Economic development, current budgets, Sherco and the golf course were four topics addressed at a candidates forum Tuesday in Becker.
Sponsored by the Becker Area Chamber of Commerce, the event at Becker High School drew nearly 50 people in the audience with all four prospective city council candidates — Rick Hendrickson, Adam Maskowski, Lynette Brannan and Lori Keller — on hand to state their cases for election.
Each candidate had two minutes to answer each question and chamber members Tanya Danielson, Amy Chmielewski and Larry Newell helped keep the forum on time and fair to each contender. Many of the questions centered around economic development and the candidates did their best to try and answer the questions without being redundant.
While the candidates were cordial and agreed on many matters — especially the promotion of economic development and Sherco — they differed on specific strategies.
Molly English was the moderator of the event and she dealt around 20-25 questions to the candidates over the two hour long program.
English is senior undergrad from SCSU who is graduating this year with two degrees in Women’s Studies and International Relations. She works at the SCSU Women’s Center on campus, and thought this opportunity was a great way to encourage women and students to be more visible in the field of local politics.
Answers to some of the questions centered mostly around the cultivation of more locally owned businesses, including more retail outlets and restaurants and retaining current businesses. The industrial park was also identified as being key to the future of Becker’s tax base.
English also asked the candidates how could they bring in new business to the city. She also asked how they plan to keep taxes from going higher.
First-time candidate Adam Maskowski addressed the “rumor” that has been going around about he spearheading a movement to get rid of the Becker Police Dept. Maskowski vehemently denied he was part of that campaign and said he thought the PD was doing a good job and is a good service to the community.
Maskowski is adamant about the city getting out of the business of running a business (Pebble Creek) and wants to do his part — if elected — to sustain Sherco and become a council member who listens to what the citizens of Becker want.
The other first-time candidate, Lori Keller, expressed how she feels her accounting background could benefit the city and she said she is an advocate for Sherco, the golf course and the police department. She wants to focus on attracting new businesses and see city council operate more effectively.
Brannan says economic development and the diversification of the tax base are very important to her. She’d like to see the streets along Hwy. 10 redeveloped and beautified and wants to reinvest in the city’s infrastructure.
Hendrickson says he plans to continue to take an aggressive approach to retaining Sherco and wants to dedicate his resolve to attract and retain new business and keep Becker’s tax rate the lowest in the county. He’d also like government to be more limited and let the citizens and private industry take care of the rest.
The general election is Tues., Nov. 4 with polls opening at 7 a.m. and running until 8 p.m.
