Michael Wojcik: Why I am asking for your vote in Ward 2

Dear Rochester Neighbor;

My name is Michael Wojcik and I’m honored to be your representative to the Rochester City Council. I am running for reelection and am eager to represent you for another term. 

I am both one of the youngest and most experienced elected officials in Rochester, so I bring an important perspective to the council. I am qualified for this position and that is important because Rochester’s issues and challenges are increasingly complex. I hold numerous degrees and certifications in the fields of engineering and business. I devote 40 to 60 hours per week to city council work, which is required to fully understand and influence local decisions. I hold continuing education awards for elected officials through the National League of Cities. I am raising a family and have a new Paws & Claws puppy. I successfully run a small business on the side which serves churches and nonprofits. The part of my work that I’m most passionate about is always being there when my constituents call on me. I deliver timely and honest answers to my constituents. My reputation as a responsive representative is such that many citizens contact me when they are unsure who else to contact. I am always willing to connect people to the answers and resources they need.

This year, like every other time I have run for office, I have faced a number of attacks from prominent individuals. I have never run a negative ad in 12 years, I have never had the support of dark money PACs, or the people who fund them. The electorate has always looked past the attacks and elected me on the basis of my accomplishments and vision. As such I wish to share these with you.

Accomplishments:

The results of my leadership and hard work can be seen around Rochester. Cascade Lake Park, the Uptown neighborhood, expanded transit, additional affordable housing, growth in the local food & beverage scene and broadband choice are all issues on which I have led.

I am proud to be endorsed by Rochester for Justice for my commitment to fairness and equity. I not only believe that Black Lives Matter, I show up, listen, and act on behalf of others. I am a strong voice for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, children, seniors, the poor and the disabled.

I am passionate about our environment and addressing Climate Change. I am proud to be endorsed by the Sierra Club. I made the motion to stop burning coal in Rochester and to require RPU to rely on 100% renewable energy in 2030. We are converting to 100% LED street lights, and electrifying our city vehicles and transit system.

I wrote and worked to pass the Transparency Act in 2019 at the very first meeting under a new mayor who would not veto such a policy. I helped end inaccessible and unrecorded City Council dinner meetings where millions in developer subsidies were discussed. Now every public meeting is accessible and recorded. I took on our Convention & Visitors Bureau and ended decades of conflicts of interest. Through that action we are saving the taxpayers $1 million annually on Civic Center operations. In addressing financial mismanagement at partner organizations like the Civic Theatre & Art Center we are making participation more inclusive and sustainable.

I am a leader on affordable housing. I have helped to pass every unit of workforce and affordable housing in Rochester in the last decade. I serve as a bridge between concerned neighbors and developers to get great projects done. This has provided both economic development and needed housing.

I am leading the transformation of Rochester into a sustainable city. I helped create the Rochester Energy Commission and Plan. For 10 years I battled entrenched interests to pass a new comprehensive plan, create a new Rochester planning department, expand transit, make biking and walking safer, and invest in neighborhoods. I am the only candidate for this office who will protect our Boulevard Tree Ordinance and urban forest. I am a full member of the Urban Land Institute and a member of their Building Healthy Corridors & Health Places teams.

I helped create the Heritage Preservation Commission and hire qualified staff to create fair processes. I support local overlays to protect the Downtown and Pill Hill Historic districts. 

I helped bring a vibrancy to downtown and the 2nd street corridor. As both a board member and council member we brought People's Food Co-Op to downtown.

I hold an MBA from the Carlson School of Management and I am particularly interested in budgets & finance. Did you know that our property tax rate in 2021 will be the lowest it's been in a decade? This is incredible when considering our growth challenges and decreased funding from the State. Any increases you will see in city taxes are entirely due to an increased value of your property. In other words, it's good that you are invested in Rochester. 

I have led on the little changes that have made Rochester more fun; amenities like our brewing industry, bike lanes & trails, food trucks, Sunday sales, scooters, rideshare services sales, Thursdays on First, the farmers markets, and special events. I support the fun stuff in our community, even when some in the old guard do not. Starting a food truck or selling beer on Sunday in Rochester shouldn’t be as hard as some people wanted to make it.

Vision:

Come January I will have as much experience in City government as the other seven city officials combined. It is this history along with my youth and passion which prompted me to run for another term. In addition to continuing my work for progressive change, I will be available to mentor newly elected council members as they learn how to best serve the community in their new roles.

I understand and respect science, I know our economy and a healthy community are based on it. On issues ranging from climate change to street design to Covid19, I will use data and professional expertise to make decisions. I am the only candidate for this seat who was willing to say yes to our local face mask policy when it came up for a vote. You can count on me to make good decisions in the face of criticism.

I am committed to making our streets safer for all users. We now have authority to set our own speed limits. We should empower our engineering teams to design and change speed limits on roadways to prioritize safety. We must continue to close gaps in our pedestrian and bicycle networks so that anyone can safely navigate our community. 

I am the only candidate committed to modernizing our transit busing $120 million in state and local funds to build a rapid transit system between Cascade Lake and Downtown. This project will lead to hundreds of millions more in private investments including parks, mixed income housing, parking and small businesses at Cascade Lake. 

I am passionate about fair elections. I support Ranked Choice Voting as a means to make our elections more accessible to those traditionally underrepresented. The Fair Redistricting act will ensure the city creates fair political subdivisions and fights for the same at other levels of government.

If you have any questions you can contact me through www.votewojcik.org. I can’t promise you that you will agree with my positions but I will promise to be honest, consistent and learn from you about aspects which I may not have considered.

I sincerely ask for your vote in this election. If possible, please vote before November 3 to help reduce the risk of spreading Covid19. In person voting is available on November 3 at your regular polling place. 

Michael Wojcik is seeking re-election as the Ward 2 representative on the Rochester City Council.