Bemidji City Council Member At Large
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-councilUse the MN Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing page (https://candidates.sos.mn.gov/) to find specific candidate contact information.
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)
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My confluence of experiences as a new mother, a long-time resident of Bemidji, and as a professional working in the nonpartisan civic engagement space compelled me to run for this seat this year. Upon seeing the other candidates for the At-Large position, and the makeup of our city council as it exists today, I felt it was extremely important to try to bring a new perspective and energy to our local government. I have been a volunteer community organizer and mobilizer since 2008 and in professional civic engagement positions since 2015, and am deeply motivated to strengthen our community bonds through various projects within the council.
After giving birth to my son last May, and then experiencing the derecho storms the following month, there are a few key issues have become even more apparent and pressing that I'm talking with constituents about: Access to quality, affordable childcare, housing, and public transportation.
I am not the only resident who wants these foundational services available; it was only after hearing similar feedback from other Bemidjians that I knew it was important to run.
I am eager to meet with constituents where they're at, literally and as it pertains to their concerns at the city level. I have but one perspective on our city, and aim to learn as much as possible from other residents about how we can make Bemidji an incredible place to visit and live. I also intend to continuously educate myself about the communities and history of Bemidji to have a richer context for any policy proposals or decisions I make.
A framework I intend to implement includes:
- Open data and financial datasets/reporting
- Participatory resident voting and budgeting
- Accessible ways to participate in all meetings
- Ethics and disclosure requirements
- Digital complaint and tracking systems
- Performance metrics (dashboards) that track the city's progress on goals
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