Dino Guerin

Name: Dino Guerin
Public Office Sought: St. Paul City Council Ward 7
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-366-3296
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: WWW.facebook.com/dino.guerin
Candidate Bio
Elected to three terms to the Saint Paul City Council to serve the residents of Ward 7. Elected as the District 6 County Commissioner. I provided policy and budget direction, conducted public hearings, and led community outreach programs. I am a 31 year career Firefighter and E.M.T. for the City of Saint Paul. Through my career I promoted to District Fire Chief. Currently, I work at the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department as an Investigative Assistant.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I will actively engage with the community and my fellow council members to determine that the City is following the direction of the people. Ultimately, after gathering input from all interested parties I will be responsible for implementing plans that best benefit residents and the City.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
To run the City of Saint Paul as a business while focusing on the needs of our customers (residents and visitors). My focus is public safety. Provide top level public services. I would create an atmosphere that will allow business to operate and expand.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in St. Paul?
Businesses need to be supported with effective public services, and in turn businesses support the community. We have an opportunity to revitalize downtown by showcasing our cultural, sporting and entertainment events.
How would you characterize the business climate in St. Paul and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in St. Paul?
As a City Council member I would support reducing excessive regulations which impend business growth. I would fast track the business application and approval process. Businesses thrive with community support and effective public services that allow business owners to focus on managing their work force and business needs.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
The re-opening and dedicated support for a juvenile detention center. Provide juveniles a safe place to stay while they get support. Provide counselors and social services to determine how best to help a repeat offender to improve their life choices and actions. Most crime is committed by repeat offenders. We need to focus our resources, intervene, and stop this cycle of crime.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Work to eliminate the rent stabilization fiasco. This ordinance has resulted in less apartments being constructed in Saint Paul. This occurred because local politicians and activists didn’t listen to business owners which are the experts. The unintended consequences of this ordinance is less affordable housing in Saint Paul.
St. Paul candidates only: Do you support the rent stabilization ordinance in its current form? If not, what would you like to change?
I didn’t support the ordinance when it was proposed and I don’t support it now. Exactly what I had said would happen has happened. Residential building owners have either converted their apartment units to condominiums or decided not to build in Saint Paul. New apartment units in Saint Paul are down. However, units in Minneapolis have increased. (No rent stabilization there). The so-called city leaders, activists and politicians that supported rent stabilization have failed.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We need to focus on effectively improving safety for public transportation. The Metro Transit officers function more like ambassadors than police officers. They rarely arrest anyone, the vast majority of people riding light rail do not purchase a ticket as required. There are seldom any consequences for people that violate riding policy. Additionally, we need to keep busses and light rail cars clean and graffiti free. People are hesitate to use public transportation because it is dangerous.
What will you do to expand St. Paul’s tax base?
A top priority is to strengthen working relationships with companies already established and committed to the City of Saint Paul. Retention and expansion of current businesses in the City of Saint Paul benefits all stakeholders. Providing quick and effective quality services and streamlining the permit authorization process for business projects is the goal for new as well as established business partners.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
All services should and will be reviewed to insure they are of value and important to City residents. I would conduct listening sessions with Ward 7 residents to determine what services are valued most by citizens and business owners.
Public Office Sought: St. Paul City Council Ward 7
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-366-3296
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: WWW.facebook.com/dino.guerin
Candidate Bio
Elected to three terms to the Saint Paul City Council to serve the residents of Ward 7. Elected as the District 6 County Commissioner. I provided policy and budget direction, conducted public hearings, and led community outreach programs. I am a 31 year career Firefighter and E.M.T. for the City of Saint Paul. Through my career I promoted to District Fire Chief. Currently, I work at the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department as an Investigative Assistant.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I will actively engage with the community and my fellow council members to determine that the City is following the direction of the people. Ultimately, after gathering input from all interested parties I will be responsible for implementing plans that best benefit residents and the City.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
To run the City of Saint Paul as a business while focusing on the needs of our customers (residents and visitors). My focus is public safety. Provide top level public services. I would create an atmosphere that will allow business to operate and expand.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in St. Paul?
Businesses need to be supported with effective public services, and in turn businesses support the community. We have an opportunity to revitalize downtown by showcasing our cultural, sporting and entertainment events.
How would you characterize the business climate in St. Paul and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in St. Paul?
As a City Council member I would support reducing excessive regulations which impend business growth. I would fast track the business application and approval process. Businesses thrive with community support and effective public services that allow business owners to focus on managing their work force and business needs.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
The re-opening and dedicated support for a juvenile detention center. Provide juveniles a safe place to stay while they get support. Provide counselors and social services to determine how best to help a repeat offender to improve their life choices and actions. Most crime is committed by repeat offenders. We need to focus our resources, intervene, and stop this cycle of crime.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Work to eliminate the rent stabilization fiasco. This ordinance has resulted in less apartments being constructed in Saint Paul. This occurred because local politicians and activists didn’t listen to business owners which are the experts. The unintended consequences of this ordinance is less affordable housing in Saint Paul.
St. Paul candidates only: Do you support the rent stabilization ordinance in its current form? If not, what would you like to change?
I didn’t support the ordinance when it was proposed and I don’t support it now. Exactly what I had said would happen has happened. Residential building owners have either converted their apartment units to condominiums or decided not to build in Saint Paul. New apartment units in Saint Paul are down. However, units in Minneapolis have increased. (No rent stabilization there). The so-called city leaders, activists and politicians that supported rent stabilization have failed.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We need to focus on effectively improving safety for public transportation. The Metro Transit officers function more like ambassadors than police officers. They rarely arrest anyone, the vast majority of people riding light rail do not purchase a ticket as required. There are seldom any consequences for people that violate riding policy. Additionally, we need to keep busses and light rail cars clean and graffiti free. People are hesitate to use public transportation because it is dangerous.
What will you do to expand St. Paul’s tax base?
A top priority is to strengthen working relationships with companies already established and committed to the City of Saint Paul. Retention and expansion of current businesses in the City of Saint Paul benefits all stakeholders. Providing quick and effective quality services and streamlining the permit authorization process for business projects is the goal for new as well as established business partners.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
All services should and will be reviewed to insure they are of value and important to City residents. I would conduct listening sessions with Ward 7 residents to determine what services are valued most by citizens and business owners.