, I’ve been looking for ways to contribute and some of the ways I’ve found have been on the Grand Marais Library Board, on numerous nonprofit boards, volunteering up at the school and with the elderly community in a couple of different ways.
I grew up in southern Minnesota and went to college at St. Olaf. I moved up here immediately after college to do an internship at North House. I worked at Wilderness Canoe Base and then we took a year away and kind of ‘bounced around’ a bit. Now we’re here and it feels good to be settled in town. Rose and I want to do all we can to make Grand Marais our home. We’ve grown to love Grand Marais and what Grand Marais has to offer. We’d love to see Grand Marais do well.
. Lawrence Scully: I have a lifetime membership in the federal government civil defense. I spent 8 ½ years in civil defense in Minnetonka. I helped with traffic control for parades and events and in emergencies, for hurricanes and such. I supervised 52 members and we stocked fallout shelters.
When all the news about the ‘One World Order’ came out, I asked questions about these shelters. I was told in times of trouble these were to keep the government leaders safe—to keep people out. So in times of trouble, the government is not going to help you.
I’m a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 292. I did manufacturing and wiring for big companies, including Steeplejack that devised the automatic window washing system for the World Trade Center. I worked for Honeywell Aerospace.
As a hobby I have satellite dishes in my yard. I get hundreds of TV channels from all over the world. No one should have to pay for TV.
I graduated from high school in Hopkins, Minnesota and worked as a grocery bagger. I worked in every department before going to work in a machine shop.
I came to Grand Marais in 1981 and started volunteer service to help older people. I got involved in AEOA. I was on the board in Virginia, Minnesota for five years, representing old people in Grand Marais. I drove to Canada with senior citizens.
I was on Venture North in 1990 with my antler carving. I donated artwork to Johnson Heritage Post when it was getting started.
Anytime I see someone who needs help, I try to help them.
There is currently a project under way to redesign the Highway 61 corridor and an initial design is expected soon. What do you think could improve walking, biking and vehicular movement in the Highway 61 corridor?
. Arrowsmith DeCoux: First of all, I should comment on the process, on the fact that we are getting so many citizens to participate. That is where the solution will come from. There really is not one answer. We’ll get 50 people at meetings with 50 ideas.
What we really need to do is define that corridor—define the curb space and entrances and exits. To me, that’s the biggest danger when I’m biking with my little boy. It is difficult to know where the curb ends and where cars are entering and exiting businesses. If that were defined, it would also help with parking and traffic as vehicles would know where to park.
I’m only one perspective on that, of course. The process under way will determine what needs to be done. I encourage all citizens to come to the October 28 meeting to learn more. [Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 6 – 8 p.m.].
. Scully: The use of signage, especially the jake brake issue that people complain about. That would slow them down a bit.
It’s a long-term thing if they are thinking about going around town. It they’re going to swing around town, there are a lot of environmental issues.
This is part of the overall plan, like the I-35 plan. They talked for years about going around Duluth and about bridges. Now you have those tunnels.
It’s not going to happen right away. Any changes will take 15-20 years.
Do you believe improvements should be made to the boat launch in the Grand Marais harbor?
. Arrowsmith DeCoux: I believe something needs to be done. If you look at the geography of Lake Superior—you’ve got Duluth, Knife River, Silver Bay and then Grand Marais. If people want to stop here and launch their boat and sail Lake Superior, that’s a fantastic opportunity. Why wouldn’t they want to do that?
It would be great for residents too, who want to launch their boats. Right now we can’t pull boats out of there larger than 30-32 feet. That’s not good.
Plus, degrading infrastructure is never a good thing.
Working with the DNR is very important. I don’t think the city can—or should—pay for all of it.
. Scully: Yes. I’ve been down there many times helping people with satellite mounting at boat slips. It should be improved.
If you had the power to change one thing about the city of Grand Marais, what would it be?
. Arrowsmith DeCoux: In response to a question like that, I’m grateful there is a council. No one person should have the power to change the community.
There are a bunch of things that pop into my head—there are some things that are less than ideal that we have learned to live with. The question is what is the hardest to live with in town. Living wages and year-round employment—that is the thing I’d like to improve the most; that would do the most good. Having good, living, wages for the people who live here would help solve some of the other problems.
As a city, we need to look at what we can do to encourage businesses, to encourage increased wages—without mandating anything—and keeping our infrastructure in good shape. We need to keep Grand Marais in good shape so people want to be here.
. Scully: More of an attitude of getting to know everyone. There are new businesses in the community who feel they are the ‘unwanted stepchild.’ That is not right. A friend is just someone you haven’t introduced yourself to. A community has to work together.
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