We put the same five questions to all of the Olmsted County Board candidates on the ballot for the August 9 primary election. Candidates were asked to keep their answers to under 100 words, and were given the opportunity to share a photo. These are the responses we received.

District 4

1) With a number of long-serving commissioners set to retire, the board will look much different when it convenes next January. What are the top policies you hope the new board pursues? And what kind of voice would you bring to those issues?

Bryan Mueller: Funding for smaller towns (mainly infrastructure), Property tax (procedure), HHS mental health.

Bill Pirkl: Strategic growth promotion is my top County Board policy for 2023. I will be a strong champion of continuing to provide critical resources such as public safety, security, and environmental responsibility in a more efficient manner, with the goal of providing every type of lifestyle in Olmsted County that fits the individual needs of each new family.

Kindra Ramaker: I hope the policy issues that the board has top of mind relate to the environment and how we can improve both our impact on the environment and help residents combat the impacts of inflation. Examples of this are investing in infrastructure to support electric vehicles and looking at how we shorten supply chains for building materials. Governments can incent innovation locally to help solve social issues and help our business and communities thrive. I believe I will be a strong voice for innovation, inclusiveness, and opportunities.

2) Some of the candidates on the ballot this year are well-known names, while others are running a campaign for the first time. What kind of relevant experience and knowledge do you have that best positions you to represent county residents?

Mueller: I have 18 years with Rochester township government. The township is busier than most, setting budgets, purchasing road maintenance equipment, and having full time employees. I also understand that there are county regulations and state statutes that must be complied with.

Pirkl: As the father, devoted husband, and family leader of my 4 grade-school children, small business, and family farm, I firmly believe that I am the most qualified individual to serve the citizens of Olmsted County’s 4th Commissioner district.

Ramaker: I am a candidate who is new to running for office. I will bring fresh perspective, and at the same time, knowledge of public policy. In 2017, I finished my master’s degree in Public Affairs, studying timely & relevant public policy concerns in Minnesota like the lack of affordable childcare, the challenges with rural wastewater treatment, and challenges for people to save for retirement. I bring knowledge of policy evaluation and an ability to draw clear lines about what government should be involved in and how they can be strong stewards of county residents’ tax dollars.

3) Please identify one issue in your district that you believe needs to be addressed and, if elected or re-elected, how you would work toward a solution.

Mueller: I believe District 4 is in fair condition. It is important to keep up with funding for smaller towns, they are the backbone of the rural areas and are support for Rochester.

Pirkl: The city of Rochester is very competitive in attracting new families and businesses. This can create challenges to smaller, rural towns such as Stewartville, Eyota, Dover and Chatfield in their own development. I plan to work with each small town’s leadership to help facilitate their growth and recruitment efforts.

Ramaker: I think there are too many barriers for certain groups of people in opening businesses. When businesses thrive, a free-market economy can work the way it’s supposed to. Government can take an oversight role rather than an interventionist role. When businesses can grow, offer necessary services, and offer stable employment, health insurance, and educational benefits to its employees, the government is pressured less to solve those problems. The county should look at potential public-private solutions for making sure women-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned (etc) businesses are able to start and grow in Olmsted County.

4) Rental costs continue to rise in Olmsted County, as with other parts of the country; while the cost of buying a home remains out of reach for many. What do you view as the county board’s role in addressing housing affordability?

Mueller: Costs are driven by the housing market. I believe the county needs to take care of vulnerable adults, senior citizens and at-risk youth so these groups do not fall into homelessness. I would like to see home rehabilitation for low income families.

Pirkl: Historic inflation has driven the spike in living costs. Olmsted County must do its part to incentivize first time home buyers, keeping seniors in their homes as long as possible, and keeping monthly rent affordable.

Ramaker: I think the County has an opportunity to strongly incent innovation in the local builder community, as well as in the non-profit space. Supply chain disruption and supply chain resiliency will continue to be disruptive to the housing market unless policy makers understand what they can do to help shift things quickly. Local builders have a role, and nonprofits can help with education and research. Governments can help incent this activity to happen more quickly and Olmsted County has the opportunity to be a leader in sustainable and resilient supply chains.

5) In 2019, the county purchased the former Seneca property near Graham Park for $5.6 million. It has since partnered with RAEDI to find a potential developer for the site. What do you hope the future looks like for the 11-acre property?

Mueller: The Seneca property is a work in progress. The County Board will have to see what offers or ideas are brought forth. I'm sure there will be considerable thought put into its use.

Pirkl: I would like to see Olmsted County construct and operate a youth baseball, softball, and soccer sports complex on the former Seneca property. I would also be in favor of a minor league baseball team facility if there was adequate space remaining.

Ramaker: I feel very strongly about this. If the county purchased this land, the development needs to be intentionally designed with the use of county residents in mind. If this land is simply developed with resale profits in mind, this will be an enormous missed opportunity. Several non-profit organizations are developing a proposal for non-profit collaboration and incubator space for entrepreneurs trying to enter the market. I am very interested in reviewing proposals such as this.

Note: A fourth candidate, Steve Connelly, did not respond to the questionnaire.

District 5

1) With a number of long-serving commissioners set to retire, the board will look much different when it convenes next January. What are the top policies you hope the new board pursues? And what kind of voice would you bring to those issues?

Catherine Davis: Examine how we invest tax dollars to ensure we are allocating resources responsibly; create opportunities for our diverse community members to engage in local government; and develop and maintain affordable housing options by partnering with cities and other groups. During my career, I have worked in continuous improvement with the goal of increasing efficiencies, effectiveness of programs, and controlling costs. In my career and volunteer roles, I have made it a priority to engage people from a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds. Finally, I have a background in creating cross-sector partnerships to address complex issues such as affordable housing.

Mike Macken: We have to continue the fine work that the current commissioners have established and grow on that. The top policies I hope to pursue are 1) improve community safety 2) deal with affordable housing shortage and 3) we really need to improve options and availability of mental health help. I have no problem making tough decisions. I will be a strong leader for Olmsted County.

Michelle Rossman: The responsibility of a commissioner is to bring the issues, needs and concerns of their constituents to the discussions at the county government level. I’ve been a resident of District 5 for 18 years, so I’ve witnessed the tremendous growth which has resulted in housing and infrastructure needs. In addition, the demands on township and city resources increase with our growing population. I will be a strong advocate for my constituents and am committed to representing their needs. I am eager to continue to interact with and learn from the residents of Olmsted District 5.

2) Some of the candidates on the ballot this year are well-known names, while others are running a campaign for the first time. What kind of relevant experience and knowledge do you have that best positions you to represent county residents?

Davis: For over 20 years, I have been actively involved in our community serving on boards and committees with the goal of making Olmsted County a great place to live. As a volunteer board member, I have had to make tough decisions regarding budget, programs, and staff. In my career, I have worked in education, business, and nonprofit bringing a unique skill set to the County Commissioner role. I know how to analyze data, listen to multiple perspectives, and conduct my own research to arrive at decisions. I will apply these skills, knowledge, and experience to the County Commissioner role.

Macken: I am from Rochester. Born and raised, but I am a newcomer to running a campaign. I have been a plumbing contractor for over 35 years and have dealt with the city and people on a daily basis. One of my biggest accomplishments was the construction of the girls fastpitch fields on the east side of Rochester. I worked with the city, the county and RCTC to achieve this. This now provides substantial economic impact when hosts (Rochester Sports) secures events to Rochester.

Rossman: My experience includes financial management, aligning diverse groups around shared goals, strategic planning and project management. I am eager to understand the needs of residents so that I can represent them in county government discussions. Utilizing my life experiences and skill set, I will bring business acumen, an aptitude for learning and listening and extensive experience in evaluating data and stakeholder input to build programs that serve the diverse needs of our community. I have much to learn about county- managed programs and am eager to engage with residents, community organizations and county employees to build my knowledge base.

3) Please identify one issue in your district that you believe needs to be addressed and, if elected or re-elected, how you would work toward a solution.

Davis: A big issue in District 5 is the Highway 14/CR44 (60th Ave NW) intersection. While the closing of medians to allow only right will make this intersection safer, it’s not a permanent solution. While the County has allocated the funds, the State has yet to provide the necessary monies to move this project forward. I would work with our Olmsted County delegation and state leadership to encourage the passing of the bonding bill and to get this project into the Department of Transportation’s 10-year plan.

Macken: If elected, I intend to work with MnDOT to make the Hwy 14/Cty Rd 44 interchange (public safety) a priority. Even though it is on hold, we need to make the interchange happen. Because of our growing county, people need to safely get to Mayo and downtown Rochester.

Rossman: The infrastructure to support growth in District 5 is a top priority. We must work diligently to get financial support from the state to ensure safe roads and collaborate with our townships to ensure efficient and effective use of resources.

4) Rental costs continue to rise in Olmsted County, as with other parts of the country; while the cost of buying a home remains out of reach for many. What do you view as the county board’s role in addressing housing affordability?

Davis: The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners can allocate part of the HRA levy to address affordable housing. A few ways to use this money are to incentivize developers to create more affordable housing, purchase land for the express use of affordable housing developments, and examine current programs to see if they are effective or if those funds should be redirected to programs that will have a bigger impact in addressing the affordable housing crisis.

Macken: The private sector and city takes care of workforce housing. Our responsibility lies with those that have little or no resources and are below the AMI. We are the only ones to help this group and we need to continue to provide assistance for them.

Rossman: Data from studies like the Maxfield study needs to be utilized to forecast the housing needs across Olmsted County. There are many programs in place to increase affordable housing options but economic trends and population growth will be a challenge.

5) In 2019, the county purchased the former Seneca property near Graham Park for $5.6 million. It has since partnered with RAEDI to find a potential developer for the site. What do you hope the future looks like for the 11-acre property?

Davis: I think the Seneca property is a great opportunity to engage community members in a co-design of the space. By getting input directly from residents who are invested in seeing the development of this property, we can discover new, innovative ideas that may not have otherwise been considered.

Macken: This is a prime area in Rochester. We need to make sure we put viable amenities in this area. I want to make this clear — no housing in this area. This needs serious study and consideration and I'm not afraid to sit on this property in lieu of making a bad decision.

Rossman: We need to identify and prioritize infrastructure needs that could be met through the development of that property. If that prioritization process identifies the sale of the property as the most viable option, that must be considered. Strategic planning based on the needs of our residents must be foundational to decisions like this. County commissioners need to make decisions that are fiscally responsible and keep the long-term benefits and health of our community in mind at all times.