Gary Huusko
Name: Gary Huusko
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner - District 3
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (651) 238-9335
Website: www.garyhuusko.org
Twitter Handle: N/A
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GaryHuuskoForDakotaCountyCommissioner2020/
Candidate Bio
I have been a Dakota County resident for over 25 years. I am a practicing attorney and small business owner (the 2020 Sun Thisweek and Dakota County Tribune Newspapers Readers’ Choice Winner as Best Lawyer/Attorney by Voters in Eagan). I have more than 25 years of leadership and community experience serving as an elected or appointed member of a variety of area organizations, including the ISD 196 School Board, the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission, the Eagan Foundation, Inc., the U.S. Math Recovery Council, and area Chambers of Commerce and Rotary Clubs. I have been active in both the Dakota Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Apple Valley Chamber and have served on the Boards and as Board Chair of both organizations. I am also the only person to have served as the President of both the Apple Valley and Eagan Rotary organizations. I served 6 years on the ISD 196 School Board, including serving as Vice-Chair and on the School Board’s Audit and Finance Committee, Legislative Committee, and its Policy Review Committee. These experiences have provided me with insights into local business needs along with extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets while prioritizing the needs of constituent groups.
Why are you running for this seat?
I am passionate about making Dakota County the best possible place to live and work and believe I could make a true difference on the Board. I believe that the County Board needs leaders, not just politicians. Two of my competitors are former State Representatives. This isn’t to discount the experience of State Representatives, but to be frank, at the end of the day, the Dakota County Board is a governing body. To operate effectively, the Board needs business and community leaders who know how to manage budgets, listen to and work with the community, and get things done, not just former partisan politicians. I believe that I am this person. There is a large gap between partisan politics and having the experience and know-how for how to implement policy objectives into reality. I am a small business owner, have significant leadership and community experience, and a proven track-record of actions leading to results.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing my district currently is the health and economic crises due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I would address this in the following ways.
Businesses and families in my district are hurting. As a parent and a small business owner myself, I understand the burdens that are being placed on families and businesses during this time. I would work with the County Board to see what opportunities exist to move forward on projects with local companies. I would also work towards providing affordable day care options to allow parents to re-enter the workforce when it fully reopens. I expect the County’s finances to suffer this year as well and would take two steps to address this in a way that still allows the County to put money and resources back into the community. First, I would propose a salary cut for Dakota County Board members. Currently, Board members make over $82k per year which is approximately the same amount of money as the median income per household in the County they represent. A County Board seat is a part-time elected position. While this wouldn’t substantially move the needle, in my mind this speaks to the principal of the matter – the Dakota County Board ought to work for its residents and be composed of individuals who are passionate about implementing change. The fact of the Board members earning over $80k annually for this elected part-time position, especially during a pandemic that has devastated residents and businesses financially, is one that I strongly believe needs to change. Second, I would look into alternative funding sources such as bonds or loans given the low interest rates and need for cash to be put into the County. Dakota County is essentially debt free. With interest rates at near all-time lows, this would be an opportune time to use these alternate funding sources to assist its residents and businesses.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Dakota County as a whole and how would you address it?
See above. The biggest challenge facing Dakota County currently is also the health and economic crises due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners?
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
Yes, the County should be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs. Good paying jobs attract home buyers and add to the tax base and economic strength of the County. The County can make it easier for employers to attract employees by making sure there is an adequate supply of affordable housing and transportation options to get the employees from their respective homes to the employers’ work sites.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
The County should take a leadership role in economic development and work with the cities locate within the County to increase and improve economic development. When the cities thrive, the County will thrive.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
I believe the essential services the County should provide include assisting those who are in need of assistance, and those who are unable to provide for themselves, provide an economic environment that will attract businesses and workers, make sure there is available and affordable housing for the workers and for senior citizens, provide transportation options and infrastructure to make it easier for residents and workers to travel to destinations important to them, and provide for public safety.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I believe the County Board itself is a service that should be more accessible to the residents. Areas where I would work to improve would include providing Board agendas and minutes using a listserv so that residents could automatically receive those documents in a timely manner and holding at least half of the full Board meetings in the evening so that residents and business owners would be able to attend without having to take time off work.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
I believe the County Board should operate similar to a business entity and continue to monitor and evaluate services provided to determine the cost effectiveness, utilization and constituent satisfaction. Any decision to reduce or eliminate services should be data-driven and should only be made after a thorough business service impact analysis.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I would characterize the business climate in Dakota County as good, with the obvious hurdles created by COVID-19. I would improve it by working to provide adequate transportation options and infrastructure to assist and improve residents’ and workers’ travel within the County. One of the issues raised in various area Chamber meetings is that the County lacks the “final mile” of transportation from transit to the businesses employing the workers. As a Commissioner, I will work with the cities, Chambers of Commerce, local businesses and other key organizations to bridge that “final mile”.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
The Board has a responsibility to foster increased minority and women-owned businesses. I believe the diversity of the business community should mirror the diversity of the population. The Board can assist with that by promoting minority and women-owned business opportunities and setting policies that make those businesses want to move to the County or begin in the County.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Dakota County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
I believe that partnerships with surrounding counties, as well as with cities and the business community, can increase the effectiveness and success of providing services than if done alone. One area where more collaboration could be utilized is with the transportation issues I discussed above; working with cities and area businesses to help workers get from transit stops to the workplace.
In your view, what is Dakota County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
The top transportation priority is two-fold: to provide adequate and available options to get workers to and from work (the “final mile”) and to provide infrastructure that will allow residents more access to businesses and County amenities (an east-west corridor in the southern part of the County). Area businesses can attract needed workers if workers had the ability, when using public transit, to get from the transit station to the workplace. This is an issue that has been raised by area Chambers and their members.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The County is currently taking action to provide grants to businesses. I believe that the County has the purchasing power to assist with the purchase and provision of necessary PPE for its employees, for businesses, residents, schools and residents, which will greatly help in the suppression of transmission of the virus.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am a firm believer that a strong and vibrant business community attracts residents, increases economic development, and results in a place where people will want to live and work. I was a board member and the Chair of the Boards of Directors for both the Dakota County Regional Chamber and the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce. I understand the issues facing the business community and the importance of strong, successful businesses. I would appreciate the support and vote of every resident and business owner residing in District 3.
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner - District 3
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (651) 238-9335
Website: www.garyhuusko.org
Twitter Handle: N/A
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GaryHuuskoForDakotaCountyCommissioner2020/
Candidate Bio
I have been a Dakota County resident for over 25 years. I am a practicing attorney and small business owner (the 2020 Sun Thisweek and Dakota County Tribune Newspapers Readers’ Choice Winner as Best Lawyer/Attorney by Voters in Eagan). I have more than 25 years of leadership and community experience serving as an elected or appointed member of a variety of area organizations, including the ISD 196 School Board, the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission, the Eagan Foundation, Inc., the U.S. Math Recovery Council, and area Chambers of Commerce and Rotary Clubs. I have been active in both the Dakota Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Apple Valley Chamber and have served on the Boards and as Board Chair of both organizations. I am also the only person to have served as the President of both the Apple Valley and Eagan Rotary organizations. I served 6 years on the ISD 196 School Board, including serving as Vice-Chair and on the School Board’s Audit and Finance Committee, Legislative Committee, and its Policy Review Committee. These experiences have provided me with insights into local business needs along with extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets while prioritizing the needs of constituent groups.
Why are you running for this seat?
I am passionate about making Dakota County the best possible place to live and work and believe I could make a true difference on the Board. I believe that the County Board needs leaders, not just politicians. Two of my competitors are former State Representatives. This isn’t to discount the experience of State Representatives, but to be frank, at the end of the day, the Dakota County Board is a governing body. To operate effectively, the Board needs business and community leaders who know how to manage budgets, listen to and work with the community, and get things done, not just former partisan politicians. I believe that I am this person. There is a large gap between partisan politics and having the experience and know-how for how to implement policy objectives into reality. I am a small business owner, have significant leadership and community experience, and a proven track-record of actions leading to results.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing my district currently is the health and economic crises due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I would address this in the following ways.
Businesses and families in my district are hurting. As a parent and a small business owner myself, I understand the burdens that are being placed on families and businesses during this time. I would work with the County Board to see what opportunities exist to move forward on projects with local companies. I would also work towards providing affordable day care options to allow parents to re-enter the workforce when it fully reopens. I expect the County’s finances to suffer this year as well and would take two steps to address this in a way that still allows the County to put money and resources back into the community. First, I would propose a salary cut for Dakota County Board members. Currently, Board members make over $82k per year which is approximately the same amount of money as the median income per household in the County they represent. A County Board seat is a part-time elected position. While this wouldn’t substantially move the needle, in my mind this speaks to the principal of the matter – the Dakota County Board ought to work for its residents and be composed of individuals who are passionate about implementing change. The fact of the Board members earning over $80k annually for this elected part-time position, especially during a pandemic that has devastated residents and businesses financially, is one that I strongly believe needs to change. Second, I would look into alternative funding sources such as bonds or loans given the low interest rates and need for cash to be put into the County. Dakota County is essentially debt free. With interest rates at near all-time lows, this would be an opportune time to use these alternate funding sources to assist its residents and businesses.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Dakota County as a whole and how would you address it?
See above. The biggest challenge facing Dakota County currently is also the health and economic crises due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners?
- Affordable accessible housing is a necessity for Dakota County. In Dakota County, about 6.3% of its population is in poverty, and by 2025, our senior citizens will outnumber school age children. We need to make sure there are affordable and accessible housing options in district 3 as well as County-wide, especially for those segments of society. I plan to work to provide adequate, affordable, and accessible housing.
- Improve Transportation. We need to expand transportation infrastructure (an east-west corridor in the mid-south region would open transportation opportunities between cities on the east and cities on the west sides of the County) and options and availability to provide workers access to their employers’ facilities (employers in Dakota County have expressed concerns that they find it difficult to hire because the transit system doesn’t provide that “last leg” from transit lines to employers’ worksites).
- A racial impact analysis of all County programs, policies, and services is needed. I will work to require bias training of all County employees. I will voice opposition to racially motivated speech and actions within Dakota County and work to resolve and/or eliminate such actions and systematic racism. I will seek out and establish partnerships with the business community, schools, and community groups to provide more education and awareness of systematic racism, and how we, individually and as a society, can eliminate it. People are not born racist, and, through our individual and collective efforts, including partnering with the schools, the community, and business groups, we can raise awareness and become a powerful example of compassion, acceptance, and fair treatment for all.
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
Yes, the County should be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs. Good paying jobs attract home buyers and add to the tax base and economic strength of the County. The County can make it easier for employers to attract employees by making sure there is an adequate supply of affordable housing and transportation options to get the employees from their respective homes to the employers’ work sites.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
The County should take a leadership role in economic development and work with the cities locate within the County to increase and improve economic development. When the cities thrive, the County will thrive.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
I believe the essential services the County should provide include assisting those who are in need of assistance, and those who are unable to provide for themselves, provide an economic environment that will attract businesses and workers, make sure there is available and affordable housing for the workers and for senior citizens, provide transportation options and infrastructure to make it easier for residents and workers to travel to destinations important to them, and provide for public safety.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I believe the County Board itself is a service that should be more accessible to the residents. Areas where I would work to improve would include providing Board agendas and minutes using a listserv so that residents could automatically receive those documents in a timely manner and holding at least half of the full Board meetings in the evening so that residents and business owners would be able to attend without having to take time off work.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
I believe the County Board should operate similar to a business entity and continue to monitor and evaluate services provided to determine the cost effectiveness, utilization and constituent satisfaction. Any decision to reduce or eliminate services should be data-driven and should only be made after a thorough business service impact analysis.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I would characterize the business climate in Dakota County as good, with the obvious hurdles created by COVID-19. I would improve it by working to provide adequate transportation options and infrastructure to assist and improve residents’ and workers’ travel within the County. One of the issues raised in various area Chamber meetings is that the County lacks the “final mile” of transportation from transit to the businesses employing the workers. As a Commissioner, I will work with the cities, Chambers of Commerce, local businesses and other key organizations to bridge that “final mile”.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
The Board has a responsibility to foster increased minority and women-owned businesses. I believe the diversity of the business community should mirror the diversity of the population. The Board can assist with that by promoting minority and women-owned business opportunities and setting policies that make those businesses want to move to the County or begin in the County.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Dakota County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
I believe that partnerships with surrounding counties, as well as with cities and the business community, can increase the effectiveness and success of providing services than if done alone. One area where more collaboration could be utilized is with the transportation issues I discussed above; working with cities and area businesses to help workers get from transit stops to the workplace.
In your view, what is Dakota County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
The top transportation priority is two-fold: to provide adequate and available options to get workers to and from work (the “final mile”) and to provide infrastructure that will allow residents more access to businesses and County amenities (an east-west corridor in the southern part of the County). Area businesses can attract needed workers if workers had the ability, when using public transit, to get from the transit station to the workplace. This is an issue that has been raised by area Chambers and their members.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The County is currently taking action to provide grants to businesses. I believe that the County has the purchasing power to assist with the purchase and provision of necessary PPE for its employees, for businesses, residents, schools and residents, which will greatly help in the suppression of transmission of the virus.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am a firm believer that a strong and vibrant business community attracts residents, increases economic development, and results in a place where people will want to live and work. I was a board member and the Chair of the Boards of Directors for both the Dakota County Regional Chamber and the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce. I understand the issues facing the business community and the importance of strong, successful businesses. I would appreciate the support and vote of every resident and business owner residing in District 3.