Meet the St. Cloud City Council candidates

ST. CLOUD ― The St. Cloud Times asked the St. Cloud City Council candidates five questions about themselves and their goals if elected to office Nov. 8. Answers may be edited for length and clarity.

Incumbent Dave Masters is running unopposed for Ward 1, Sandra Brakstad and Karen Larson are running for Ward 2, Jake Anderson and incumbent Paul Brandmire are running for Ward 3 and incumbent Mike Conway and Hassan Yussuf are running for Ward 4. All city council positions are nonpartisan.

Learn more about how to register to vote and see who is on your November ballot at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/.

More:Crime, infrastructure, development focus of St. Cloud City Council candidates

Why are you running for office?

Anderson said, "I’m running for city council to be a consensus-seeker, bringing reasonable people together to find solutions to our shared challenges on local issues. I’m running to be an actively engaged council member – meeting with residents on a regular basis and serving as a liaison between city staff and constituents as a way to improve the relationship and communication. My experience on both the planning commission and park board has given me a good understanding of the challenges we face. Those experiences also gave me the opportunity to work with people of differing views and backgrounds which I feel are invaluable as a city council member."

Brakstad said, "As Americans we have come to know great privilege yet remain cringingly unresponsive to a wave of corrosive ideas and policies that seek to divide and destabilize our society. A “woke” culture has corrupted our institutions and strained the bonds of common values that hold our country together. Our state leaders, at the highest levels, stood by and watched as rioters burned and ravaged metro area businesses and neighborhoods, complicit in their disrespect for the law and those who pledged a sworn oath to enforce the law. Such dismissive behavior morphed into a virus that infected cities and states all over our country, and came dangerously close to erupting right here in St. Cloud. Thankfully, people are seeing what’s happening and getting involved. Regular people like you and me who have never been involved in politics are stepping up and running for office. I’m running because we do not need more of the status quo. My opponent is campaigning with candidates seeking reelection who seek more of the same regime. It’s time to step up with courage and common sense and listen to the voters."

Brandmire said, "I feel that a conservative voice on the council helps to balance what is often a more liberal bent in city affairs. Upper Midwest citizens are, in general, more conservative and traditional in personalities and for years have been feeling that their voices are not being heard, and their values are not being respected. I stand up for the rights of ALL citizens and work to ensure their individual rights are protected from governmental overreach."

Conway said, "Four years ago I promised to be a voice for the residents of the 4th Ward. I feel I have done that and wish to continue this promise. The 4th Ward is the fastest-growing part of the city. I want to make sure the needs of the city and the residents are first and foremost."

Larson said, "I am running for City Council because I care and I’m committed. I work hard at my goals. A primary goal for me, if elected, is to work to bridge social differences in St. Cloud (between the East Side and the rest of the city, between citizens and their city through improved communication, between neighbors in neighborhoods, and between citizens of different faith and cultural backgrounds). I am running because I do NOT view communication with residents of Ward 2 as a chore. I view it as a joy. I have personally knocked over 2,000 doors in the course of this campaign and would have loved to knock even more. As a sitting council member, citizen outreach would be a delight for me rather than a chore, since listening and responding to the “grass roots” is both pleasurable and in accordance with my view of the proper functioning of democratic government. I’m running because I want to leverage St. Cloud’s already good sense of community into something even better as I take part in guiding St. Cloud into a future that will enhance its strengths and address its challenges."

Yussuf said he is running, "To make St. Cloud better for all of us. All means all."

More:How to register and vote in Minnesota's 2022 election

What experience do you have that would make you a good fit for this position?

Anderson said, "From a public service perspective, I served on the St. Cloud Planning Commission for 11 years (2009 – 2020) where I was involved in the development of the annual Capital Improvement Program as well as the 2015 Comprehensive Plan. I was also on the St. Cloud Park & Recreation Advisory Board for much of this time as well (2010 – 2020) that included the development of the 2017 Park Master Plan. Serving on both of these boards provided me valuable insight into how the city functions, what the city is planning for the future, and the challenges we face from a budget perspective. They’ve also given me a chance to work with people with widely differing viewpoints on things – something I think we all would benefit from if we did it more. From a professional perspective, I’ve worked for Stearns County for the past 13 years on technology projects as a project manager where I’ve gotten a good understanding of how government operates behind the scenes and worked on projects that sought to create cost-savings and efficiencies in providing services to taxpayers."

Brakstad said, "As a successful small business owner, I have learned how to organize, motivate and lead; as well as educate, negotiate and get things done. I believe the role of a city council member is to listen, learn, investigate and mediate outcomes for the betterment of the community. We don’t need so called 'experts' on our city council. Anyone can recruit a gang of experts for any thesis one wishes to champion. I prefer the role of 'servant' because, as city council members, we need to serve the needs of our community with our God-given abilities. I know how to work with others to achieve desirable results. I’ve served on numerous public and private boards and 'Blue Ribbon' commissions, worked with people in advertising, marketing, trucking and many phases of manufacturing. I’ve met with members of Congress in Washington D. C. and many State Legislators in St. Paul. I’ve been a community volunteer, and served on the St. Cloud Public School District’s Parent Advisory Committee. I love to be involved, I respond, I show up, and I care about everyone in St. Cloud."

Brandmire said, "I lived and worked overseas for most of 20 years, with people from numerous nationalities and ethnicities. I learned to appreciate different cultures and methods. I worked within the government for two decades. I have a heart for service and a commitment to my community. Having a Master's in administration and a Bachelor's in business gives me the academic knowledge to work for the city council."

Conway said, "I have served for the past four years on the St. Cloud City council representing the 4th Ward, and also am serving on the St. Cloud Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board of Commissioners."

Larson said, "The experience that makes me a good fit for this office is diverse. My career in education provided experience in chairing and running formal meetings. My contract research work for a city in Florida gave me insight into city-based development and quality of life issues. My consultancy with the FBI provided insights into law enforcement. My research career focused for decades on an issue relevant to the social makeup of St. Cloud, i.e., intercultural relations. Regarding research in general, as a social scientist my approach to any matter that comes before me is to dig into the background and all the relevant facts before forming an opinion. My earlier applied research on the homeless, their service providers, and the surrounding populations led me in 2021 into involvement in the same issue in St. Cloud, involvement which now includes membership in the tri-county Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program Committee."

Yussuf said, "I currently serve on the boards of several non-profit organizations including United Way Partners For Students Success, Feeding Area Children Together (FACT), Stride Academy and Iqra Education Center. I previously served on the boards of Local Education and Activities Foundation (LEAF), Eradicating Achievement Gap and Learning Empowerment (EAGLE), Somali Elders Council and the Islamic Center of St. Cloud. I also volunteer with Minnesota Correctional Facility, St. Cloud and as mentor and Islamic Issues. In all these organizations I collaborated with members of our communities to enhance the lives in diverse ways, so if elected, I will use those experiences to work for the betterment of our city for all of us."

What are some important issues you’d focus on if elected?

Anderson said, "St. Cloud faces a number of challenges, some real and some perceived. First and foremost, we must be focused on public safety. This is a challenge for communities all across the country and our state. We should remember that much of our city is safe, as data indicates, and that our police department is doing an excellent job with the resources they have. With that said, the city council’s role is to assist the police department in creating an environment that allows for successful recruitment and retention of quality public safety professionals. One thing I would push for is higher pay for police and fire department personnel. We also need to have an actively engaged community working with police to have the greatest impact on reducing crime while ensuring that the community knows it is safe. To me this means, as a council person, working with neighborhood groups and the police in building and nurturing collaborative relationships. I would also like to focus on our quality of life. The city needs to be continuously cracking down on problem properties through ordinance enforcement as well as making investments in little things like street signs, streetlights and the overall aesthetics of our city. If we want people to start businesses, relocate or stay here, or make other investments in our community, we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard."

Brakstad said, "My two primary interests are public safety and business development, because they are important components in the equation for building a strong and vibrant community. These issues are very important to Ward 2 residents and businesses. In addition, many in Ward 2 are concerned that homelessness is an escalating force, which is driving an increase in crime and leading to business failures in the area. I believe the city must come to terms with homelessness on a comprehensive level. The primary complaint I hear regarding a certain East St. Cloud shelter however, is the behavior of its residents in the absence of behavioral boundaries. Shelters must comply with the conditional use permits established by the City’s Planning and Zoning Board, meet certain expectations and be accountable to their neighbors. I am not so naïve to think there are easy answers to this issue, but as we work it out, we have rules to follow. Good neighbors follow the rules."

Brandmire said, "1. Public safety and overcoming the perceptions of increased crime. 2. Maintaining and improving the infrastructure of the city. 3. Working to eliminate the homeless problem."

Conway said, "Top two issues facing the city are public safety and infrastructure. The city needs to continue to prioritize public safety. I believe we can continue to increase the number of officers. We also need to continue the push to increase the number of COP Houses around the city. These locations can provide a base for neighborhoods to develop relationships and increase the public's involvement in their safety. Continuing the road resurfacing process needs to continue. There are also sewer lines that need replacing in the next 20 years, we may need to look at other ways to pay for these expensive upgrades other than assessing the property owners. New development will also need to be able to cover the expansion, without adding additional burden to the current systems."

Larson said, "Important issues for me are: 1. Infrastructure: If I were a homeowner and St. Cloud was my house, I’d be looking to make improvements…in the area of roads, street/speed limit signs, lighting, etc. 2. Comprehensive commercial and residential development: I would like to see the two types of development addressed in a coordinated way. The East Side is a prime area where just such visioning can take place. Since the newly-formed Downtown Alliance has announced its prudent initial focus on revitalizing core areas of St. Cloud’s downtown, the gritty, scrappy, eclectic, historically-rich, potential-filled and consistently underrated East Side will have to begin in the near future by using its own citizen-based bootstraps to promote development. The citizen energy to promote such change on the East Side is not just there. It’s abundant and intense. 3. Public safety is a perennial concern: From traffic issues where residential roads are being driven like highways to an increase in high-profile crimes like shootings. At the same time, the already excellent culture of police outreach in St. Cloud can be leveraged to convey accurate crime information to citizens (cf., which types of crime are down as well as which are up). Enhanced citizen involvement (for me, this has been captaining a Neighborhood Block Watch Group) can also serve to fight back fear and a sense of citizen helplessness. When those feelings can be controlled, the focus can be instead on realistic and productive partnerships with the city’s safety professionals."

Yussuf said, "1. Public safety, through the lens of community engagement and neighbors looking out for each other, so that our neighborhood can be close to each other, take care of each other, be there for each other so that when something happens, we're able to stick together and help one another. 2. As a small business owner, attracting businesses to St. Cloud is important to help the community thrive and provide work. 3. Infrastructure improvements. Better streets, seal all potholes. Make sure our streets are safe especially so that the elderly can move through their neighborhoods without many obstacles."

What should St. Cloud voters know about you?

Anderson said, "I grew up in St. Cloud and attended ISD 742 public schools and graduated from St. Cloud State. Throughout my professional and public service careers, I’ve developed a reputation as someone who works to understand and solve problems, seeks consensus from reasonable people and puts in extra effort to get things done. I don’t pretend to have all the answers nor know the most about any given subject. I like to learn new things and incorporate ideas I’ve never thought of – which is why I have liberal and conservative friends. We need a council member for Ward 3 that’s going to focus on the issues that matter: how to recruit and retain the best public safety personnel, how to maintain and prioritize infrastructure needs, and improve our overall quality of life all while not burdening the taxpayers with unnecessary or unwise spending. We also need a council member who seeks to tamp down the rampant polarization and division that’s swept across our country. We need to start working together as a community to solve our challenges and make St. Cloud a better place to live, work, and raise the next generation."

Brakstad said, "I have deep roots in St. Cloud, having lived and worked in the area since 1981. I raised my family here, and both my sons graduated from Tech High School and SCSU. I believe in the city of St. Cloud. Our citizens work hard, respect the rule of law and seek to make a better life for themselves and their families. We do not need to elect those who seek tighter control, yet do nothing to protect and serve our needs. We have an excellent police force, vibrant educational community, strong local economy, a diverse and growing work force and a fertile environment for starting and growing businesses. We’ve survived the restraints and failures of the pandemic and are ready to put those behind us. With recent EDA grants and action groups developed under the umbrella of our chamber of commerce, we are positioned to see some amazing things come to fruition. The citizens of Ward 2 can be confident that I have the energy and courage to dig in. I’m not afraid of hard work or the difficult issues. If elected I will be a trustworthy, diligent servant of the city’s residents."

Brandmire said, "I respect our differences and appreciate all people are entitled to an opinion. I consistently vote to protect an individual’s right to live their lives to the fullest while not interfering with their neighbor doing the same."

Conway said, "I moved to St. Cloud in 1991 with my family. I came here to get my college degree from SCSU and stayed. I have been employed by a great local business, Wolters Kluwer (formally Bankers Systems) for the past 22 years. I have raised three children in St. Cloud. My wife and I spend a lot of time with our nine grandchildren."

Larson said, "People seem impressed that I was once a bouncer. I do hold a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. What people often fail to understand about martial arts, though, is that it is only partly about physical capabilities. The moral code that comes with the physical training is just as important. I’m tough, yes, but I’m also civil and respectful, partly because my code starts with courtesy and integrity. I value the truth highly. I will persevere against daunting odds. I may have to witness people disrespecting one another because of the difficulties we are having in contemporary American culture in dealing with our trauma, but I’ll do what I can to fight against it. I have been saying since the beginning of this campaign that I will refuse to participate in polarizing rhetoric. That promise also applies over the long term. My faith-based codes of conduct (Lutheran and Dakota spirituality) also support me in my caring and committed posture toward others."

Yussuf said he is a "good listener and a reliable, diligent person who keeps his word."

Becca Most is a cities reporter with the St. Cloud Times. Reach her at 320-241-8213 or bmost@stcloudtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter at @becca_most. 

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This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Candidates for St. Cloud City Council discuss goals, issues