Bill Coleman
Scandia reporterThe township of New Scandia will be holding elections for two Board members from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, at the Scandia Community Center.
Incumbent Nancy Madden and challenger Michael White will vie for one seat, while Blair Joselyn, who was appointed to the Board in July to fill the seat vacated by the late Paul Rasmussen, will face Ronald Savino in the second contest.
Both seats are for three-year terms.
Results of the election will be presented to the community at roughly 8:05 p.m. on Tuesday, at the Community Center, as soon as votes have been tallied.
SCANDIA CANDIDATES
Michael Whiteóseat 1, challenger
Age: 58
Occupation: Retired
Family: Married
Years residing in Scandia: 15
Reason running?
ìI feel I am qualified to be a board member for the following reasons: I attend at least 90 percent of the township Board and planning meetings; served six years as Manager-Treasurer of Carnelian-Marine Watershed; member of the Washington County Governance Committee; Chair of the Scandia Parks Committee for five years; DNR Advisory Committee; Chair of Carnelian-Marine Watershed Citizen Advisory Committee; Member of the County TIF Committee (allotting at least $1 million in improvements to New Scandia Township, attended seminars on water control, shore-land maintenance, groundwater, septic systems and community education.î
Goals to accomplish if elected?
ìI would like to cut taxes or make sure Scandia gets the most for its tax dollars. Iíd also like to make the variance and development process more efficient and timely and Iíd review and oversee that the township staff is efficient, timely and responsible to the townshipís residents.î
Should there be term limits?
ìYes there should be term limits. No more than three, three-year terms should be allowed so more people can get involved in policy making, and no one person can serve his or her own interests.î
Nancy Maddenóseat 1, incumbent
Age: NA
Occupation: Parish Life Administrator for St. Francis Xavier in Franconia Township and St. Joseph in Taylorís Falls
Family: Widow, seven children, eight grandchildren
Years residing in Scandia: 28
Reason running?
ìScandia is growing and it is important to plan for this growth. We have done this with our long-range planning. I have been a part of the past planning process and would like to be a part of the future.î
ìI have served on the Planning Commission and I understand the process as well as the frustrations people can feel when they want something and the Township says they canít have it. I believe this experience helps when serving on the Town Board.î
ìIt is very easy to say the Board doesnít listen or itís time for a change, but these are not true statements. The Board does listen and I always put the Townshipís best interests first.î
Goals to accomplish if elected?
ìI have lived in Scandia 28 years and have watched my property taxes increase every year. My personal goal is to keep the Township portion of our property taxes as low as possible.
ìThe Town Board has no control over the school taxes, but we do set the annual budget for the Township.î
Should there be term limits?
ìNo. I do not believe there should be term limits for Board members. Experience is necessary and term limits can be a problem for keeping experienced and knowledgeable people serving the Township. I have seen the problems caused by lack of experience when a Board needs to add several people at one time. It takes time to understand the process and the ordinances we work under.î
Blair Joselynóseat 2, incumbent
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired
Family: Married, two children, three grandchildren
Years residing in Scandia: 16
Reason running?
ìMy experience over the past ten years in various aspects of township government makes me very well qualified to continue on the Board of Supervisors, and I wish to draw on that experience to further serve citizens of the community.î
Joselynís local government experience includes: Board of Supervisors (appointed); Planning Commission, Comprehensive Plan Development Committee; Municipal Building and Publicity Committees, Forest Lake/Scandia Joint Powers Watershed Management Organization; and Washington/Chisago County Joint Powers Watershed Management Organization.
Goals to accomplish if elected?
ìThere are no personal goals or personal agendas that I would bring to the Board if elected. Rather, the five Board members should strive to work together as a team to address the needs of the Township residents as best they canódevelop issues, roads, parks and recreational facilities, etc.î
Should there be term limits?
ìTerm limits for the Board of Supervisors do not appear to be a priority issue among Scandia residents, at least at this time. Planning Commission members are appointed to five-year terms, but, to my knowledge, there have never been Board term limits in the Township. Considering the varied and growing complexity of issues that supervisors deal with on a regular basis, it takes a new member almost one full three-year term to gain the experience and knowledge needed to be really effective at addressing issues. Thus, experienced members provide a necessary continuity and stability to Board deliberations. Any term limits, if ever adopted, should be long enough to insure that the Board has several members with considerable experience at all times.î
Ron Savinoóseat 2, challenger
Age: 42
Occupation: Consultant with emphasis on pollution control equipment
Family: Married, five children
Years residing in Scandia: 12
Reason running?
ìThanks to our current Board we have a gravel pit that has been dug so deep that it has exposed the aquifer, theyíve approved a 10-bed treatment facility in the Township of Scandia, and we currently have a business district that canít service the people we have living here, let alone all the new people that will be moving into developments. I feel I can do a better job of giving the average resident a voice in the decisions that affect us all.î
Goals to accomplish if elected?
ìWe have to seriously look at incorporating the township of Scandia so we donít find ourselves in the same position as Wyoming, who is currently trying to fight off annexation of a large portion of their tax base by a neighboring city.î
ìWe should also be looking at a trail system throughout our community. We have one of the largest saddle clubs in the state and we have no place for people to ride. We also need walking trails to accommodate the walkers in the area and to give children safe places to ride bikes.î
ìOur business district has to grow. We must decide the types of businessÇ that are needed to service our residents and make it easy for them to locate here.î
ìWe have a history here in Scandia, but unfortunately the old barns are being torn down and replaced with big square metal pole barns. We should be promoting our history by offering incentives for preservation of some of the old barns.î
ìWe have a wonderful town here in Scandia, but if we continue the course weíre on then we may as well be Woodbury, Eden Prairie or every other third-tier suburb because weíre in danger of losing our uniqueness.î
Should there be term limits?
ìYes. There is a line between being experienced and being stale. The excitement and ideas that a fresh face brings to the table canít be bought it must be experienced. After two terms how many original solutions is someone really going to come up with? Yet, they remain in office while someone who is thinking about running for a board seat opts out because they donít want to confront a long-term incumbent.î
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