Minneapolis Ward 8 candidate questionnaire

David Regan

(Did not respond to questionnaire)

Gregory McDonald

(Did not respond to questionnaire)

Elizabeth Glidden

Email: elizabeth@elizabethglidden.com

Website: www.elizabethglidden.com

 Endorsements: DFL, DFL African American Caucus, DFL Latino Caucus, DFL Feminist Caucus, DFL Stonewall Caucus, Sierra Club, TakeAction Minnesota, WomenWinning, Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), AFSCME Council 5, Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council, Minnesota Nurses Association, SEIU Minnesota State Council, Teamsters Joint Council 32 DRIVE, Teamsters Local 120, UNITE HERE Local 17

Jeanine Estimé

Email: info@jeanineestime.org or call 612-395-5333

Website: www.jeanineestime.org

Endorsements: Green Party Endorsed

Michael J. Cavlan

(Did not respond to questionnaire)

What's one burning issue that's prompted you to run for this position (25 words):

Glidden: Improving people's lives - reducing poverty and racial disparities for Minneapolis residents.  As Paul Wellstone said, we all do better when we all do better.

Estimé: I believe job creation, especially through supporting local businesses, is a top priority. We need to stabilize and cultivate our local economy.

Since 2003, the city has increased the amount of taxes it levies on property by 8 percent annually.  Do you favor continuing this policy, or do you favor a lower or higher amount of property tax increase?  What specific increase would you support, and what budget adjustments would you make in light of your choice? (100 words)

Glidden: Property taxes are too high and increasing too quickly; the 8 percent annual increase is not sustainable, and we must lower it.  What matters most to residents, however, is the actual amount on our bills - I favor paying attention to this actual amount, not just the total levy.  I can't commit to a specific percent property tax increase for future years without knowing all the facts, like pension costs, property valuations, and available state aid.  I will continue to prioritize public safety and street maintenance in future budgets, recognizing that reduced services and property tax increases are a reality of tough economic times.

Estimé: I would like to see a decrease or no increase in property taxes. People are in dire financial constraints, and do not have the capacity to pay more for their housing. The budget adjustments that I would support are to reduce and/or eliminate payments in police lawsuits, settlement, and police overtime. From the last eight years, this has been almost 38 million dollars. I believe that using just 10% of this money to lessen the burden on families from property taxes is fiscally more responsible.

With state aid declining and property taxes rising, should the city diversify the taxes and fees through which it derives income?  If so, how?  (100 words)

Glidden: Property taxes are the most transparent way to show the cost of government to residents and are deductible from income taxes.  I prefer maintaining the cost of government within property taxes rather than charging fees for general services, but do support charging fees to non-property tax paying entities.  Our state aid system, intended to reduce the need for property tax increases, is broken and fixing it must remain a top priority for Minneapolis.

Estimé: Mayoral Candidate Al Flowers had an excellent idea to fine contractors that are not in compliance with having enough women and minority workers. This is the case with the new baseball stadium, the rebuilding of the 35W bridge, and many other government-funded projects. The incumbent for this race was challenged about this issue on Al McFarlane's radio show. This could be one of the many fees that would be implemented to have accountability in government and generate income. I plan on working with the Mayor and other Council Members to construct other ideas to generate income.

The council is considering how to use the property taxes from its older development districts.  This tax increment by law may only be used to pay for Target Center debt and for neighborhood revitalization, or alternately, the tax base in these districts can be returned to the general tax base.  What percentage would you allocate to each of these three purposes?  (100 words)

Glidden: My first goal is to ensure residential property taxes are not disproportionately escalated due to this tax increment; thus I support certifying less than 100% so that some portion goes back to the general tax base.  I remain committed to neighborhood revitalization at the level identified in 2008; I believe that neighborhoods will help "fill in the gaps" to maintain neighborhood quality of life, as Minneapolis continues tightening its belt in response to a tremendous state deficit and increasing pension costs.  Committing to specific percentages for these three purposes before full information is presented by the finance department as part of our budget process is irresponsible.

Estimé: I would advocate for most of the funds be put into neighborhood revitalization and then to the general tax base. I believe that the Target Center debt (which was $62 million in January 2008) could be reduced by other means than property taxes. So of the projected $26 million dollars in 2011, I would support the combination of the three: at least $8 million for property-tax relief, at least $13 million for NRP, then no more than $5 million to the Target Center debt.

Council members may collect up to $400 monthly as a car allowance.  Would you do so or collect a lesser monthly allowance (how much?) or collect only per-mile payments for actual miles driven?  Explain your choice.  (50 words).

Glidden: I oppose the car allowance and have never taken a penny of it.  Although I have not taken per-mile payments either, I support per-mile payments as a fair means for actual compensation of gas and car wear and tear. 

Estimé: I do not own a car, so I will not be collecting a monthly car allowance. I believe that we should not have a car allowance for City Council Members. In these hard economic times, everyone must sacrifice, including elected officials.

What are three specific things that you'd like to accomplish in your ward by the end of your four-year term? (50 words)

Glidden: 1. Revitalize 38^th and Chicago, including support for 2-3 new development projects. 2. Assist homeowners to stay in their homes to the extent possible and restore vacant and foreclosed housing in the Central neighborhood. 3. Revitalize challenged commercial areas and business corners, like Nokomis Center and 38^th and Nicollet

Estimé: 1. Reduce the number of foreclosed properties by 75%. 2. Employ at least 500 more people in the ward. 3. Change city ordinances to be more "green", such as allowing small wind turbines on single family homes, reducing trash fees for composting, and property-tax breaks for geo-thermal heating.

What's one specific city-wide accomplishment you'd like to make happen by the end of your term? (25 words)

Glidden: Design completed of a transit station at Lake Street/I-35W serving BRT on I-35W, bikes-peds-cars-transit on Lake St, and future transit (streetcar?) in the Midtown Greenway.

Estimé: I believe one city-wide goal that I would gladly participate in accomplishing is not one more police misconduct lawsuit or settlement in the next four years.