Chris Holbrook - Saint Paul Ward 4
Name: Chris Holbrook
Campaign Website: chrisholbrook4w4.nationbuilder.com
Twitter handle: chrisholbrook14
Facebook Page: chrisholbrook4w4
Candidate Bio
I have never been a member of the DFL or GOP, but for 20 years I have been a property-tax paying member of this community. I don’t believe in binary choices, I believe in respecting all choices. It's should never be Us vs Them, it should always be We.
I am married 16 years, no kids, a dog, and live near Hamline. By day I am a sales account manager for a building materials wholesaler. We also own/rent out a duplex.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul? tough
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Saint Paul?
I don’t have a specific proposal, so I would want to talk to business owners to learn what they need. In general I believe that the policies coming out of City Hall limit businesses and hurt jobs. I support easing the controls, bans, and mandates on companies, products, wages, and parking.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Saint Paul?
This question is too vague. I would need more specific information. Didn’t Chris Coleman add a city position called Director of Business Development years ago? Does this question propose creating another position? What staff are you even talking about, the Mayor’s? Doesn’t he decide those hires? Or who exactly makes up the list of ‘city senior staff’, the directors of each department? And what qualifies someone as a ‘business advocate’? I’m inclined to support the notion but don’t want to add control or expense to things that should be common sense.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Saint Paul (such as mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As I already stated, I do not have any specific proposals on employment at this time and if any come up my priority will be to listen to the needs of business owners before coming to any conclusions. ‘Who gets exceptions’ is a fascinating topic, since right now the criteria seems to be who you know, or who you contribute to.
5. Would you support modifying or repealing the new earned sick and safe time or minimum wage ordinances that apply to the city? If so, how?
The answer to the first question is Yes. The answer to the second question is I don’t know. We need to listen to what business owners say they need while still protecting workers. Ultimately all employment is a two way voluntary contract.
I am opposed to paying for the newly created Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and Education that will be going around St. Paul to scrutinize and fine businesses. I would trade these new business books inspectors for the five police officers being eliminated in a heartbeat.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
We need to involve residents better to create real community solutions. However, our current City Hall can not even bring itself to support the civilian police oversight commission called PCIARC, leading to resignations of its leaders. I will support their requests.
Furthermore, we taxpayers have paid over $2.4M dollars in the last 24 months to settle police misconduct lawsuits. We need to make interactions safer in both directions. Let’s have a discussion about requiring police to carry professional liability insurance, similar to how doctors need to carry malpractice insurance.
I know there are other creative ideas, from citizen watchdog groups to patrols to micro-stations to technology that we can hash out together as a community.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Reduce it. Spend money fixing roads instead of monopolizing trash.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
I don’t have an answer for that. I would need to look at some specific situations, with numbers, and do some math to respond properly. Like Cheech & Chong, both seem high.
9. What will you do to expand Saint Paul’s tax base?
I support the Payment In Lieu Of Taxes effort, and would propose selling public amenity/infrastructure naming rights.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I do not have a specific proposal. I do like vo-tec and OJT. I do not like public subsidies.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Saint Paul?
To rubber stamp bloated budgets and unaccountable spending with loaded ballot questions to create higher taxation in return for a total lack of improvement by any measurable metric.
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Arrogance of power. Contempt of constituents. Merely being elected would start addressing that as I am from outside the single party system that runs the City now. I will be bold, open, and honest in representing my fellow residents ~ instead of lecturing and dictating to them.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My slogan is to ‘Liberate Saint Paul From City Hall, FFS’ ~ which actually stands for Fix Trash, Free Parking, and Safe Police. The trash contract needs to be undone to save everyone money, parking spaces and roads need to be created and maintained instead of sacrificed, and policing can become more safe with community involvement, oversight, and insurance. You can read more at https://chrisholbrook4w4.nationbuilder.com/issues
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Repairing residential streets.
15. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I do not have a specific proposal to eliminate a specific service outside of the trash mandate right now. I have not examined city service sharing, but I like the sound of it. Tell me more.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Fill out your first AND second choices on your RCV ballot! Never leave a second choice empty. Not naming a second choice only helps the incumbent.
Ward 4 deserves an honest representative who leads by listening to you and your needs ~ someone who cares about your rights, your budget, and your safety. This is our City and we the residents run it. I will work hard to represent you to government instead of being someone who just represents government to you. While I can not compete financially against Mitra’s high ranking donors, I can compete with ideas and effort. Please donate at https://chrisholbrook4w4.nationbuilder.com/donate
Campaign Website: chrisholbrook4w4.nationbuilder.com
Twitter handle: chrisholbrook14
Facebook Page: chrisholbrook4w4
Candidate Bio
I have never been a member of the DFL or GOP, but for 20 years I have been a property-tax paying member of this community. I don’t believe in binary choices, I believe in respecting all choices. It's should never be Us vs Them, it should always be We.
I am married 16 years, no kids, a dog, and live near Hamline. By day I am a sales account manager for a building materials wholesaler. We also own/rent out a duplex.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul? tough
2. What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Saint Paul?
I don’t have a specific proposal, so I would want to talk to business owners to learn what they need. In general I believe that the policies coming out of City Hall limit businesses and hurt jobs. I support easing the controls, bans, and mandates on companies, products, wages, and parking.
3. Would you support hiring a business advocate as a member of the city senior staff, to concentrate on business retention and expansion; new business recruitment; and business impact of proposed regulations on the business climate in Saint Paul?
This question is too vague. I would need more specific information. Didn’t Chris Coleman add a city position called Director of Business Development years ago? Does this question propose creating another position? What staff are you even talking about, the Mayor’s? Doesn’t he decide those hires? Or who exactly makes up the list of ‘city senior staff’, the directors of each department? And what qualifies someone as a ‘business advocate’? I’m inclined to support the notion but don’t want to add control or expense to things that should be common sense.
4. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Saint Paul (such as mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As I already stated, I do not have any specific proposals on employment at this time and if any come up my priority will be to listen to the needs of business owners before coming to any conclusions. ‘Who gets exceptions’ is a fascinating topic, since right now the criteria seems to be who you know, or who you contribute to.
5. Would you support modifying or repealing the new earned sick and safe time or minimum wage ordinances that apply to the city? If so, how?
The answer to the first question is Yes. The answer to the second question is I don’t know. We need to listen to what business owners say they need while still protecting workers. Ultimately all employment is a two way voluntary contract.
I am opposed to paying for the newly created Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and Education that will be going around St. Paul to scrutinize and fine businesses. I would trade these new business books inspectors for the five police officers being eliminated in a heartbeat.
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
We need to involve residents better to create real community solutions. However, our current City Hall can not even bring itself to support the civilian police oversight commission called PCIARC, leading to resignations of its leaders. I will support their requests.
Furthermore, we taxpayers have paid over $2.4M dollars in the last 24 months to settle police misconduct lawsuits. We need to make interactions safer in both directions. Let’s have a discussion about requiring police to carry professional liability insurance, similar to how doctors need to carry malpractice insurance.
I know there are other creative ideas, from citizen watchdog groups to patrols to micro-stations to technology that we can hash out together as a community.
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Reduce it. Spend money fixing roads instead of monopolizing trash.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
I don’t have an answer for that. I would need to look at some specific situations, with numbers, and do some math to respond properly. Like Cheech & Chong, both seem high.
9. What will you do to expand Saint Paul’s tax base?
I support the Payment In Lieu Of Taxes effort, and would propose selling public amenity/infrastructure naming rights.
Workforce development
10. How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I do not have a specific proposal. I do like vo-tec and OJT. I do not like public subsidies.
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to public schools in Saint Paul?
To rubber stamp bloated budgets and unaccountable spending with loaded ballot questions to create higher taxation in return for a total lack of improvement by any measurable metric.
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
Arrogance of power. Contempt of constituents. Merely being elected would start addressing that as I am from outside the single party system that runs the City now. I will be bold, open, and honest in representing my fellow residents ~ instead of lecturing and dictating to them.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My slogan is to ‘Liberate Saint Paul From City Hall, FFS’ ~ which actually stands for Fix Trash, Free Parking, and Safe Police. The trash contract needs to be undone to save everyone money, parking spaces and roads need to be created and maintained instead of sacrificed, and policing can become more safe with community involvement, oversight, and insurance. You can read more at https://chrisholbrook4w4.nationbuilder.com/issues
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Repairing residential streets.
15. Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Or, are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I do not have a specific proposal to eliminate a specific service outside of the trash mandate right now. I have not examined city service sharing, but I like the sound of it. Tell me more.
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Fill out your first AND second choices on your RCV ballot! Never leave a second choice empty. Not naming a second choice only helps the incumbent.
Ward 4 deserves an honest representative who leads by listening to you and your needs ~ someone who cares about your rights, your budget, and your safety. This is our City and we the residents run it. I will work hard to represent you to government instead of being someone who just represents government to you. While I can not compete financially against Mitra’s high ranking donors, I can compete with ideas and effort. Please donate at https://chrisholbrook4w4.nationbuilder.com/donate