Mary Gaasch
Name: Mary Gaasch
Public Office Sought: Lauderdale Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-645-5918
Campaign Website: marygaasch.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page:
Candidate Bio
I love the city of Lauderdale! I have had the honor to serve Lauderdale as Mayor for three terms. I have made strategic investments to keep our community thriving and keep taxes low. I love community engagement and am deeply committed to making it as easy as possible for everyone to have a voice. With the hard work of our council, staff, and citizens, we are growing a community in which everyone can thrive. Under my leadership, we have rebuilt a critical city thoroughfare, launched an affordable senior housing project, and piloted the Smallest Cities Race and Equity Cohort. Lauderdale children helped design our Skyview park. We have invested deeply in our housing stock and in our green spaces. We have worked hard on our wonderful partnerships with other cities, allowing us to offer excellent services to our citizens. Despite the challenges of the last few years, Lauderdale is a thriving city, and we are well positioned for the future.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Thriving Main Street-with a coffee shop!
Partner with Ramsey County for improved pedestrian and bike access on county roads in Lauderdale (Fulham, Eustis south of Larpenteur)
Partner with Ramsey County to pilot first generation homeowner grants
How would you characterize the business climate in Lauderdale and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Our businesses are thriving, and they are our community partners. They provide essential employment and services, and they are our friends as we work through problems in our community.
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, Lauderdale?
It’s tough for a small city to invest in new businesses. We have to be continually creative to figure out ways to make Lauderdale a supportive environment for businesses. That’s why one of my big priorities is finding a way to revitalize our main street.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I struggle with this in my professional life, as I work in nonprofit human services. There are so many organizations out there doing great work in this space - DEED and Workforce Innovation Boards are two that come to mind. Employers need to build the capacity to use their resources and invest in infrastructure (wages, benefits, technology) to support and retain employees. The nonprofit I work for fundraises for grants that help employees with car repairs. That is one example of innovative ways we can attract and retain employees.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Lauderdale (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Lauderdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
All of the businesses in Lauderdale pay more than proposed living wages so we have not had discussions about these policies. Our business community is a valued partner, and we invite them for conversations policies that impact them.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
We have a great partnership with our contracted police department, St. Anthony Village. We support their hard work on mission driven, community-oriented policing. Crime rates remain low in Lauderdale, but we work hard to ensure that victims are heard and systemic issues are addressed. For instance, catalytic converter theft has increased here, and I serve on the board of the League of MN Cities where we have advocated for state support in policy changes that would make this crime easier to address.
On a personal note, my husband is a police officer who was awarded a Bush Fellowship for his work on best 21st century policing practices. Our dinner table conversation is all about how policing can support communities! I welcome our citizens and stakeholders into this conversation.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Lauderdale invested in buying some vacant lots and selling them to a developer who met our specifications. This set a price for lots; prior to this Lauderdale was too small to have accurate comps! We have since seen several new homes go up, providing a nice variety of housing options in our community. We are building affordable senior housing after 4 years of work. Now seniors will be able to age in place in our community. We are in talks with Ramsey County to pilot a First Generation homeowners grant. This work came out of our work on equity and inclusion, and with the understanding that cities have provided barriers to building wealth through home ownership.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
Lauderdale needs better access to public transit, and we have a council member, Jeff Dains, who serves on a committee with the Met Council to address our concerns. We are working with Ramsey County and our community to make their roads in Lauderdale more pedestrian and bike friendly. Lauderdale is too small to be eligible for municipal state aid from the State of MN. We partner with many other small cities to advocate for better support from our state so we can maintain our infrastructure.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
We really work hard to keep our levy low. There are no wasted dollars in Lauderdale. We know our citizens cannot afford giant tax increases, so we work hard to make sure we provide excellent service for an affordable cost.
What will you do to expand Lauderdale’s tax base?
It’s tough to do in an almost fully developed city, but the senior housing project we are building after four years of hard work will be a great asset to our tax base.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
We are so fortunate to be part of the excellent Roseville School District. I am a member of the Regional Council of Mayors and we convene conversations with metro school districts about how we can best support them. Education is critical to a vital workforce and the economic development of our state. I thank and support all the educators in my life who work hard in these challenging times to invest in our kids. I championed the Roseville Area School District levy, and I support our school board and our teachers.
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?
I don’t believe we could trim a penny from our budget without serious impact on services. We are so frugal we even re-use envelopes. We share many services with other entities-police, fire, snowplowing, etc. We are grateful for these great partnerships which make life in Lauderdale so wonderful.
What is the role of the Mayor in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Lauderdale?
This is why I led our city in piloting the Smallest Cities Race and Equity Cohort. Small cities don’t have as many tools to use as big cities, and through our work we came to understand that the best strategies for being a more inclusive city are unique to each community. I am passionate about investing in our main street and creating new opportunities for business in Lauderdale.
What further policies can Lauderdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Our businesses are doing well. We continue to partner with them and listen to them about their needs and interests. We convene them for useful conversation with each other about issues that may be of concern.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As your Mayor, I have crafted a strategic vision that has kept our community thriving through the most difficult of times. In partnership with our council, staff, and citizens, I have made investments that will ensure that Lauderdale is a wonderful place to live for generations to come. I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022.
Public Office Sought: Lauderdale Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-645-5918
Campaign Website: marygaasch.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page:
Candidate Bio
I love the city of Lauderdale! I have had the honor to serve Lauderdale as Mayor for three terms. I have made strategic investments to keep our community thriving and keep taxes low. I love community engagement and am deeply committed to making it as easy as possible for everyone to have a voice. With the hard work of our council, staff, and citizens, we are growing a community in which everyone can thrive. Under my leadership, we have rebuilt a critical city thoroughfare, launched an affordable senior housing project, and piloted the Smallest Cities Race and Equity Cohort. Lauderdale children helped design our Skyview park. We have invested deeply in our housing stock and in our green spaces. We have worked hard on our wonderful partnerships with other cities, allowing us to offer excellent services to our citizens. Despite the challenges of the last few years, Lauderdale is a thriving city, and we are well positioned for the future.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Thriving Main Street-with a coffee shop!
Partner with Ramsey County for improved pedestrian and bike access on county roads in Lauderdale (Fulham, Eustis south of Larpenteur)
Partner with Ramsey County to pilot first generation homeowner grants
How would you characterize the business climate in Lauderdale and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Our businesses are thriving, and they are our community partners. They provide essential employment and services, and they are our friends as we work through problems in our community.
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, Lauderdale?
It’s tough for a small city to invest in new businesses. We have to be continually creative to figure out ways to make Lauderdale a supportive environment for businesses. That’s why one of my big priorities is finding a way to revitalize our main street.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I struggle with this in my professional life, as I work in nonprofit human services. There are so many organizations out there doing great work in this space - DEED and Workforce Innovation Boards are two that come to mind. Employers need to build the capacity to use their resources and invest in infrastructure (wages, benefits, technology) to support and retain employees. The nonprofit I work for fundraises for grants that help employees with car repairs. That is one example of innovative ways we can attract and retain employees.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Lauderdale (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Lauderdale and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
All of the businesses in Lauderdale pay more than proposed living wages so we have not had discussions about these policies. Our business community is a valued partner, and we invite them for conversations policies that impact them.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
We have a great partnership with our contracted police department, St. Anthony Village. We support their hard work on mission driven, community-oriented policing. Crime rates remain low in Lauderdale, but we work hard to ensure that victims are heard and systemic issues are addressed. For instance, catalytic converter theft has increased here, and I serve on the board of the League of MN Cities where we have advocated for state support in policy changes that would make this crime easier to address.
On a personal note, my husband is a police officer who was awarded a Bush Fellowship for his work on best 21st century policing practices. Our dinner table conversation is all about how policing can support communities! I welcome our citizens and stakeholders into this conversation.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Lauderdale invested in buying some vacant lots and selling them to a developer who met our specifications. This set a price for lots; prior to this Lauderdale was too small to have accurate comps! We have since seen several new homes go up, providing a nice variety of housing options in our community. We are building affordable senior housing after 4 years of work. Now seniors will be able to age in place in our community. We are in talks with Ramsey County to pilot a First Generation homeowners grant. This work came out of our work on equity and inclusion, and with the understanding that cities have provided barriers to building wealth through home ownership.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
Lauderdale needs better access to public transit, and we have a council member, Jeff Dains, who serves on a committee with the Met Council to address our concerns. We are working with Ramsey County and our community to make their roads in Lauderdale more pedestrian and bike friendly. Lauderdale is too small to be eligible for municipal state aid from the State of MN. We partner with many other small cities to advocate for better support from our state so we can maintain our infrastructure.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
We really work hard to keep our levy low. There are no wasted dollars in Lauderdale. We know our citizens cannot afford giant tax increases, so we work hard to make sure we provide excellent service for an affordable cost.
What will you do to expand Lauderdale’s tax base?
It’s tough to do in an almost fully developed city, but the senior housing project we are building after four years of hard work will be a great asset to our tax base.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
We are so fortunate to be part of the excellent Roseville School District. I am a member of the Regional Council of Mayors and we convene conversations with metro school districts about how we can best support them. Education is critical to a vital workforce and the economic development of our state. I thank and support all the educators in my life who work hard in these challenging times to invest in our kids. I championed the Roseville Area School District levy, and I support our school board and our teachers.
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?
I don’t believe we could trim a penny from our budget without serious impact on services. We are so frugal we even re-use envelopes. We share many services with other entities-police, fire, snowplowing, etc. We are grateful for these great partnerships which make life in Lauderdale so wonderful.
What is the role of the Mayor in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Lauderdale?
This is why I led our city in piloting the Smallest Cities Race and Equity Cohort. Small cities don’t have as many tools to use as big cities, and through our work we came to understand that the best strategies for being a more inclusive city are unique to each community. I am passionate about investing in our main street and creating new opportunities for business in Lauderdale.
What further policies can Lauderdale adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Our businesses are doing well. We continue to partner with them and listen to them about their needs and interests. We convene them for useful conversation with each other about issues that may be of concern.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As your Mayor, I have crafted a strategic vision that has kept our community thriving through the most difficult of times. In partnership with our council, staff, and citizens, I have made investments that will ensure that Lauderdale is a wonderful place to live for generations to come. I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022.