Isaac Contreras
Name: Isaac Contreras
Public Office Sought: South Saint Paul City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-387-6317
Facebook Page: Vote Contreras
Candidate Bio
Isaac is a native to St. Paul, who married a wonderful South St. Paul HS graduate and has been raising his boys in South St. Paul for the last 12 years.
Engaged in his communities since his return from active duty service in the Navy, Isaac has served in several volunteer positions including as a founding member of the St. Paul Police Foundation, District 2 representative on the St. Paul Capital Improvement Budget Committee and President of a youth sports booster organization.
Isaac is business owner currently serving on the South St Paul’s Planning Commission, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Citizens Advisory Council, and attending the South St. Paul Citizens Police Academy
With over 25 experience in operations, sales and leadership roles, Isaac has been developing and advocating for the best interests of his family, peers, teams and clients with a simple yet effective "Do not let them outwork you" philosophy, which has led to a reputation for listening and acting on their behalf. These are the same traits that he will bring to the City Council.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in South Saint Paul?
“On the verge”. There have been a number of positive business accomplishments. Not just talk, but actual ground-breaking. With the opportunity that presents itself from the reconstruction of the Concord Corridor, we are “on the verge” of shedding the cow town image and being able to use words from 10 year old planning documents like “Rediscover” and “Renaissance”.
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, South Saint Paul?
It’s important that we have a marketing mindset. We know we have a good thing going on here, with access, a productive workforce, and stable community, but waiting for it to come to us is not a successful approach. We must put ourselves in the path of the businesses and organizations that are at the growth stage. This includes our current businesses. Retention and growth of our current business residents is critical and this happens with inclusive economic roundtable discussions.
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 South Saint Paul?
I would support this. An advocate that is actively advancing the argument that South St. Paul is the right locale and environment to start and/or grow a company is essential in creating the “renaissance” that has been talked about in the past. I will contend that this position at senior staff level is something that would need further discussion.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in South Saint Paul? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in South Saint Paul and do you support proposals to mitigate the effects on businesses like a tip credit, a youth wage, a training wage, and/or a phase-in?
Until I can see evidence that shows an increase to minimum wage policies actually move people out of poverty into prosperity, I do not plan to support a policy there government requires a business to increase minimum wages.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in South Saint Paul (such as mandatory sick time or scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in South Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Additional support in appropriate equipment and personnel. For example, equipping every squad in the fleet with spotlight infrared equipment that allows an officer to scan a dark alley for suspicious activity without having to turn into the alley. This allows the officer to cover more ground. In regards to personnel, hire and mobilize an officer/social worker team to identify and employ pre-arrest diversion tactics where mental illness and addiction recovery residents are better served
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Speaking as a candidate that has watched the department heads repeatedly go back to their areas of responsibility, sharpen their pencils and work to submit reasonable increases in their budgets, I feel that we must hold the line on spending that is above inflation. We can protect our budget by enlisting specialists that audit, consult and integrate smart design, energy efficiency and cutting waste for long term cost savings.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
9. What will you do to expand South Saint Paul’s tax base?
It’s imperative that as a city we seek and secure projects that add residents to our population, with a focus in the Concord Corridor where we can introduce a workforce that is an attraction for new and current enterprises.
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?
Public Private Partnerships are incredible opportunities to take advantage of. Right now, especially with the number of headquarters that are located within the region, identifying and promoting those partnerships move the needle on growing an in-demand budding workforce
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to South Saint Paul Public Schools?
There must be continued communication and collaboration as well as a partnership that must appear to be aligned.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
One of the bigger challenges is our housing inventory. It is stunting our growth and even though we welcome prospective Packers, where would they live? We need to seek and secure developers that provide quality options to incoming and current residents of South St. Paul.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Public Safety
Economic Development
Housing
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Becoming THE destination versus being a thru-way. Whether it’s for work, dining or getting home, we need to increase the reasons for people to hop off of 52, 494 and Concord.
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?
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Public Office Sought: South Saint Paul City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-387-6317
Facebook Page: Vote Contreras
Candidate Bio
Isaac is a native to St. Paul, who married a wonderful South St. Paul HS graduate and has been raising his boys in South St. Paul for the last 12 years.
Engaged in his communities since his return from active duty service in the Navy, Isaac has served in several volunteer positions including as a founding member of the St. Paul Police Foundation, District 2 representative on the St. Paul Capital Improvement Budget Committee and President of a youth sports booster organization.
Isaac is business owner currently serving on the South St Paul’s Planning Commission, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Citizens Advisory Council, and attending the South St. Paul Citizens Police Academy
With over 25 experience in operations, sales and leadership roles, Isaac has been developing and advocating for the best interests of his family, peers, teams and clients with a simple yet effective "Do not let them outwork you" philosophy, which has led to a reputation for listening and acting on their behalf. These are the same traits that he will bring to the City Council.
Business climate
1. How would you characterize the business climate in South Saint Paul?
“On the verge”. There have been a number of positive business accomplishments. Not just talk, but actual ground-breaking. With the opportunity that presents itself from the reconstruction of the Concord Corridor, we are “on the verge” of shedding the cow town image and being able to use words from 10 year old planning documents like “Rediscover” and “Renaissance”.
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, South Saint Paul?
It’s important that we have a marketing mindset. We know we have a good thing going on here, with access, a productive workforce, and stable community, but waiting for it to come to us is not a successful approach. We must put ourselves in the path of the businesses and organizations that are at the growth stage. This includes our current businesses. Retention and growth of our current business residents is critical and this happens with inclusive economic roundtable discussions.
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 South Saint Paul?
I would support this. An advocate that is actively advancing the argument that South St. Paul is the right locale and environment to start and/or grow a company is essential in creating the “renaissance” that has been talked about in the past. I will contend that this position at senior staff level is something that would need further discussion.
4. Do you support an increase to the minimum wage in South Saint Paul? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in South Saint Paul and do you support proposals to mitigate the effects on businesses like a tip credit, a youth wage, a training wage, and/or a phase-in?
Until I can see evidence that shows an increase to minimum wage policies actually move people out of poverty into prosperity, I do not plan to support a policy there government requires a business to increase minimum wages.
5. Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in South Saint Paul (such as mandatory sick time or scheduling notice)? If so, what specific steps would you take to understand the impact of an increase on the many types of businesses in South Saint Paul and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
Public safety
6. What is your strategy to address public safety concerns?
Additional support in appropriate equipment and personnel. For example, equipping every squad in the fleet with spotlight infrared equipment that allows an officer to scan a dark alley for suspicious activity without having to turn into the alley. This allows the officer to cover more ground. In regards to personnel, hire and mobilize an officer/social worker team to identify and employ pre-arrest diversion tactics where mental illness and addiction recovery residents are better served
Budget
7. What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Speaking as a candidate that has watched the department heads repeatedly go back to their areas of responsibility, sharpen their pencils and work to submit reasonable increases in their budgets, I feel that we must hold the line on spending that is above inflation. We can protect our budget by enlisting specialists that audit, consult and integrate smart design, energy efficiency and cutting waste for long term cost savings.
8. How do you view the relationship between commercial and residential property taxes?
9. What will you do to expand South Saint Paul’s tax base?
It’s imperative that as a city we seek and secure projects that add residents to our population, with a focus in the Concord Corridor where we can introduce a workforce that is an attraction for new and current enterprises.
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?
Public Private Partnerships are incredible opportunities to take advantage of. Right now, especially with the number of headquarters that are located within the region, identifying and promoting those partnerships move the needle on growing an in-demand budding workforce
11. What do you see as the city council’s role with regard to South Saint Paul Public Schools?
There must be continued communication and collaboration as well as a partnership that must appear to be aligned.
Other
12. What is the biggest challenge facing the city and how would you address it?
One of the bigger challenges is our housing inventory. It is stunting our growth and even though we welcome prospective Packers, where would they live? We need to seek and secure developers that provide quality options to incoming and current residents of South St. Paul.
13. What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Public Safety
Economic Development
Housing
14. What do you think should be the city’s top transportation related priority?
Becoming THE destination versus being a thru-way. Whether it’s for work, dining or getting home, we need to increase the reasons for people to hop off of 52, 494 and Concord.
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?
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?