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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
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There was a flurry of first-day filings BRAINERD FILINGS Staff Writers First-day filing for Brainerd city offices started off at a brisk pace Tuesday as races were established in city council Ward 4 and for the at-large council seat.
Filing on Tuesday were James Wallin for mayor, Julie Sullivan and Lynda Hummel for Ward 4, Jan Lambert for Ward 2 and Bonnie Cumberland and David Colvin for the at-large seat.
The first Brainerd candidate to file Tuesday for the Nov. 7 general was Wallin, who is seeking another four-year term as mayor.
Wallin has served as Brainerd's mayor since 1999. Before that he served 21 years as a Brainerd City Council member, the last 10 of which he was council president.
Wallin said considering where he came from - a small farm Near Nisswa with a log cabin, no electricity and no plumbing - he has been blessed to be able to serve the city of Brainerd for almost three decades.
"To be mayor of the city I've known all my life is such an honor and a privilege that it boggles my mind," Wallin said. "Brainerd continues to grow and with this growth many challenges lie ahead. I look forward to taking on these challenges and am confident that Brainerd will continue to grow and prosper."
Wallin said highlights of his tenure as mayor include helping to make sure no billboards were located on the C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway, securing funding to create an alternative Mississippi River crossing north of Brainerd to ease east/west traffic on Washington Street, supporting improvement to downtown following the downtown master plan and the construction of the new airport runway.
Wallin also made note of the working relationship Brainerd has enjoyed with Baxter, with agreements reached on the boundary issue and the wastewater treatment plant; and with the relationship the city has enjoyed with area legislators.
He said his responsibility as mayor is to see that the city runs efficiently but not to micromanage city staffers.
"I am extremely proud of all the employees of the city and the excellent service they provide to the taxpayers," Wallin said.
Wallin, 64, has lived in Brainerd for more than 45 years. He and his wife, Minna, own and operate J & M Printing Inc.
Hummel, 56, is running for the Ward 4 seat currently held by Ann Nelson Fisher. Fisher has not yet filed for re-election.
She became interested in city issues when council member Bob Olson helped get city staff to address a problem with a lawn that was not being kept mowed near the state group home where she worked. He also helped with a problem where someone was storing garbage in an abandoned garage.
She said Brainerd should emulate Crosby's downtown area which is "nice and clean."
Hummel, 56, also is concerned with the rough railroad crossing at 13th Street.
"That's a real big issue. It's very rough," she said. "I would also like to see more business come to downtown. I'm kind of a neat freak. We want our city to look nice."
She has participated in the Relay for Life for five years, the March of Dimes Walkathon for the past two years and has been a volunteer at Bethany Good Samaritan Village for the past three years. She also has helped at St. Francis of the Lakes School for the past two years.
Hummel has been married to her husband, Bob, for 30 years. They have three daughters, three granddaughters and are expecting a fourth grandchild.
Jan Lambert is making her third bid for the city council. The licensed practical nurse is running for the Ward 2 seat currently held by Council President Kelly Bevans, who has not yet filed. She ran for Ward 2 in 1998 and ran for the at-large seat in 2002.
Lambert, 52, currently serves on the Brainerd Planning and Zoning Commission, the Brainerd Transportation Commission and the Brainerd Cable TV Advisory Committee.
She said there's a need to update the city's zoning codes. Lambert would like to see Brainerd grow while still maintaining its identity. Even though she has lived in Brainerd for 20 years, she noted that she would be a relative newcomer compared to some of the other council members.
"It would be nice to have voice that is new to the area," Lambert said.
She volunteers with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and is on the Family Selection Committee for Habitat for Humanity. She also coached girls' softball teams for many years.
She and her husband, Mike, have been married for 26 years and have two daughters. One daughter is in the National Guard and one is a senior at Brainerd High School.
David Colvin, who filed for the at-large seat, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Sullivan and Cumberland announced their candidacies earlier.
A candidate who had announced her intent to file for the Ward 2 seat said Tuesday that she has changed her mind and does not plan to run for council now. Laurie Murphy, 33, said she recently was offered a full-time job with BISYS and didn't think she would have the time she felt would be necessary to serve on the council
MIKE O'ROURKE can be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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