Cliff Buchan
News EditorWhat can one Forest Lake fellow do better than another?
Ray Daninger says he wants the opportunity to try as he will challenge Dennis Hegberg for the District One seat on the Washington County Board on Nov. 2. As of Monday, the two Forest Lake men were the only candidates to file for election.
The 14-day filing period is open through Tuesday, July 20.
Daningerís announcement that he would seek the county board seat and pass up a run for a sixth term as mayor of Forest Lake came as a surprise to many in the area, including Hegberg.
In his announcement two weeks ago, Daninger said he was looking for new challenges and ways to serve.
Hegberg, who teamed with Daninger to lead a local delegation to Washington, D.C. in June where they lobbied for federal funding for W. Broadway Ave. improvements, said he was surprised and puzzled by Daningerís move.
ìI think Iím doing a good job,î Hegberg said. ìIs there something Iím missing? I canít put my hand on it.î
Both experienced
A Daninger-Hegberg contest would provide voters with two experienced candidates.
Daninger, a native of Forest Lake, has lived in both the city and the former township. He served on the planning commissions for both the town and city before diving into city politics. He has won five elections for mayor and is in his 10th and last year as city leader.
Hegberg first arrived on the county board in 1989 when he won a special election to fill the seat following the death of John V. Jergens. Hegberg has claimed reelection victories in 1992, 1996, 2000 and in 2002 when the District One seat was up for two years due to redistricting.
Daninger says he has the experience in city government to understand the needs of the communities in the district. With population growth coming to the north end of the county and planning continuing for more county services, Daninger says he wants to be part of the process.
ìI can work to help those needs,î he said.
Daninger says he wonít criticize his opponent, but adds that he believes he can be a stronger advocate for the north end of the county. ìI think thereís more things that we could be having in the north end,î Daninger said.
Hegberg says the entry of Daninger in the race may help him. ìItís motivating me,î he said. ìIíll do what Iíve always done in the past as far as campaigning goes.î
Hegberg says he is comfortable in running on his record. He says the county has the second lowest tax rate in the metro area and ranks 77th among 87 counties in the state for per capita spending.
ìWeíre not at the lowest percentile, but we are a growing county,î Hegberg says. ìI donít know if I want to be the lowest percentile. We provide good services to our constituents.î
Daninger, who is retired, said he is free to devote all the time needed to do the job. Hegberg says he gives the bulk of his time to his county board duties while working 23 hours a week as a mortgage banker at Lake Area Bank in Forest Lake.
The county board slot pays an annual wage of $45,377.
Daninger says his announcement to run was not meant as a surprise even though the two men spent time in the nationís capital on the joint mission.
ìIt wasnít the time,î Daninger said. ìI hadnít even told the city staff. They were the first one to be told.î
Hegberg says he also plans to run a positive campaign.
ìI have no negative things to say about him,î Hegberg says. ìHe wants my job and I want to keep it.î
If more than two candidates file in the District One contest, a primary election would be needed in September.
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