Two council seats and one mayoral seat are open this year

BY KASSIE PETERMANN SUN FOCUS

Seven candidates have filed for two vacant Columbia Heights City Council seats, including incumbents Bruce Nawrocki and Bobby Williams and challengers Donna Schmitt, Adrian Durand, Thomas Crotty, Sue Proft Campbell and Brian Drews.

Mayor Gary Peterson has filed for re-election, and will be running against Bob Odden in November.

City Council members who are elected will serve four-year terms and the mayor will serve a two-year term.

Donna Schmitt

Donna Schmitt is a 23-year resident of Columbia Heights who works as an insurance manager at Wellspring Chiropractic and as an administrative assistant at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church.

Schmitt has served eight years on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

"It seemed like the right time," she said of running for City Council. "I had encouragement from friends, neighbors and family.

"I'd like to see this be a city that is inviting to businesses and families," Schmitt said.

She told Sun Focus she's seen more cooperation between the City and School District 13, and wants to see that continue and be encouraged.

Schmitt also said she'd like to see less government involvement in citizens' private lives. "I'm more for sunset clauses on ordinances, which forces the council to reevaluate to see if [ordinances are] working. Too many times these ordinances stay on the books and they have no purpose at this time."

Adrian Durand

Adrian Durand, a resident of Columbia Heights since 2004, works as a project manager at National Oilwell Varco in St. Paul.

"I'm really happy with Columbia Heights," he said. "I like the location and the people."

As a project manager, Durand, 34, said he has a lot of responsibility in regard to budgets, purchasing and planning. "I thought I could use those same skills to help the City."

He told Sun Focus he'd like to help the City develop more jobs and improve the economic situation to help find a way to keep people in their homes.

Thomas Crotty

Thomas Crotty, 49, has lived in Columbia Heights for 15 years.

"I just thought I'd give it a shot," he said of running for City Council. "I've lived in this area all my life. I thought I'd contribute to whatever I can in Columbia Heights."

Sue Proft Campbell

Sue Proft Campbell has lived in the city for 29 years. She said her family has lived in Columbia Heights since the 1920s.

She told Sun Focus she decided to run for City Council because she felt there was a need for the council to be more congenial. "It would be good for the city to have that," she said.

"I want to keep the city as a desirable place to live," Proft Campbell said. "First-ring suburbs sometimes get sighted as being not so desirable.

"I want people to feel it's a safe and a great place to live. I love living here."

With the idea of developing a program, Proft Campbell, 59, said she feels that citizens should take more of an active role in helping with crime prevention.

She advises residents that if they see something suspicious, they should take notes, try to get descriptions of people and phone the Police Department with that information.

"If you see something, don't just sit back," she said. "The police can't be everywhere."

Proft Campbell said she's open to hearing more what people want and seeing if it can be worked into Columbia Heights.

Brian Drews

Brian Drews, 44, has lived in Columbia Heights for more than 40 years.

For about nine years, he has helped coach baseball, basketball, football and wrestling through the Recreation Department.

"I thought some of those people have been [on the council] a long time, and maybe it's time for a change," Drews said of filing. He added that he wants to try something new that would challenge him.

If elected, he told Sun Focus he would like to help build a better community and make some areas of the city better by cleaning them up.

Bruce Nawrocki

Bruce Nawrocki said his family moved to Columbia Heights in 1938.

He was first elected as a City Council member in 1961 and elected as mayor in 1965. He ran an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1988 and was later elected as a council member in 1990. He returned to the council in 2001 and was re-elected four years ago.

Nawrocki is a member of the Lions Club and is a VFW 230 Post member. He is also a member of the Northeast Senior Nonprofit Housing Corporation.

"I have a strong feeling that government works best when citizens have the opportunity to know what business its governing body has under consideration," he said.

Nawrocki said he asks a lot of questions at City Council meetings for his own information and for the interest of residents who might be watching at home.

"It's important to have discussion on issues that affect the citizens in the community, to get a feeling for what their government is trying to do for them or to them," he said.

Nawrocki believes that a couple important issues for Columbia Heights include public safety and property taxes.

"We need to keep a better handle on our city finances," he said, adding that it's important to prioritize how money is spent and look at cost-effective alternatives.

Bobby Williams

Bobby Williams, 71, has lived in the city for about 10 years and is the owner of Bobby & Steve's Auto World.

Williams is a member of the Boosters and the Lions Club and has helped with the annual prayer breakfast, the Mayor's Holiday Kick-off Party and has raised funds for the library.

He has served on the City Council for the past eight years.

Williams said his greatest achievement on the council has been working together with the School District to build the high school gym complex.

Asked what qualities make him a good City Council member, he said: "I'm really a team player. I'm a strong businessman and understand finances, government, and people.

"I've served people my whole career."

Williams said he wants to see construction of the new gym complex and the public safety center, along with further development of commercial properties along Central Avenue.

"I'd like to see the stock of homes and present homes be upgraded to the point where the community is one that everyone wants to live in," he said.

Bob Odden

Bob Odden, 58, has lived in the city since 1998. In past years, he has run for City Council seats.

"I want Columbia Heights to be unique, and I want the city to be neighborly and affordable," he said.

"I would make sure that we stay within our oaths of office, that we follow the United States Constitution, the Minnesota State Constitution and the city charter," Odden said.

He added that any ordinance passed would have to benefit the vast majority of citizens.

"I want people to come and tell me what they think are problems. If it's a true problem for the city and the residents, I'm more than happy to act on it and listen."

Gary Peterson

A resident of Columbia Heights since 1968, Peterson was a contract carpenter for 45 years.

He has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Park and Recreation Commission, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and the Economic Development Authority (EDA).

Peterson is also a member of the Boosters and the Lions Club.

He was first elected to the City Council in 1983 and has served a total of 20 years on the council.

Peterson said he chose to run again for mayor because he wants to make sure the City continues to move in the right direction and finish some of the things that have begun.

"I've enjoyed the successes that we've had in the community," he said, mentioning the public safety center, the high school gym complex and park improvements.

"We're making a better community, and I want to make sure it continues on."

Peterson told Sun Focus that an important city issue has involved work on the foreclosure problems with the state, county and other communities.

"This is something that has got to be addressed because it's very critical," he said.

A primary for the City Council seats will take place Sept. 9, and general elections for mayor and council will be held in November.

Adrian Durand

Adrian Durand, a resident of Columbia Heights since 2004, works as a project manager at National Oilwell Varco in St. Paul.

"I'm really happy with Columbia Heights," he said. "I like the location and the people."

As a project manager, Durand, 34, said he has a lot of responsibility in regard to budgets, purchasing and planning. "I thought I could use those same skills to help the City."

He told Sun Focus he'd like to help the City develop more jobs and improve the economic situation to help find a way to keep people in their homes.

Thomas Crotty

Thomas Crotty, 49, has lived in Columbia Heights for 15 years.

"I just thought I'd give it a shot," he said of running for City Council. "I've lived in this area all my life. I thought I'd contribute to whatever I can in Columbia Heights."

Sue Proft Campbell

Sue Proft Campbell has lived in the city for 29 years. She said her family has lived in Columbia Heights since the 1920s.

She told Sun Focus she decided to run for City Council because she felt there was a need for the council to be more congenial. "It would be good for the city to have that," she said.

"I want to keep the city as a desirable place to live," Proft Campbell said. "First-ring suburbs sometimes get sighted as being not so desirable.

"I want people to feel it's a safe and a great place to live. I love living here."

With the idea of developing a program, Proft Campbell, 59, said she feels that citizens should take more of an active role in helping with crime prevention.

She advises residents that if they see something suspicious, they should take notes, try to get descriptions of people and phone the Police Department with that information.

"If you see something, don't just sit back," she said. "The police can't be everywhere."

Proft Campbell said she's open to hearing more what people want and seeing if it can be worked into Columbia Heights.

Brian Drews

Brian Drews, 44, has lived in Columbia Heights for more than 40 years.

For about nine years, he has helped coach baseball, basketball, football and wrestling through the Recreation Department.

"I thought some of those people have been [on the council] a long time, and maybe it's time for a change," Drews said of filing. He added that he wants to try something new that would challenge him.

If elected, he told Sun Focus he would like to help build a better community and make some areas of the city better by cleaning them up.

Bruce Nawrocki

Bruce Nawrocki said his family moved to Columbia Heights in 1938.

He was first elected as a City Council member in 1961 and elected as mayor in 1965. He ran an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 1988 and was later elected as a council member in 1990. He returned to the council in 2001 and was re-elected four years ago.

Nawrocki is a member of the Lions Club and is a VFW 230 Post member. He is also a member of the Northeast Senior Nonprofit Housing Corporation.

"I have a strong feeling that government works best when citizens have the opportunity to know what business its governing body has under consideration," he said.

Nawrocki said he asks a lot of questions at City Council meetings for his own information and for the interest of residents who might be watching at home.

"It's important to have discussion on issues that affect the citizens in the community, to get a feeling for what their government is trying to do for them or to them," he said.

Nawrocki believes that a couple important issues for Columbia Heights include public safety and property taxes.

"We need to keep a better handle on our city finances," he said, adding that it's important to prioritize how money is spent and look at cost-effective alternatives.

Bobby Williams

Bobby Williams, 71, has lived in the city for about 10 years and is the owner of Bobby & Steve's Auto World.

Williams is a member of the Boosters and the Lions Club and has helped with the annual prayer breakfast, the Mayor's Holiday Kick-off Party and has raised funds for the library.

He has served on the City Council for the past eight years.

Williams said his greatest achievement on the council has been working together with the School District to build the high school gym complex.

Asked what qualities make him a good City Council member, he said: "I'm really a team player. I'm a strong businessman and understand finances, government, and people.

"I've served people my whole career."

Williams said he wants to see construction of the new gym complex and the public safety center, along with further development of commercial properties along Central Avenue.

"I'd like to see the stock of homes and present homes be upgraded to the point where the community is one that everyone wants to live in," he said.

Bob Odden

Bob Odden, 58, has lived in the city since 1998. In past years, he has run for City Council seats.

"I want Columbia Heights to be unique, and I want the city to be neighborly and affordable," he said.

"I would make sure that we stay within our oaths of office, that we follow the United States Constitution, the Minnesota State Constitution and the city charter," Odden said.

He added that any ordinance passed would have to benefit the vast majority of citizens.

"I want people to come and tell me what they think are problems. If it's a true problem for the city and the residents, I'm more than happy to act on it and listen."

Gary Peterson

A resident of Columbia Heights since 1968, Peterson was a contract carpenter for 45 years.

He has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Park and Recreation Commission, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and the Economic Development Authority (EDA).

Peterson is also a member of the Boosters and the Lions Club.

He was first elected to the City Council in 1983 and has served a total of 20 years on the council.

Peterson said he chose to run again for mayor because he wants to make sure the City continues to move in the right direction and finish some of the things that have begun.

"I've enjoyed the successes that we've had in the community," he said, mentioning the public safety center, the high school gym complex and park improvements.

"We're making a better community, and I want to make sure it continues on."

Peterson told Sun Focus that an important city issue has involved work on the foreclosure problems with the state, county and other communities.

"This is something that has got to be addressed because it's very critical," he said.

A primary for the City Council seats will take place Sept. 9, and general elections for mayor and council will be held in November.