Duluth City Council Member District 4
As local legislators who sometimes have executive power, council members can propose ordinances, set administrative policy, and authorize the budget proposed by the mayor. They oversee all city activities, including city services, programs, licensing, and public safety. Mayoral appointments to city government typically require council approval. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-city-councilIf your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info. If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from the LWVMN!
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David A. Clanaugh
(NP)
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Tara Swenson
(NP)
Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)
How do you plan to engage with and represent all members of our diverse community?(500 characters)
What steps will you take to ensure transparency and accountability in city government? (500 characters)
Contact Phone
218-600-9011
District councilors must be engaged in the community and willing to bring issues to city government. My wealth of experience has prepared me to do just that. I started my career as a journalist and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. I then became a community mental health counselor. I’ve worked in mentoring at the Duluth YMCA, ran the Damiano Kids’ Kitchen, worked at CHUM and co-founded the Rhubarb Festival, and was the executive director of the regional Habitat for Humanity chapter. I’m a union steward with MAPE, and on the team that negotiated a contract for 18,000 workers. I know how to research issues, identify unexplored angles, engage people through deep listening and thoughtful conversation, and solve problems for the greater good.
Housing: The city seems to believe that if we support rich developers eventually it will help us all. Trickle down doesn’t work. We must build the housing people need.
Streets: People are struggling to get to work and afford car repairs because of our streets. This is not just an issue of bumpy roads, and we can do better.
Neighborhoods: Our neighborhoods are in disrepair. We’re losing community centers and seeing more trash in parks. If the city can’t fix this, we must fix the city so it does.
I am plugged into many parts of our community, bridging differences and learning from them. As a lead organizer of the regional union movement’s annual May Day celebration, I assertively advocated for a big tent event representing the full spectrum of labor. I am a long-term member of the Twin Ports African-American Men’s Group. I have advocated for the LGBTQIA and immigrant communities, including family members and close friends. I will draw on these connections to serve our whole community.
As a former journalist, I worked with officials at all government levels and assertively engaged in the public interest. I will bring this same tenacity to my City Council work, advocating for issues that matter to District 4 and keeping communication open with constituents. I will fight against privatizing public services, which leads to loss of accountability and increased costs. I will hospitably engage citizens who bring forward issues, using my counselor training to facilitate solutions.
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