Meet the Candidates: Spring Park Mayor

A pair of candidates are vying for the Spring Park mayor's seat - Mark Chase and Michael E. Mason.

Each candidate in contested races was asked the same set of questions by the Laker Pioneer, and candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words or less. Mason did not respond to the questionnaire. Unedited responses from Chase can be found below.

Early voting in Minnesota opened on Sept. 20, and Election Day is Nov. 5. Find your local polling place online at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/

Question 1: What prompted you to seek election (or re-election) to office?

Mark Chase: I’m passionate about the success of our city, and the future of Spring Park. Our city unexpectedly lost a great longtime city leader, Jerry Rockvam, leaving big shoes to fill. Given my experience and enjoyment of serving on the city council the past 4 years, I decided to run for mayor.

Question 2: What is your long-term vision for the community?

Chase: Spring Park and Lake Minnetonka are incredible assets that we can’t take for granted. We must continue to protect our natural resources and maintain a safe and tight-knit community for our residents. Spring Park has a small-town charm, which includes an excellent community of residents and businesses. We should continue to embrace our small-town feel, while thoughtfully growing through redevelopment opportunities as they present themselves in the future.

Question 3: If elected, how would you handle balancing economic development with maintaining a sense of community?

Chase: I talk to many residents regarding how both our longtime and newer businesses provide them a great sense of pride and community. Given that Spring Park is almost 100 percent developed from a land-use perspective, we must be thoughtful and future-oriented with any redevelopment projects. We have an excellent planning commission that partners with the city council to help research and approve new development projects, and I’m confident all parties have the same goal of maintaining our cities’ charm while growing as a community.

Question 4: What do you believe is the best way to address aging infrastructure and acquiring the funding to replace/update that infrastructure?

Chase: During my time on the city council, we have completed numerous major road and utility projects, and we must continue to be proactive in upgrading our aging infrastructure. The city received a grant from the state to cover the total cost for the reconstruction (water, sewer, road) on West Arm Road. The council is adopting a future infrastructure plan, considering engineering assessments of our roads and utilities to determine a timeline and financial options (state grants, bonding options). We are also working on a maintenance plan to ensure longevity of our roads.

Question 5: What in your background/experience best qualifies you for office?

Chase: I have served on the City Council since 2019, gaining experience on a wide variety of city issues and projects, including but not limited to: pedestrian safety, community events, infrastructure upgrades, city zoning and financial planning. I am an engineer by trade, so I am faced with problem solving and strategic thinking daily. My wife (Jessie) and I have loved living in Spring Park since 2016, and my daughter (Esther) since 2022. I am a proud to call Spring Park home for my family and would be honored to serve as your next mayor.