Kristine Cook
Name: Kristine Cook
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-968-2279
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page:
Candidate Bio
My family and I moved from Minneapolis to Willernie in 2019 - we loved and still love the small town feel of the city, friendly neighbors, and nearness to nature, but also its close proximity to the cultural opportunities in the cities. I am a former attorney, up until earlier this summer, and currently a full-time mom to two elementary aged kids who attend school in the Mahtomedi district. As an attorney, I have strong negotiation skills and an understanding of the importance of bringing all points of view and perspectives to the table to reach the best compromise for all stakeholders and parties. I grew up in Minnesota, but as an adult, have lived in different states and cities. My experience in these different environments has allowed me to view my community in Willernie initially as a new transplant, and now as a more established resident, as someone who has experienced what other states, cities, and towns do to strengthen, support, and improve their populations and infrastructure, and hopefully get the chance to apply those principles here at home as a city council member.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My leadership style is give and take; I appreciate and strive for the opportunity to have an open back-and-forth dialogue with others, and entertain differing opinions on an issue before reaching a solution or resolution. I am not afraid to take the lead in addressing a problem, or talk about a hard topic, but I also aim to consistently be an active and careful listener. Either way, when it comes down to it, I am decisive and persistent in working toward a common goal.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
My top three priorities, if elected to the city council, would be working on ensuring Willernie continues to attract and keep new residents by retaining its small town and natural charm, but also affordable for those of us who live here; protecting and improving Willernie's Lake Washington, which is a beautiful natural asset to the community, and its parks, swamps, creek, and other natural areas; and continuing the current council's progress in creating opportunities for residents to get together as neighbors - we had a great National Night Out this year, and I would like to keep that going, and develop other similar opportunities at different times of the year.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Willernie?
The biggest challenge in Willernie may be its size, since most of the habitable space, for residences or businesses, is already occupied or developed. On the other hand, the biggest opportunity in our city is also its size and quaintness. This means the city can only be improved with continued support from city hall to ensure the roads are taken care of and kept safe for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers; that properties are maintained, along with public spaces; and that the parks and recreational and social spaces and businesses we have are supported and have a voice, presence, or space in city politics.
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?
The ideal collaboration between government and the business community for tackling challenges is to get together face-to-face (or at least by video meeting with screens on!), and work out their differences via engaging, ongoing discussions, addressing challenges or changes as they arise.
With Willernie's small population size and current business community, and considering the city council as non-partisan, I think the most important work for the council is to continue to foster close relationships with local businesses and entrepreneurs to keep them engaged in city and local issues relevant to their operations, and to keep them housed and thriving in our city, regardless of the direction of the state legislature.
How would you characterize the business climate in Willernie and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Willernie?
The business climate in Willernie includes some staple, long-standing businesses, and other endeavors that seem to come and go over time. The city should focus on retaining businesses to those storefronts that seem to become open every so often, and expanding existing offerings on the main street we share with Mahtomedi along Stillwater Road. The city should focus on diversity of enterprises and offerings to allow restaurants, commerce, and other businesses to thrive, and to provide the services and goods city residents, and others passing through, want to enjoy, to allow us all to shop and stay local.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
It is my understanding the principal public safety challenge in our community may be property crimes and theft, especially from vehicles and garages or sheds. To address this, my strategies would include encouraging residents to get to know their neighbors and watch out for each other's homes and properties, and make sure street lights are maintained where they are installed to keep streets lit at night. Continuing the city's relationship with the Washington County Sheriff's office, which frequently has its deputies drive through our city, is also a key to prevention, and to maintaining public safety and a sense of community connectedness.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Willernie has a blend of some newer homes, with many older, established homes, and to address the housing shortage, and also home affordability, it is important for our city to keep track of rental properties in the city to encourage renters to move in, but also ensure the availability of single family homes that are affordable for the average single earner, couple, and family. Using open space to expand on existing properties, or build responsible new homes that fit within our community and the space we have, within the limitations of what is allowable under city ordinances, seems to be the track being followed by the current city council, which I think is the right way to go.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
To improve transportation options in the community, Willernie needs to ensure its roads continue to be kept up, through street patching and resurfacing, and trimming and maintenance of branches and other obstructions to drivers and bikers/pedestrians, alike. We also need to keep up with surrounding cities by installing crosswalks or stop signs where needed, to help with safety, and maintain our community parking areas and available street parking, so drivers have space to park in the city. Like in many suburban/rural areas of our state, and across the country, public transportation is not readily available in Willernie, but focusing on the transit-ways we do have allows the city to do its part to allow safe and efficient travel on our streets.
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?
As federal COVID benefits run out for Willernie and other communities, we need to have a handle on the baseline city budget, and the most important projects and goals of the city, which should be pursued within the means the city currently has at its disposal, without relying on, or hoping for, further federal or state-wide benefits. This is the way to work toward fiscal stability, with a reservation of any extra benefits for special or one-time projects, not normally incurred or planned by the city.
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?
The different scopes of work between state and local government depend, often, on what end up being presented as partisan issues; while, on the other hand, local (city, in this case) government is non-partisan, which is a good thing. Local government, through the mayor and city council, then, is able to consider strictly what is best and beneficial for the city itself, and surrounding areas, when making decisions, rather than what might be more or less popular to greater groups of citizens who live across the state.
The city should lead on decision making centered on city issues, such as, for Willernie, attracting businesses and residents based upon our city's unique location, academically strong schools, varied house and residential styles and sizes, and welcoming main streets at Stillwater and Wildwood Roads. The state/county officials should focus on larger, broader issues and challenges impacting all Minnesotans, and affecting suburban, urban and rural residents, including those like the rideshare drivers' wages and childcare subsidies.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-968-2279
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page:
Candidate Bio
My family and I moved from Minneapolis to Willernie in 2019 - we loved and still love the small town feel of the city, friendly neighbors, and nearness to nature, but also its close proximity to the cultural opportunities in the cities. I am a former attorney, up until earlier this summer, and currently a full-time mom to two elementary aged kids who attend school in the Mahtomedi district. As an attorney, I have strong negotiation skills and an understanding of the importance of bringing all points of view and perspectives to the table to reach the best compromise for all stakeholders and parties. I grew up in Minnesota, but as an adult, have lived in different states and cities. My experience in these different environments has allowed me to view my community in Willernie initially as a new transplant, and now as a more established resident, as someone who has experienced what other states, cities, and towns do to strengthen, support, and improve their populations and infrastructure, and hopefully get the chance to apply those principles here at home as a city council member.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
My leadership style is give and take; I appreciate and strive for the opportunity to have an open back-and-forth dialogue with others, and entertain differing opinions on an issue before reaching a solution or resolution. I am not afraid to take the lead in addressing a problem, or talk about a hard topic, but I also aim to consistently be an active and careful listener. Either way, when it comes down to it, I am decisive and persistent in working toward a common goal.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
My top three priorities, if elected to the city council, would be working on ensuring Willernie continues to attract and keep new residents by retaining its small town and natural charm, but also affordable for those of us who live here; protecting and improving Willernie's Lake Washington, which is a beautiful natural asset to the community, and its parks, swamps, creek, and other natural areas; and continuing the current council's progress in creating opportunities for residents to get together as neighbors - we had a great National Night Out this year, and I would like to keep that going, and develop other similar opportunities at different times of the year.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Willernie?
The biggest challenge in Willernie may be its size, since most of the habitable space, for residences or businesses, is already occupied or developed. On the other hand, the biggest opportunity in our city is also its size and quaintness. This means the city can only be improved with continued support from city hall to ensure the roads are taken care of and kept safe for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers; that properties are maintained, along with public spaces; and that the parks and recreational and social spaces and businesses we have are supported and have a voice, presence, or space in city politics.
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?
The ideal collaboration between government and the business community for tackling challenges is to get together face-to-face (or at least by video meeting with screens on!), and work out their differences via engaging, ongoing discussions, addressing challenges or changes as they arise.
With Willernie's small population size and current business community, and considering the city council as non-partisan, I think the most important work for the council is to continue to foster close relationships with local businesses and entrepreneurs to keep them engaged in city and local issues relevant to their operations, and to keep them housed and thriving in our city, regardless of the direction of the state legislature.
How would you characterize the business climate in Willernie and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Willernie?
The business climate in Willernie includes some staple, long-standing businesses, and other endeavors that seem to come and go over time. The city should focus on retaining businesses to those storefronts that seem to become open every so often, and expanding existing offerings on the main street we share with Mahtomedi along Stillwater Road. The city should focus on diversity of enterprises and offerings to allow restaurants, commerce, and other businesses to thrive, and to provide the services and goods city residents, and others passing through, want to enjoy, to allow us all to shop and stay local.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
It is my understanding the principal public safety challenge in our community may be property crimes and theft, especially from vehicles and garages or sheds. To address this, my strategies would include encouraging residents to get to know their neighbors and watch out for each other's homes and properties, and make sure street lights are maintained where they are installed to keep streets lit at night. Continuing the city's relationship with the Washington County Sheriff's office, which frequently has its deputies drive through our city, is also a key to prevention, and to maintaining public safety and a sense of community connectedness.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Willernie has a blend of some newer homes, with many older, established homes, and to address the housing shortage, and also home affordability, it is important for our city to keep track of rental properties in the city to encourage renters to move in, but also ensure the availability of single family homes that are affordable for the average single earner, couple, and family. Using open space to expand on existing properties, or build responsible new homes that fit within our community and the space we have, within the limitations of what is allowable under city ordinances, seems to be the track being followed by the current city council, which I think is the right way to go.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
To improve transportation options in the community, Willernie needs to ensure its roads continue to be kept up, through street patching and resurfacing, and trimming and maintenance of branches and other obstructions to drivers and bikers/pedestrians, alike. We also need to keep up with surrounding cities by installing crosswalks or stop signs where needed, to help with safety, and maintain our community parking areas and available street parking, so drivers have space to park in the city. Like in many suburban/rural areas of our state, and across the country, public transportation is not readily available in Willernie, but focusing on the transit-ways we do have allows the city to do its part to allow safe and efficient travel on our streets.
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?
As federal COVID benefits run out for Willernie and other communities, we need to have a handle on the baseline city budget, and the most important projects and goals of the city, which should be pursued within the means the city currently has at its disposal, without relying on, or hoping for, further federal or state-wide benefits. This is the way to work toward fiscal stability, with a reservation of any extra benefits for special or one-time projects, not normally incurred or planned by the city.
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?
The different scopes of work between state and local government depend, often, on what end up being presented as partisan issues; while, on the other hand, local (city, in this case) government is non-partisan, which is a good thing. Local government, through the mayor and city council, then, is able to consider strictly what is best and beneficial for the city itself, and surrounding areas, when making decisions, rather than what might be more or less popular to greater groups of citizens who live across the state.
The city should lead on decision making centered on city issues, such as, for Willernie, attracting businesses and residents based upon our city's unique location, academically strong schools, varied house and residential styles and sizes, and welcoming main streets at Stillwater and Wildwood Roads. The state/county officials should focus on larger, broader issues and challenges impacting all Minnesotans, and affecting suburban, urban and rural residents, including those like the rideshare drivers' wages and childcare subsidies.