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Thursday, July 13, 2006
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Radio reporter wants to be a part of the story COUNTY FILINGS Staff Writer After spending a career as a radio journalist, Rachel Reabe Nystrom has decided to throw her hat into the political ring.
On Tuesday, Nystrom filed as a candidate for the Crow Wing District 3 commissioner seat currently held by Terry Sluss. A DFL candidate for the Senate District 12 seat, Sluss is vacating his commissioner seat.
As a radio journalist, Nystrom spent 30 years covering rural Minnesota, most recently for Minnesota Public Radio. Prior to that she worked as news director for KLIZ Radio in Brainerd.
In covering thousands of meetings of various council and boards during her career as a journalist, she said she's seen the good, the bad and the ugly of local politics. The quality of elected officials, she said, has a direct effect on the quality of life within a community. So, instead of being an observer, she has decided at the age of 51 to become involved in the action.
"I think it will be a refreshing change of pace," she said. "I feel like I've gone to elected officials school 101. I don't know, maybe I've got my Ph.D. after all those years."
Though it will be her first foray into politics, Nystrom noted she has taken on leadership roles before with the YMCA board, Brainerd Community Action, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and within her church.
Growth will be the big issue facing Crow Wing County in the immediate future, Nystrom said, and it will be the driving force behind the decisions made by the county board. What will be important, she said, is not dwelling on the past but looking at present and future needs.
"It's going to be very challenging, but I think when we have challenging circumstances it's where we can rise to meet those expectations," Nystrom said. "We're blessed. We live in Crow Wing County. We live in the place where everyone wants to be. The challenge is to maintain the quality of life while accommodating future growth."
Another important issue she will concentrate on is communication between the county board and the residents of Crow Wing County, she said. Nystrom said of all government entities, Crow Wing County is the least understood, covered and contemplated. She said compromise and cooperation between elected officials is important.
"I think it's something I would be good at. I like people, I like negotiating," Nystrom said. "Because Crow Wing County is in this very dramatic growth arc this is a marvelous time to get involved because the decisions this county board makes will be affecting us all in a big way," she said.
Nystrom and her husband, Bob, a Brainerd School Board member, have lived in Baxter for 25 years. They have three children, Thor, 21, Quinn, 20, and Will, 14.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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