True North

Everyone is promising change in this election.  It may not be possible to change Washington, but the citizens of Ramsey County can change a few things that need changing on Tuesday, especially the citizens who live in District 2.  The incumbent for this area is Jan Parker, who chairs the County Board and was instrumental in awarding herself a 25% raise.  That sort of self-dealing had largely escaped notice until this year.  Parker has run without much opposition in the past, but now there's a chance to change the culture of the Ramsey County Board.

Rick Moses is a long-time New Brighton resident and successful businessman who is willing to take on the task of cleaning out the stables on Kellogg Boulevard, where most business is done on 7-0 votes and non-partisanship means that everyone spends money regardless of the wishes of the taxpayers.  Rick will challenge all that and won't be shy about it.  He isn't looking for a sinecure; instead he is running on the Cincinnatus model:  he will go to St. Paul, do his work and then go back to his life after a term or two.  Unlike Jan Parker, Rick hasn't tried to blur the distinctions about what he intends to do with a cloak of non-partisanship. And unlike Tony Bennett, the ostensible Republican who represents District 1, Rick doesn't have to remind people that he is committed to fiscal discipline.  Rick is committed to reducing spending by at least 1% each year.  And this would be an actual reduction, not cutting 1% from a baseline budget that goes up 10%.

 

In addition, Rick will take a tough look at how the money gets spent.  One of the most irritating games that local politicians play is the "I'm not responsible for that" gambit.  For years, citizens of New Brighton have lived with one of the most ridiculous main thoroughfares in the metro area, Old Highway 8.  The stretch of this road from the intersection of 5th Streeet NW and County Road D is a nightmarish slog riddled with dangerous 4-way stops and often-overwhelming traffic during the rush hours.  The neighborhoods adjacent to Old Highway 8 have been suffering through these problems for years.  If you ask City Hall for help, they tell you they can't do anything -- it's a county road.  If you approach the county, the request goes down the memory hole.

 

Rick won't be so blithe about such problems.  He's committed to devoting funds to helping people throughout Ramsey County, not simply funnelling money into a light rail line that duplicates existing transit services, but at an exponential increase in cost.

If you want change, you need to vote for it.  The primary is Tuesday.  Go out and vote for Rick Moses.

 

Cross-posted at Mr. Dilettante.  Comments always welcome!