Here is a last minute guide to aid you on who the candidates are and where you need to go to cast your ballot!

 

For state representatives, Jim Newberger(R) of Becker is running against Brian Johnson (D) of Clearwater in District 15B.

 

Newberger has lived in Becker for 16 years.  He is married with three college-aged daughters.

 

He has worked for a level-one trauma center in the metro as a paramedic for 26 years.

 

Outside activities include: children's ministries, church leadership, missions team leader to the former Soviet Union (eight times), local political leadership, congressional district political leadership,  Sherburne County Tea Party leadership, pro-life volunteer, Becker City Planning Commission, high school instructor and one term as Minnesota State Representative. 

 

As state representative, Newberger has served on the Public Safety, Transportation Policy and Civil Law committees.  

 

Newberger’s education includes a bachelors degree in Mass Communications and Political Science, Paramedic Certification and Moody Bible College course work.  

Newberger’s three major concerns in his campaign are:

 

1). Keeping the Sherco power plant in operation.  

“Governor Dayton stated in July that he wants to ‘eliminate coal’,” says Newberger.  “This means eliminating our power plant and the hundreds of jobs  directly connected to it.  It would also mean the potential loss of thousands of jobs connected to it.”

 

Newberger asserts Sherco is the best and biggest power plant in the Midwest, supplying power to almost 2.5 million people.  

 

“Eliminating Sherco will kill jobs and drive up the cost of energy,” he said.  “This will  be very damaging to low income families and to the entire central Minnesota area.  I hope to  do anything and everything I can to prevent this.  I will fight this battle as long as I hold this office.”

 

To date, Newberger has yet to see any workable plan by Gov. Dayton and his allies, to replace the power that Sherco provides.  Wind and solar are excellent supplemental sources of energy, Newberger says, but they cannot provide the 24-7-365  base load power that our state requires.  

 

“Using tax dollars to prop up wind and solar does not work.  We need coal.”

 

2).  Taxes.  

“I was the only legislator to be awarded the ‘Best Friend of the Taxpayer’ award in 2013,” Newberger said. “I was also one a just a few who won the award in 2014.  We are over-taxed.  Period.”  

 

Newberger says he would be open to new taxes for critical projects as long as it included the equal reduction or equal elimination of an  existing wasteful tax.   

“That's how real families manage their budgets.  The state should be no different.”

 

3).  Abortion.  

“I am pro-life.  As long as I hold office, I will stand for life.”

 

Johnson, 31, resides in Clearwater Twp. and is an attorney. He studied at the J.D. William Mitchell College of Law and received a B.A. in Political Science, History and minored in Jewish Studies.

 

Clubs and organizations Johnson is part of are: Wright County Volunteer Attorney Program, Minnesota Senate District 15 (DFL) board member, Annandale Lions, Annandale Chamber of Commerce, Maple Lake Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.

 

Johnson says, “we must continue to focus on job creation, as well as continue to provide tax relief for the majority of Minnesotans.  By providing more discretionary income for the middle class (i.e. the majority of Minnesotans) through tax relief, individuals are able to purchase a greater amount of goods and services, which in turn results in business owners creating jobs to handle the increase in consumerism.”  

 

In addition, Johnson says he supports a tax system which consists of the top 2% of wage earners paying their fair share in the effort to increase revenue for funding/improving necessities such as k-12 education, higher education and statewide transportation systems.    

 

In Becker, Rick Hendrickson and Lynette Brannan are vying to retain their seats and are opposed by Lori Keller and Adam Maskowski.

 

Brannan has lived in Becker, with her husband Dan, since 1995. They raised their son in Becker and he now resides in Wichita, KS with his own family.

 

Brannan has been a freelance graphic designer since 1979 and a business owner since 1985.

 

Brannan has been involved in the Pebble Creek women’s golf club since 1998 as a member, board member and volunteer; Becker Chamber member since 2007 and board member since 2009 volunteering and helping to organize Chamber events.  And since January of this year, Brannan has been the chamber’s new office manager. 

 

Brannan has served on the Becker City Council the last four years.

 

“‘Making a difference’ is why I first ran and believe why I was elected as a city council member in 2010,” she said. “I have also been involved in numerous city committees, such as economic development, golf, LPI, personnel, budget/finance, fire/police, park & rec and am currently the chairperson for the planning/zoning commission.”

 

Brannan says even though “all issues are important” and each has its own urgency, economic development and diversification of tax base, redeveloping and beautifying first street and reinvesting in the city’s infrastructure are the top three issues I want to pursue during my next term.” 

 

“Knowing the facts, making good decisions, and doing what is best for our city, is my major goal.”

 

Brannan says she will continue to support the city’s staff and departments, city services and the power plant.  

 

“I will promote business expansion and retention and all our amenities, that bring so many people to Becker to live, work and play.”

 

Hendrickson has served the citizens of Becker on council since March of 2013 when he was appointed to finish the council term vacated by long-time councilman Phil Knutson. 

 

Hendrickson and his wife, Nancy, have been married for 12 years and their children — Tyler, Brooke and Jacob — have been proud to call Becker home for the past 10 years. 

 

Hendrickson has degrees in business management and information systems technology. Currently, he is a software engineer for Wolters Kluwer Financial Services in St. Cloud. 

 

“Our family has been an active part of the Becker Evangelical Free Church family since 2009,” he says. “Our favorite places to help out as a family are with Backpack Buddies and Feed My Starving Children. I have also helped out with Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge and in the summer I coach baseball.” 

 

Hendrickson says his biggest issues are: 

1). Sherco. The power plant currently pays 75% of Becker’s property tax and employs over 300 people from the area. 

“I have and will continue to take an aggressive approach in the fight for Sherco.”

 

2). Hendrickson says in the business world, a tax is simply another cost of doing business. 

 

“One of the best things we can do to attract and retain new businesses is to keep our tax rate the lowest in the county.” 

 

3). “I do not have a flashy plan that says city hall is going to solve all our problems,” Hendrickson says. “We need to limit government to what it was designed to do (sewer, water, police, fire etc.) and let the citizens and private industry take care of the rest.”

 

Keller and her husband, Tom, have lived in Becker for over 10 years.  She has a college degree in accounting, passed her CPA exam, has 28 years of financial experience and is employed as a senior business system analyst for Cetera Financial Group in St. Cloud.  

 

She has actively participated in the city council for several years and is currently on the City of Becker planning commission. 

 

“I am a member of Faith Lutheran Church, a volunteer for the Becker Winter 5K and committee member of the PCWC guest day and fundraiser,” Keller says.  “We raised over $25,000 for breast cancer awareness the past five years and donated $4,000 to the Becker Backpack Buddies program this summer.”

 

Keller says she loves Becker and wants to expand the great things the city is known for including  good schools, a safe community, a variety of amenities and low taxes.

 

“As an elected official, I will focus on attracting new businesses to Becker while supporting the retention of our Xcel coal plant.  New businesses will maintain low taxes by diversifying our commercial tax base, (I’d like to) create a fresh look for Hwy. 10 and bring opportunities for our youth.”

 

Keller says she’d like to see city council operate more effectively. 

 

“With my financial experience, I problem solve in flexible and resourceful ways focusing on the facts for issues brought before the council.”

 

Keller feels if elected she will be a strong ambassador for Becker.  

 

“I’m proud to say I live in Becker and hope I am given an opportunity to serve all Becker citizens in the coming years.”

 

In 2002, Adam and his wife Tammy and their two children moved to Becker.  He has been employed by PCA for 20 years and is currently a fabricating supervisor overseeing 15-25 employees. 

 

“I am a strong advocate and supporter of our Becker Area Senior Center as well as the Becker Beyond the Yellow Ribbon where I volunteer,” Maskowski said.

 

Maskowski’s primary concerns are:

1). Pebble Creek.

“Government should not run a business,” he says. “I believe in free market principles. Using tax dollars to prop up a declining business is not only rewarding failure, but punishing taxpayers and private business owners for being successful by making sound financial decisions while using their own resources.” 

 

Maskowski says he is for preserving golf in Becker, but it needs to bring the community together, not tear it apart. 

 

“An effective business manager can do that while providing an amenity for all citizens to enjoy.”

 

2). Sustaining Sherco. 

“The economic impact on our community would be devastating if Sherco closes,” Maskowski says. “They provide 74.59% of our tax base.”

 

3). Listen.

“While going door-to-door, I have found that citizens want someone to listen and care about their concerns,” Maskowski says. “I will listen and form my decisions around what the community wants.  I will work for you, not city hall. I will make sure your needs and concerns will become part of our agenda.”

 

Tim Goenner is running unopposed for mayorship while Dale Powers and Claudia Page are competing with Chad Koren for one four-year term and Larry Farr is vying to unseat Connie Auchman for the special two-year term seat.

 

Goenner was born and raised in the City of Clear Lake and says he has always felt passionate about the needs of the city and its citizens. 

 

“I have represented the community as a council member for 26 years and as mayor for the past four years,” he says. “Throughout my 30 years of service, this city and experienced an abundance of change and growth.”

 

Goenner says in the past, he has gone door-to-door, knocking on the doors of the residents of the community and asking citizens about their thoughts and concerns for the city.

 

“If re-elected, I would like to go around again and gain the residents input,” he said. “I believe as a mayor, that when it comes to decision making, you need to rely heavily on the resident's opinions and concerns. If faced with a challenge, I shall turn it into an opportunity to solve the problem on hand.”

 

Goenner says if he is re-elected as mayor, he would like to continue to concentrate on reducing the deficit by balancing budgets and keeping tight control on costs, as well as improving the costs of sewer and water rates, along with the continued effort of adding new business to the community.

 

“I would like to thank all of the residents of Clear Lake for the opportunity to again serve as mayor and for their continued support,” he says.

 

Claudia is a retired registered nurse with over 35 years experience working in hospitals. She was also a clinic supervisor and a school nurse.

 

“Being retired, I enjoy living in Clear Lake and bow hunting and fishing with friends in Crosslake,” she said.

 

Page currently holds a four-year term on the city council and looks forward to hopefully being re-elected to another  term.

 

“I have worked with the Clearwater/Clear Lake library board, the Northstar Train committee and talked with members of the Clearwater/Clear Lake foodshelf,” she said. “My main goal is safety within the city, looking at all aspects.” 

 

“We have a wonderful Fire Dept.  and being the liaison for this department it has made me become more aware of all safety issues and looking at emergency plans for the city and residents,” she said.

 

Page says she has had fun being an election judge in several precincts of Sherburne Co. and the experience has made her realize that decisions are very important on the council.

 

“Working with the budget has been very hard with these tough economic times,” she says. “We all want to see economic growth within the community. Communication and rational decisions are very important as a council member. I feel as though I have assisted with this as a council member in the past and will for the future.”

 

Currently, Powers is a conference manager for the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association in St. Cloud. He attends St.  Marcus Catholic Church where he was a former lector. He also serves on the Clear Lake-Clearwater sewer authority.

 

Powers’ chief concerns are:

1). Sewer.

“The sewer rates we pay, I believe, are the highest in the state,” says Powers. “Our residents need relief from these rates and I have been working closely with Rep. Jim Newberger on having the state buy down some of our debt for the sewer plant, since the state mandated expensive upgrades to the plant in order to keep the Mississippi River clean.” 

 

2). Traffic

“The traffic going through town, at times, is unbearable - especially on weekends,” says Powers. “I believe a bypass that follows 70th Ave. west of town should be considered, as long as steps are made to promote local businesses that may be hurt by the loss of traffic.” 

 

3). Trains

“The train traffic through town has increased quite a bit the past few years, and the horns they blow can be heard all over,” Dale says. “I'm working with Rep. Newberger to establish a ‘quiet zone’ through town so the horns wouldn't need to be used.”

 

Auchman is currently a member of the Clear Lake City Council and is vice president of sales and marketing at X-Cel Optical in Sauk Rapids. She is also a Big Brother/Big Sister mentor.

 

“As an appointee to the council since December  of 2013, the experience I’ve gained has given me the knowledge and confidence to be a strong contributor to the future of Clear Lake,” says Auchman.  “There is definitely a learning curve and experienced leadership is critical to continuing the positive direction of the city.”

 

Auchman says the council and staff have done an excellent job restoring the city’s financial health by following a conservative fiscal policy over the past several years.  

 

“I believe it is important to continue to build the city’s reserves to position Clear Lake for the future,” she said.  “We must carefully consider our budgets and expenditures and remain fiscally responsible to our citizens.”

 

Auchman says economic development in Clear Lake is important to build a tax base and diversify the community. 

 

“We need to be proactive in attracting new business and residential development,” she says.  “Working with groups like the Sherburne County Economic Development Authority will help elevate Clear Lake’s visibility.”

 

Two key areas that Auchman feels needs continued attention are the night train whistles and overall traffic through the city.

 

“There has been work done in these areas and we must make them a priority to keep Clear Lake a pleasant, safe place to live.”

 

“Hi, fellow residents of Clear Lake.  My name is Chad Koren and I'm running for city council.” 

 

“I'm hoping to win your vote in the upcoming elections  Nov. 4.

 

Koren is a lifelong resident of Clear Lake with a solid family reputation of supporting, serving and protecting the community.  Having served nearly six years on the fire department alongside his father and Chief, Ron Koren, Chad says he knows the importance of being a team member and a leader as well as a servant to and for the public.

 

Chad is currently employed by Andy’s Towing and enjoys the idea that he can help others in their time of need.

 

“I'm not going to make any empty promises,” he says. “However, I will do my best to listen to the people, work hard towards the betterment and growth of the city and serve the community with honesty and openness.” 

 

Koren says if people are interested in growing their community while keeping it safe and secure for families and residents, then vote for him.  

 

“If you want to improve on what we have while keeping within a budget ruled by predictable income, vote for me,” he says.  “I love this little town and will do my best to keep it’s living style and quality of family life secure.”

 

No information was made available to the Citizen at time of publication.