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PA's Endorsed Electeds:
More of What's In Store for 2006

(Updated February 13, 2006) As 2006 gets under way, Progressive Action has asked some of our endorsed candidates from November’s election to tell us how they’re preparing to get underway with their new term in office.

Roger Reinert
City Council President 2006
115 North Third Avenue West Duluth, MN 55802 (218) 730-5247 E-mail: rreinert@ci.duluth.mn.us

Since I was on the Council for the past two years, I didn't have to do much to prepare for the new term. I did try to rest and relax a bit after a pretty grueling campaign season, but that was short lived!

Clearly, the top issue before the Council is implementing the Retiree Healthcare Taskforce recommendations during 2006. The Mayor's endorsement and pledge to work with the Council during the State of the City speech was a positive step. The Council recently held an organizational meeting to discuss the plan for implementing these recommendations as well as to allow individual Councilors to discuss their policy priorities for 2006.

Although Retiree is the primary issue before the Council as a whole, resolution of the Northwest Airlines bankruptcy and resulting actions for the maintenance facility will also be a major issue. As an individual Councilor, my top priority is to continue to work on neighborhood stability/quality of life issues. I hope to see an overhaul of the nuisance property ordinances, make significant headway in demolition of buildings condemned for demolition, and successfully address illegal dumping through an annual "Amnesty Day" program.

The adjustments are certainly greater for a newly elected official. The biggest challenge for most people, myself included, is to catch up on work and family activities that were set aside during the campaign season.

One of the best things I saw in recent years was the "wish list" put together after Mayor Bergson was elected. I think it would be helpful to get that list out again (I keep a copy in my Council folder) and see where we have made progress and where progress is underway. Discussion could take place on the remaining items and perhaps even prioritize a few for action over the next 1 - 2 years.

Laura Condon
Re-elected, Duluth School Board
Formerly At-Large, now 4th District

The job of being a school board member is incredibly rewarding. Although I'm so busy at times that I feel I cannot do half the job I could or should, I do try to respond to as many requests as I possibly can.

For me, this is not a new office, and I am trying to focus as much as I can on Western Duluth because that is my home base now. I try to be as responsive to their needs and concerns as I can be. Right now, I am working with the Denfeld alumni and some problems they are encountering. Also, there is a parental notification issue developing around enlistment and recruiting. I think both will soon be resolved, but we need to work with parent groups around the district who bring up issues, even ones that may seem unpopular at times, because parents are the base of who we serve.

2006 will probably not bring new issues or less time but a continuation of very important old issues: a long-term plan and fiscal accountability. The plan we are working on is to downsize the number of buildings. We are working to decide which to keep and which to update. Also, with the ever-increasing demand on our funds, we need to focus on what we are willing to retain and plan ahead to what we could possibly restore.

In the area of completely new issues, we need to be careful also. For instance, we have a quality-of-work-life committee that one would think would be "the best thing since sliced bread," but I have also heard it may be infringing into the negotiations area. We need to be ever mindful that what we do as board members, no matter how well intended, is perceived as we hoped it would be.

In the area of accountability to your group, Progressive Action, I think it is very important to watch our votes, to remind us of our commitment to those who helped us get reelected. Also, it is important to talk with us. I think we should be approachable and be able to explain what our votes mean and why we as board members vote the way we do on issues.

I like hearing from the people of Duluth and enjoy their input. Most often I find we have a thoughtful community who really cares about our children and their education. I like representing people who value education as much as I do. Please continue to update me on what you are concerned about. I am here to serve.

Earlier, Duluth School Board members Mary Cameron and Nancy Nilsen answered these Progressive Action queries:

1) What are you doing to prepare for taking (or continuing) office? Are there specific things you are working on to prepare?

2) What issues do you see headed your way in this new year?

3) What adjustments does a newly elected or re-elected officeholder have to make in her life?

4) How can your supporters in the progressive community help you be successful in your goals for promoting progressive issues in the upcoming months?

Mary Cameron, Re-elected to the Duluth School Board

Decisions that Board members make have a direct impact on the students we serve. The purpose of the students’ presence is to provide a positive and productive learning experience for them and to provide two-way communications between students and the Duluth School Board. I also see this effort as “growing” our own future leaders in this community. We are hopeful that the students who serve will earn some form of service-learning credit(s).

I am also excited about the Quality Steering Committee that is bringing labor and management together. The intent is to improve labor-management communication, thereby increasing organizational understanding for continuous improvement in our educational system.

Some key issues I see coming in January include, but are not limited to:

1) Further discussion and decision made on bringing back the 7-period day or something similar to it. The Innovation in Education Committee presented us with three options: 7 Period-Embedded day, 4x4 Blocks Marking Period, and the 8-Period Day Staggered.

Once a decision is made as to which of these will be implemented, we need to figure out where the money will come from to finance it. Administrators are already looking into this.

2) I am also looking forward to the student representatives taking their seats in January. We will have one representative from each of our three traditional high schools.

3) The Race, Culture, and Achievement Gap Summit held back in October at Lincoln-Park yielded some interesting recommendations for the District. I am looking forward to reviewing these regarding what the district can do immediately, with little cost, and planning for the future. I would also like to see this summit duplicated within other agencies and organizations in the City including the City Council and County.

4) Reviewing the results of the survey of parents and students regarding why they choose to attend or not attend ISD 709 is another issue that I look forward to discussing.

5) I am also looking forward to continuing to work with Superintendent Keith Dixon. I am excited about the goals he has set and am very pleased with the direction he is taking this District. We will begin our long-range building planning very soon.

6) The Desegregation Council also continues to present challenges, with so much need and decreasing funds.

One of your questions was, “What adjustments I will need to make in my life?” Many of my friends and associates tell me I am crazy for doing what I do, but most tell me they are happy I do what I do because they know of my passion for it. I don’t have many adjustments to make in my life due to the fact that I have been serving on the Board for so long. It has become part of my life.

The best way for supporters in the progressive community to help is to continue to be involved in what is happening in our schools and our community. Stand up for what is wrong. Say something about it. Get involved in the process of changing things that threaten the well being of others. Demand civility in our schools and in our community.

Thank you,
Mary L. Cameron

Nancy Nilsen, Newly-Elected Member of the Duluth School Board

I have been very busy since the election on November 8th. Many things in my life were put on hold for months because of the election process and needed attention shortly thereafter.

Once I attended to those important items, I could begin my preparation for life as a member of the Duluth School Board. Some of the activities I have been participating in are: attending the School Board meetings, reading the weekly packets, meeting with School Board members to get to know the people I will be working with, attending functions (such as the one held for elected officials sponsored by Donny Ness), and attending training sessions for new School Board members.

One of the items we will be working on in January is the overview of our facilities. This will be an undertaking that will be very important in the future as we start to develop our long-range plan. We will also be starting the budgeting process for next year. We are going to try and have this done earlier this year to help with the staffing process for next year.

As a newly elected official, some changes need to be made in the scheduling of commitments. There will be more official functions to attend and more meetings to participate in. More people want to discuss school issues, which is very important to keeping in touch with how the community views the happenings of our district.

Hopefully my supporters in the progressive community will continue to show an interest in School Board issues and be supportive of the efforts put forth by us newly-elected School Board members. Thanks for all your support.

Sincerely,
Nancy Nilsen

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