Bike lanes. Street bumpouts. Signed petitions. Property taxes. Affordable housing. A new ice arena. A new high school. Bridge Square. The municipal liquor store. A new water treatment plant. Downtown development. Cannon River enhancements.
Those are just some of the hot button issues Northfield voters wanted the candidates running for Northfield mayor and City Council (at large and Ward 2 offices) to discuss at two public forums held at two different Northfield locations last week.
There are two city races headed to a primary election Aug. 13, in order to knock the races down to two candidates each ahead of the general election Nov. 5.
The mayoral race includes incumbent Mayor Rhonda Pownell, Erica Zwiefel, Timothy Babbini, Ruth Dahl, Adam Gebler, George Zuccolotto and Michael Kirschling.
City Council Ward 2, meanwhile, includes Chad Beumer, Emy Farley and Edward Malnar.
Two other city races do not require primaries. The council at large race includes incumbent Councilor Brad Ness and David DeLong. In Ward 3, Peter Dahlen is running unopposed.
On Monday night, June 24, the Northfield Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Northfield School District to host a candidate forum at the NHS auditorium, welcoming all the candidates to share the same dias. Chamber Board President Laura Stetler served as the moderator.
On Thursday, June 27, The League of Women Voters of Northfield and Cannon Falls sponsored the second forum, which was held at St. Olaf’s Viking Theater inside Buntrock Commons. The mayoral candidates portion went first at 6 p.m. followed at 7:05 p.m. by the Northfield City Council Ward 2 portion, which ended before 8 p.m.
Alyssa Melby, voter service chair for the LWV, served as emcee, with Catherine Davis, a Rochester League member, serving as the moderator.
“The League was delighted with the turnout for last night’s forum,” said Thomas Drucker, president of the League of Women Voters.
Michael Kirschling, candidate for mayor, was not able to attend either forum in person, but he sent in a statement to the LWV forum that was read by Davis.
Candidate quotes
“There have been over 753 homes built or in the pipeline since 2020,” touted current Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell, who is running for a third four-year term. “
Current Northfield Mayor Rhonda Pownell touted her experience, including 16 years on the council with eight as mayor, plus multiple years on The League of Minnesota Cities board, including as president. “That experience has been the foundation and basis for what I’ve brought to the mayoral role for the city of Northfield: strategic planning, civility, working in strong collaboration with all of my council colleagues.”
“I love serving the community as an elected official,” said Erica Zweifel, a former 12-year councilor and now candidate for mayor. She wants to focus on, “Fiscal responsibility, economic development and increased civic engagement.”
“Leave Bridge Square alone; it’s lovely and historic,” said Ruth Dahl, a mayoral candidate, who emphasized business development and growth.
“My batteries are short-circuited,” said Timothy Babbini, candidate for mayor. “We don’t need to spend millions of dollars to put bike paths in the middle of the streets.”
“I’ve never made more than $40,000,” said George Zuccolotto, candidate for mayor. “But since I’ve been on the council, we’re making decisions that cost millions of dollars.”
“One of the more common things I hear is ‘We want to continue being a progressive, inviting, welcoming town … but it is quickly becoming too costly and there is no place for new people to come in,’” said Adam Gebler, candidate for mayor.
“I believe in Northfield,” said Edward Malnar, candidate for City Council Ward 2, “but I’d do everything on a smaller, more sustainable budget.”
“Taxpayers should not be open checkbooks for the city,” said Chad Beumer, a candidate for City Council Ward 2.
“A town of this size has no business being as fantastic as it is, and it is this fantastic,” said Emy Farley, candidate for City Council Ward 2. “… I’d like to keep Northfield as strong a player as possible, both now and long in the future.”
“Go vote,” said David DeLong, candidate for City Council at large.
View the Chamber forum at northfieldlive.com .
View the League of Women Voters forum at stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?e=4764 .
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