KAXE contacted every candidate twice using contact information submitted to the Secretary of State's Office to invite them to participate in our Election Guide.
Candidate responses have not been edited and are published as submitted.
As necessary, our news team added contextual information clearly marked with an "editor's note" and in italics, though responses have not been uniformly fact-checked. With our small team of three, we are unable to proactively fact check every statement made by candidates. But we will make every effort to make note of inaccuracies if they come to our attention.
Please contact our news team at news@kaxe.org with questions or comments or to report any errors.
KAXE's Election Guide only includes candidates in contested races. Visit our full list of who's running for office in Northern Minnesota to see who else is on the ballot.
City Council (Elect Two)
Rick Blake
Incumbent: Yes
Age on Election Day: 76
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Retired from Blandin Paper Company
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I have had the honor of serving the citizens of Grand Rapids as a City Councilor for over 8 years. As an effective Council member, I know how meetings are conducted and how to be an effective participant in Council decision making. I know the budget process, both as a city councilor and as an employee who oversaw department budgets in the paper and mining industries. I understand and follow open meeting law requirements. I’ve served as Council Representative on almost all of the various Boards and Commissions that Council Members serve on. As a Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) Board & City Council Member, I have lobbied the legislature on behalf of the interests of our City. I’ve received two awards from the CGMC and this year was elected to a leadership position on the Board.
I led fundraising efforts and helped implement the Carver Governance Model for non-profits like the Itasca County Area YMCA and the Grand Rapids Area Library. I have experience leading many other community organizations. I currently serve as Chair of the KOOTASCA Community Action Board and am on the Grand Itasca Community Advisory Committee.
Participation on these boards, councils, and commissions, and active participation in many other community activities has helped me develop the skills needed to work with others to get things done. As a community leader I’ve been part of many successful projects like the Community Solar Garden, the Childcare Hub at Murphy School, the new housing being built on the Forest Lake School site, the pedestrian bridge across the Mississippi River and many others.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Before taking office, a City Councilor takes an oath to uphold the Constitution and Laws of the United States and of the State of Minnesota.
A City Councilor I will actively support and promote the Council's stated Mission, Values, and Vision.
The Mission Statement of the City Council states that "We will meet the basic needs of our City with cost-effective quality services, will facilitate healthy growth, and will prepare for the long-term development of our community."
The value statement of the City Council reads that we will:
- Operate honestly, ethically, and with integrity.
- Treat all people fairly, equitably, and respectfully.
- Encourage open and free communication.
- Respect differences of opinion.
- Recognize policy effect on personal and family lives.
- Prepare for all issues coming before the Council and respect the decisions made.
- Operate in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
- Seek to continually improve in all areas of our business.
The Vision Statement of the Council states that "The City of Grand Rapids will be accountable to future generations, maintain our ability to choose our own destiny, and recognize partnership opportunities with our greater community."
Why are you running for office?
I will do my part to ensure Grand Rapids is a great place to work, live and raise a family. To me, a great place to work requires good jobs, fostering a business climate that encourages expansion of existing businesses and industries while attracting new ones. A great place to live requires maintaining infrastructure, ensuring public safety by adequately funding our police and fire departments. A great place to raise a family requires decent, safe and sanitary housing, affordable childcare and good schools.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Support the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority (GREDA) and Itasca Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) in their efforts to foster a business climate that encourages expansion of existing businesses and industries while attracting new ones. That requires adequate funding to develop greenfield and brownfield sites.
Passing the franchise fee for street maintenance is also one of my priorities. It would spread the burden for maintenance across a broader base and reduce the burden on our residential and business tax payers by requiring tax exempt properties to pay for this service, just as they must pay for utilities like electricity, water, and sewer.
Continue funding our police department at a level that ensures our police officers are paid a wage that is at least comparable to other departments. We have a good department and should do what is necessary to keep it that way.
Across the region, renters and owners are struggling to afford housing. If elected, what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your constituents?
Continue to build new housing units by collaborating with private developers and other public and private entities, like the housing built on the Forest Lake School site and the development proposed on the old wastewater treatment plant site. The Forest Lake site involved collaboration between the City, Itasca County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, One Roof Housing, and the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority. The manufactured home development proposed for the old wastewater treatment plant along River Road would be able to offer attractive family homes at around $200,000.
I will also ask our legislators to look at new ways to lessen the impact that large increases in property taxes have on homeowners that lack the ability to pay, such as changes to homestead allowances and freezing property tax liabilities for low-income elderly homeowners.
I will also explore creative ways to preserve our existing housing stock, for example, developing a program to provide rehabilitation loans that can be repaid when the home is sold.
What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
I support the climate action plan developed by the Climate Action Committee formed as a result of Council Action.
The committee decided to focus its efforts on preparing for resiliency, which it defined as the ability to thrive in the face of change. This requires the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and respond to, withstand, and recover from disruptions through planning and technical solutions. The committee agreed that resiliency should:
1. Assure that the City’s buildings can accommodate variability in climate, that is, able to withstand heat, cold, floods and drought.
2. Assure that the City’s infrastructure can withstand variability in climate, so that interruptions to electrical, water, waste services are minimized.
3. Work to reduce carbon-based fuels used in city operations.
4. Work to reduce carbons embodied in city buildings and fleet.
5. Support healthy air, land and water, diverse recreation opportunities, and community events that build pride of place.
The action plan will be on the council’s agenda in the very near future. When the final plan is approved it will be on the City’s web site and will include specific actions for each of the listed items.
High taxation is a concern for many Northern Minnesotans. Please share any specific opinions you hold related to taxation, and how you plan to ensure tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
The loss of Enbridge’s line 3 in the city, downsizing of the paper mill, lower appraised values of industrial properties & rising home values have caused a shift in tax burden from industry to home owners. Expanding the business/industrial tax base will restore balance & reduce residential property taxes. The use of a franchise fee to fund streets will further reduce residential property taxes because tax-exempt properties will participate, just as they must for electricity, water, and sewer.
If local government aid (LGA) was fully funded we could reduce our property taxes. As an active member and leader on the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Board I will continue to lobby the legislature to fully fund Local Government Aid.
As a City Councilor I will continue to work through the budget process to ensure our local tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
I commit to following the requirements of the open meeting law. I commit to open and honest dialogue with constituents. I will also work to ensure that ICTV is able to continue recording and broadcasting public meetings. Funding is becoming a challenge due to the switch from cable, which passes through a small fee to ICTV to support this type of service, to streaming, which does not. I will work with others to seek a legislative remedy that guarantees continuation of this valuable service so citizens can witness local government proceedings firsthand.
Joe Burns
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 35
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Yes, as a k9 deputy with the Itasca county Sheriff’s Office
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
I’ve sat on many city councils while employed with my last employer, and a drive to help and better this city that is my hometown and where I raise my family.
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
Become an acting member of city council for the City of Grand Rapids. Become a voice and a vote for the people as well as an ear for the people.
Why are you running for office?
Seeing this city I grew up in struggle in many ways, I have a drive and want to help better this town. This is where I raise my family and want to better this city for us and the next generation. I want to help the city in many ways, especially making sure we have a strong and flourishing public safety system.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Help local public safety agencies with any staffing and retention issues, look into spending and where our money goes/ how to better save. Look into local businesses and what they need or are struggling with. Conserve and protect the nature we have in the city and make sure our wildlife is flourishing.
Across the region, renters and owners are struggling to afford housing. If elected, what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your constituents?
Look into capping yearly rental prices a person can raise rent. Look into it and compare and contrasts the pros and cons of other cities that do this. See what they can benefit from and what they would change.
What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
Listen to the community members of this city on their input on this issue.
High taxation is a concern for many Northern Minnesotans. Please share any specific opinions you hold related to taxation, and how you plan to ensure tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
One reason I am seeking election for city council is to see exactly where our money goes and have an answer for the people on this topic. I know that we don’t need $60,000 statues when many of our city roads are in dismay. I want to be able to explain and give people answers to this problem we have.
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
Give answers to the people. Good bad or indifferent. Be honest and open.
Dan Mertes
Incumbent: No
Age on Election Day: 39
Where are you currently employed, and what is your role?
Radko Iron & Supply, General Manager
Please share any prior experience that you believe qualifies you for office.
20 yrs of business management
Director-Grand Rapids Amateur Hockey Association
Please describe the roles and responsibilities of the office you are running for.
The city council represents and serves the citizens.
Why are you running for office?
I believe that my voice and so many other citizens of Grand Rapids are not being heard. The middle class is being squeezed and not fairly represented. I want to help guide our city to a place where we can all prosper.
What are your priorities, if elected? Please describe specific policy goals.
Job creation with livable wages
Industry growth to lesson the tax burden
Strategically grow the city economically through common-sense planning and reducing the red tape
Focus on workforce housing
Stop wasteful special interest spending. Our city must be more fiscally responsible
Improve safety in our community by supporting our law enforcement and first responders
Across the region, renters and owners are struggling to afford housing. If elected, what would you do to address the issues of availability and affordability for your constituents?
We are all suffering due to the mishandling of the economy at the state and federal level over the course of the last several years. As a city we need to work to better position ourselves as the leaders in industry growth and job creation. We can rise above the poor economy with strategic and innovative planning.
What effective policies will you support that will prepare your city now, next year and in the future to improve resiliency against climate change?
The climate has shifted since the beginning of time and will continue to do so no matter how much tax payer money is thrown at it. The ice age was clearly not caused by man, so how can we claim that any of today's weather phenomenons are. We need to keep our rivers and lakes clean, continue to rely upon clean and conventional power sources, and switch to new technologies once they are proven superior and reliable. If a power source has to be subsidized for decades, then it's not the right path forward.
Editor's note: According to the vast majority of peer-reviewed studies, science organizations and climate scientists, climate change largely caused by human emissions has contributed to global warming and extreme weather events.
High taxation is a concern for many Northern Minnesotans. Please share any specific opinions you hold related to taxation, and how you plan to ensure tax dollars are used efficiently and effectively.
Government spending and regulation are at an all time high. People and businesses are being taxed into poverty. Every dollar the city spends must be scrutinized. New industry is being stifled due to over regulation and permitting requirements
How do you plan to improve transparency and trust in government?
Every aspect of all government should be open and transparent. Nothing at the government level should be done behind closed doors
Still have questions for the candidates? Contact information for all those who've filed to run for office can be found at candidates.sos.state.mn.us.
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