Cliff Buchan
News EditorAs the incumbent in the District 1 Washington County Board primary election, Dennis Hegberg fielded plenty of questions during a forum Aug. 30 in Forest Lake. But so did one of the challengers, Marc Hugunin.
Hugunin, who spent four years on the Metropolitan Council, was called to task by the third candidate in the race, Forest Lake Mayor Ray Daninger, who said he lacked attendance at Forest Lake City Council meetings.
After his appointment to the Metro Council, Daninger said Hugunin attended just one meeting but ìno more.î The mayor said cities ìneed to have accessî to their representatives.
Later, Hugunin defended his duties with the Met Council.
ìI represented 30 communities,î Hugunin said. He said many communities clearly articulated their needs. ìI just spent my time with those communities,î he said.
During his four years on the metro planning agency, he said he spent much time working with city of Hugo officials helping secure grant dollars and officials of the former Forest Lake Township. ìMore basically, I was involved in Forest Lake,î he said.
As mayor, Daninger said in an interview he also questions how Hugunin can be an advocate for issue that pertain to north end needs when he is from Grant in the south.
ìHow can he (Hugunin) have a feel for what is going on here,î Daninger said. ìHe is coming in after the fact. He wasnít too active with us when he was on the Met Council.î
With his combination of governmental and private business experience, Hugunin said he is prepared to tackle any issue that comes up and is up to speed with what is going on in Forest Lake.
ìI think I passed that test,î he said.
The top two vote getters in the Sept. 14 primary election advance to the Nov. 2 general election ballot.
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