Bruce Anderson
Name: Bruce Anderson
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-964-4377
Campaign Website: None
Twitter handle: None
Facebook Page: None
Candidate Bio
Hello. I was on the Forest Lake Planning Commission for about a year until I couldn’t stand it any longer and resigned. The commission was full of power and ego people who relished in telling property owners and businesses they could not do things. I think property owners should do whatever they want if three criteria are met: 1) you can’t hurt the environment, 2) you can’t harm your neighbors, 3) you can’t do something unsightly or immoral. I have lived in Forest Lake for 20 years and seen the same revolving cycle of wasting taxpayers money. I have been a Paramedic for 30 years after a career in business and majored in Economics at the University of Minnesota.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
NO EGO, NO POWER TRIP. FRIENDLY TO ALL. COMMON SENSE. You could say like Sheriff Andy Taylor of The Andy Griffith Show. (If you are under 50 look it up on YouTube).
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
1) Abolish the Planning Commission and replace it with a streamlined process where decisions are made quickly and fairly. No more ego interference. As part of this, I would eliminate ⅓ to ½ of all the city ordinances which interfere with the freedom to own property. 2) Stop wasting money and start earning money. The money the city spent hiring a new city administrator was ridiculous. We’re not New York or L.A. You don’t need to waste money on a consulting firm. Hire a sharp kid right out of college. That’s just one example. Let’s make a city that MAKES MONEY to LOWER OUR TAXES. Municipal Liquor stores, and start the first city owned Insurance Company to provide Auto and Home insurance to Forest Lake residents. You all know how insurance rates are sky high and keep going. They claim storm damage forces them to raise rates. Progressive Insurance had a net income of $6.86 BILLION for the year ending June 30, 2024. Forest Lake Insurance would be sold by local insurance agents already doing business in town. This is just a couple of examples. 3) Get the weeds under control in Forest Lake. I’m tired of hearing people describe our lake as “weedy”. The weed cutter is a waste of time. What we need is to bring in a lake restoration company to give us a plan to make this lake a great recreational lake and then start the fight with the DNR.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Forest Lake?
The biggest challenge to elect someone like me! I don’t do any social media, I don’t suck up, I don’t campaign. I need voters to read this kind of stuff and use word of mouth, and not vote for lawn signs. Imagine Germany in 1933 and a guy named Hitler had a bunch of signs and people voted for him because they saw his name on a lot of signs! The biggest opportunity is obviously to lower property taxes and for the football team to go to state.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
Short and sweet. Government should make sure education is not woke. Housing is economics. Home builders are private companies and I see no need for government getting involved and messing things up. This city has failed in bringing in large companies that hire hundreds of people. It should be involved to bring the big boys in and thus lower taxes. The 2023-2024 legislature did nothing of great importance to help business in this state.
How would you characterize the business climate in Forest Lake and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Forest Lake?
The business climate is okay. We have a lot of nice small businesses and services that help with small town charm. What the city lacks is business on main street. Our old downtown needs a lot of work to get that "Stillwater" main street feel. Where the city has failed is in attracting big business. Large employers with hundreds of jobs. The city needs a fine balance to keep it's small town feel but big employer revenue. I love reading about small towns that land a Toyota plant or similar. I'd love a Hy-Vee but only if Cub and Bruce's are somehow guaranteed to survive. Texas Roadhouse and Chic-fil-A!!
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
1) Have a “Must Comply” law. When you are pulled over you must put your hands on the steering wheel, answer questions appropriately without abusive language or face very stiff fines. I’d put up signs as you enter Forest Lake, “Forest Lake, A Must Comply City”. 2) I’d jack up the enforcement and penalties for selling drugs in our city so the drug dealers would just leave. 3) I’d have laws enforced against foul language printed or oral anywhere where children are present.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing costs are based on building supply costs and interest rates. The federal government has to address this. I’m not for putting up cheap housing that is not quality stuff.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
I like roundabouts. Bike paths should be everywhere, especially in any new development.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
See my answer to question 3. Also, I’m a church guy and I want all our local churches to thrive. I would meet with all the pastors regularly to see how the city could help them. Every study you can find states communities with a lot of healthy churches are the best communities.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Yes. The care and quality of our biggest asset, Forest Lake. The state has governed our lake and prevented an improvement of the weed situation. Also, the whole tax burden devised by the state, county, and city is very flawed. Government, government, government.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-964-4377
Campaign Website: None
Twitter handle: None
Facebook Page: None
Candidate Bio
Hello. I was on the Forest Lake Planning Commission for about a year until I couldn’t stand it any longer and resigned. The commission was full of power and ego people who relished in telling property owners and businesses they could not do things. I think property owners should do whatever they want if three criteria are met: 1) you can’t hurt the environment, 2) you can’t harm your neighbors, 3) you can’t do something unsightly or immoral. I have lived in Forest Lake for 20 years and seen the same revolving cycle of wasting taxpayers money. I have been a Paramedic for 30 years after a career in business and majored in Economics at the University of Minnesota.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
NO EGO, NO POWER TRIP. FRIENDLY TO ALL. COMMON SENSE. You could say like Sheriff Andy Taylor of The Andy Griffith Show. (If you are under 50 look it up on YouTube).
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
1) Abolish the Planning Commission and replace it with a streamlined process where decisions are made quickly and fairly. No more ego interference. As part of this, I would eliminate ⅓ to ½ of all the city ordinances which interfere with the freedom to own property. 2) Stop wasting money and start earning money. The money the city spent hiring a new city administrator was ridiculous. We’re not New York or L.A. You don’t need to waste money on a consulting firm. Hire a sharp kid right out of college. That’s just one example. Let’s make a city that MAKES MONEY to LOWER OUR TAXES. Municipal Liquor stores, and start the first city owned Insurance Company to provide Auto and Home insurance to Forest Lake residents. You all know how insurance rates are sky high and keep going. They claim storm damage forces them to raise rates. Progressive Insurance had a net income of $6.86 BILLION for the year ending June 30, 2024. Forest Lake Insurance would be sold by local insurance agents already doing business in town. This is just a couple of examples. 3) Get the weeds under control in Forest Lake. I’m tired of hearing people describe our lake as “weedy”. The weed cutter is a waste of time. What we need is to bring in a lake restoration company to give us a plan to make this lake a great recreational lake and then start the fight with the DNR.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Forest Lake?
The biggest challenge to elect someone like me! I don’t do any social media, I don’t suck up, I don’t campaign. I need voters to read this kind of stuff and use word of mouth, and not vote for lawn signs. Imagine Germany in 1933 and a guy named Hitler had a bunch of signs and people voted for him because they saw his name on a lot of signs! The biggest opportunity is obviously to lower property taxes and for the football team to go to state.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
Short and sweet. Government should make sure education is not woke. Housing is economics. Home builders are private companies and I see no need for government getting involved and messing things up. This city has failed in bringing in large companies that hire hundreds of people. It should be involved to bring the big boys in and thus lower taxes. The 2023-2024 legislature did nothing of great importance to help business in this state.
How would you characterize the business climate in Forest Lake and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Forest Lake?
The business climate is okay. We have a lot of nice small businesses and services that help with small town charm. What the city lacks is business on main street. Our old downtown needs a lot of work to get that "Stillwater" main street feel. Where the city has failed is in attracting big business. Large employers with hundreds of jobs. The city needs a fine balance to keep it's small town feel but big employer revenue. I love reading about small towns that land a Toyota plant or similar. I'd love a Hy-Vee but only if Cub and Bruce's are somehow guaranteed to survive. Texas Roadhouse and Chic-fil-A!!
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
1) Have a “Must Comply” law. When you are pulled over you must put your hands on the steering wheel, answer questions appropriately without abusive language or face very stiff fines. I’d put up signs as you enter Forest Lake, “Forest Lake, A Must Comply City”. 2) I’d jack up the enforcement and penalties for selling drugs in our city so the drug dealers would just leave. 3) I’d have laws enforced against foul language printed or oral anywhere where children are present.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing costs are based on building supply costs and interest rates. The federal government has to address this. I’m not for putting up cheap housing that is not quality stuff.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
I like roundabouts. Bike paths should be everywhere, especially in any new development.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
See my answer to question 3. Also, I’m a church guy and I want all our local churches to thrive. I would meet with all the pastors regularly to see how the city could help them. Every study you can find states communities with a lot of healthy churches are the best communities.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Yes. The care and quality of our biggest asset, Forest Lake. The state has governed our lake and prevented an improvement of the weed situation. Also, the whole tax burden devised by the state, county, and city is very flawed. Government, government, government.