For the first time in more than 35 years, citizens of Hennepin County's District 5 will elect a new county commissioner. After serving 10 terms in office, Randy Johnson's retirement at the end of this term creates an open seat on the seven-member Hennepin County Board. His district includes Bloomington, Richfield and southern Eden Prairie.
The veteran commissioner, who served as board chair twice, helped manage an array of social services, a network of libraries, Hennepin County Medical Center, and the sheriff's and public works departments. Hennepin County provides those services with 8,000 employees and a budget of nearly $2 billion.
Overseeing a government of this magnitude requires considerable energy, strong management and budgeting skills, and knowledge of government operations. Six candidates are vying to fit that bill in Tuesday's primary. District 5 voters should send Debbie Goettel and Maureen Scallen Failor to the general election in November. In this field of candidates, their experience and understanding of county and regional issues stand out.
Goettel, 58, is a civil engineer who has worked in the environmental and sustainability fields and currently consults and owns a small business. The longtime Richfield resident was elected mayor in 2005 and is serving her third four-year term. Before being elected, she was an active volunteer in her community. She still serves on numerous state and regional boards that work on housing, labor, public health and transportation issues.
Goettel has earned a reputation as a good listener and problem solver who works well with other units of government to benefit her city and the region. She calls herself a collaborative consensus builder who believes that compromise is a strength, not a weakness. If elected, she wants to ensure responsible budgeting, promote economic development, establish transit options and support environmental sustainability.
As president of the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, Scallen Failor, 56, understands the private sector and wants to bring a common-sense business approach to the county workforce and economic development. She has been a top executive in a family business and also has worked with community-based nonprofits.
Among her priorities are responsible oversight and fiscal responsibility. The Bloomington resident would also work on property tax stability, public safety, improving transportation infrastructure and protecting the vulnerable.
Although County Board positions are nonpartisan, Goettel has DFL endorsement and Scallen Failor has GOP support.
