John Goodfellow
Name: John W Goodfellow
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 206.730.9567
Campaign Website: N/A
Twitter handle: N/A
Facebook Page: N/A
Candidate Bio
Since becoming a permanent resident of Marine in 2015, I have regularly attended Marine CC meetings, so I am familiar with the issues and workings of our local government. People may know me as someone interested and engaged with water and natural resource matters in town and on the river. What might not be known is that before moving to MN I was Managing Director of a large electric and gas utility service provider in the state of Washington. This has given me experience with civil engineering, construction, personnel management and budget. These are skills the Marine CC will need to manage current issues and adapt to successfully adapt to future challenges.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
Collaborative, with inclusion of citizen input and involvement.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Specifically, as to the question, my top priorities include fiscal transparency, operational transparency, and increased citizen engagement, not in any particular ordwer. Regarding the second part of this question regarding the state’s economic outlook: there is simply too much uncertainty at the local level to offer a meaningful response to this question, other than to say Marine’s City Council will need to be nimble in adapting to a changing economic environment.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Marine on St. Croix?
In the short term the biggest challenge will be to navigate through some emotionally charged issues being faced by the current City Council. This represents an opportunity for a “reset”, bringing the community together in our shared love of the town. When Marine works together great things happen.
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?
Clearly Marine’s few local businesses are vital assets to the community. Lacking a “Chamber of Commerce”, some of requisite cheerleading falls to the City Council. It is also incumbent on the Council to consider the quality of life in our community, and work collaboratively to resolve any potential adverse impacts on the quality of life in Marine. The Council needs to do their part to maintain good communication with local businesses so issues can be resolved before they become crises.
How would you characterize the business climate in Marine on St. Croix and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Marine on St. Croix?
The business climate is currently stressed. The closure of much of Wm. O’Brien State Park has had an adverse impact on business traffic. The protracted negotiations between the Council and one local business have resulted in reduced operations, which adversely impacts other businesses in town. The Council has an obvious stake and needs to work for an equitable and balanced solution that works for everyone.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
Happily, Marine is a safe community. There already are two City Councilpersons assigned to take the lead on public safety and neither is up for re-election. Although I will default to their leadership on this matter. Secondly, maintaining safe neighborhoods is also a matter of citizens being aware of what’s going on in their own neighborhoods, and communicating any issues to neighbors and the Council. Basically, neighbors looking out for neighbors, and when issues arise Council needs to be responsive and act in a timely manner.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
I don’t see this as an issue the Marine City Council can address directly. However, it is possible to take actions that indirectly address this concern. For example, discouraging the purchase of homes primarily as investments can help preserve the availability of housing. Also, at some point the issue of loosening restrictions on Accessory Dwelling Units (a.k.a. “mother-in-law apartments”) could be revisited. I do see that in Marine, as in many other localities, there is a shortage of affordable housing, particularly for people employed locally. I am willing to work with others in efforts to address that, and to ensure that Marine’s housing stock primarily benefits residents.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Folks in Marine may already know that I ride my bike on errands into town all year around. Marine’s nine miles of City streets generally feel safe. Options for improvement would more likely be in opportunities to have input on Washington County and MN DOT road projects such as Highway 95 and County Road 4, both of which bisect our community.
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?
This is a matter of proactive budget management so that there are no unfunded budget “surprises”. I also believe there are opportunities for Marine to pursue grants to support local projects. I and others have been successful in winning some DNR and DOT grants and expect to continue that effort.
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?
This is a question for candidates seeking offices higher than Marine’s City Council. Marine’s City Council positions are filled by volunteers. The reality is that Marine City Council will provide the most benefit to the community by monitoring but not be distracted by high level policy discussions at the state level.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 206.730.9567
Campaign Website: N/A
Twitter handle: N/A
Facebook Page: N/A
Candidate Bio
Since becoming a permanent resident of Marine in 2015, I have regularly attended Marine CC meetings, so I am familiar with the issues and workings of our local government. People may know me as someone interested and engaged with water and natural resource matters in town and on the river. What might not be known is that before moving to MN I was Managing Director of a large electric and gas utility service provider in the state of Washington. This has given me experience with civil engineering, construction, personnel management and budget. These are skills the Marine CC will need to manage current issues and adapt to successfully adapt to future challenges.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
Collaborative, with inclusion of citizen input and involvement.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Specifically, as to the question, my top priorities include fiscal transparency, operational transparency, and increased citizen engagement, not in any particular ordwer. Regarding the second part of this question regarding the state’s economic outlook: there is simply too much uncertainty at the local level to offer a meaningful response to this question, other than to say Marine’s City Council will need to be nimble in adapting to a changing economic environment.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Marine on St. Croix?
In the short term the biggest challenge will be to navigate through some emotionally charged issues being faced by the current City Council. This represents an opportunity for a “reset”, bringing the community together in our shared love of the town. When Marine works together great things happen.
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?
Clearly Marine’s few local businesses are vital assets to the community. Lacking a “Chamber of Commerce”, some of requisite cheerleading falls to the City Council. It is also incumbent on the Council to consider the quality of life in our community, and work collaboratively to resolve any potential adverse impacts on the quality of life in Marine. The Council needs to do their part to maintain good communication with local businesses so issues can be resolved before they become crises.
How would you characterize the business climate in Marine on St. Croix and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Marine on St. Croix?
The business climate is currently stressed. The closure of much of Wm. O’Brien State Park has had an adverse impact on business traffic. The protracted negotiations between the Council and one local business have resulted in reduced operations, which adversely impacts other businesses in town. The Council has an obvious stake and needs to work for an equitable and balanced solution that works for everyone.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
Happily, Marine is a safe community. There already are two City Councilpersons assigned to take the lead on public safety and neither is up for re-election. Although I will default to their leadership on this matter. Secondly, maintaining safe neighborhoods is also a matter of citizens being aware of what’s going on in their own neighborhoods, and communicating any issues to neighbors and the Council. Basically, neighbors looking out for neighbors, and when issues arise Council needs to be responsive and act in a timely manner.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
I don’t see this as an issue the Marine City Council can address directly. However, it is possible to take actions that indirectly address this concern. For example, discouraging the purchase of homes primarily as investments can help preserve the availability of housing. Also, at some point the issue of loosening restrictions on Accessory Dwelling Units (a.k.a. “mother-in-law apartments”) could be revisited. I do see that in Marine, as in many other localities, there is a shortage of affordable housing, particularly for people employed locally. I am willing to work with others in efforts to address that, and to ensure that Marine’s housing stock primarily benefits residents.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Folks in Marine may already know that I ride my bike on errands into town all year around. Marine’s nine miles of City streets generally feel safe. Options for improvement would more likely be in opportunities to have input on Washington County and MN DOT road projects such as Highway 95 and County Road 4, both of which bisect our community.
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?
This is a matter of proactive budget management so that there are no unfunded budget “surprises”. I also believe there are opportunities for Marine to pursue grants to support local projects. I and others have been successful in winning some DNR and DOT grants and expect to continue that effort.
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?
This is a question for candidates seeking offices higher than Marine’s City Council. Marine’s City Council positions are filled by volunteers. The reality is that Marine City Council will provide the most benefit to the community by monitoring but not be distracted by high level policy discussions at the state level.