Mike Krachmer
Name: Mike Krachmer
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-645-4138
Campaign Website: n/a
Twitter handle: n/a
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MikeforMayorVadnais
Candidate Bio
I am proud of the progress we, as a city council and staff, have accomplished. Our priorities are different from past councils.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I practice servant leadership, balancing the concerns of all constituencies. I will continue to make decisions consistent with the common good, justice, and equity.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
My priorities have evolved based on the education and experience gained while in this office.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Vadnais Heights?
Our biggest challenges are finding ways to engage the whole community in decision-making, strategic planning, and defining the common good, together. The opportunity lies in the immense progress possible by engaging the energy and expertise of all of our community assets. I believe we can become a more resilient, welcoming, and prosperous community. I will continue to convene, reach out, and be responsive to all parties willing to work together for the common good.
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?
Business is an incredibly important community asset to prosperous communities. Our city is blessed with forward-thinking businesses that truly recognize the value of the community in which they do their business. They work with local educational organizations and contribute to community organizations. As a result of our recent housing study, we have identified a critical imbalance that we are actively addressing. Too many of our residents are rent- or mortgage-burdened. And a significant percentage are severely burdened, spending 50-60% of their income on housing. Our vibrant business community sits in a city that does not have adequate housing for its workforce. In fact, less than 5% of our residents work in Vadnais Heights. I think that the legislature is working hard to address issues in support of business and the lives of our citizens. I also think that party politics is a huge obstacle to getting things done. This issue is beyond the primary scope of city government. I intend to advocate for reform that decenters parties in elections and governing.
How would you characterize the business climate in Vadnais Heights and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Vadnais Heights?
Our efforts will be spent on creating more housing opportunities to meet the need for employees and customers. This will also build our tax base to provide resilient and sustainable services and infrastructure for all of our constituents.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
We continue to increase our support of public safety. One of our top goals is to upgrade our primary fire station to meet the need of the community and provide for the health and safety of our firefighters. We will also continue to connect our communities to one another and create opportunities for neighbors to get together. The safest communities are those where neighbors know each other and look out for one another.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
We, as a city, have already changed codes to allow Auxiliary Dwelling Units on residential lots. We are pursuing other avenues to partner with property owners and developers to build workforce housing and maintain Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing. And we started a home improvement loan program to help homeowners. We will continue these efforts and any others that will make Vadnais Heights a place where people can afford to live.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We have worked hard over the last two years to improve our city streets, expand bike/pedestrian paths, and improve transit coverage. We have had significant success in all of these areas and are pursuing funding to do much more. Our ongoing master parks and trails plan will provide a strategic basis for progress to connect our community for all modes of transportation.
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?
We have spent one time funding as wisely as possible. I have focused on reforming our planning and budgeting process since I was elected. We will continue this important work going forward to make sure we have sustainable models to meet the changing needs of our residents and the changing environment.
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?
There are so many critical issues that are not well addressed by the market. If the market were rational, teachers, daycare workers, and other professions critical for daily life would make living wages. It would also mean that those who create new ways to exploit other people’s labor or desperation profit less. The role of government is to do, together what we cannot do, individually. It will take all levels of government, the private and humanitarian sectors, to address these intractable problems. And we will play any part we can in this work.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-645-4138
Campaign Website: n/a
Twitter handle: n/a
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MikeforMayorVadnais
Candidate Bio
I am proud of the progress we, as a city council and staff, have accomplished. Our priorities are different from past councils.
- We did a housing study that is been the foundation for planning development to meet the needs of our community into the future. We have enacted changes to city code and zoning that will allow for more affordable housing options for our residents.
- We have made significant strides to improve our budgeting and planning practices to strategically meet the infrastructure needs of the city.
- I am available and responsive to our constituents, exploring concerns and issues with residents and businesses. I will continue to create opportunities to have community conversations and build relationships.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I practice servant leadership, balancing the concerns of all constituencies. I will continue to make decisions consistent with the common good, justice, and equity.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
My priorities have evolved based on the education and experience gained while in this office.
- I will continue to improve the responsiveness and transparency of city government.
- I will passionately champion our need to address the housing crisis in any way available to city government, collaborating with as many partners as possible.
- I will continue our work making strategic changes to our budgeting and planning around infrastructure and city services. My goal is to make all of our systems reliable and to deliver those services equitably! The state can be an important partner in pursuing our objectives. We will work closely with state and county government to claim our share of funding and support.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Vadnais Heights?
Our biggest challenges are finding ways to engage the whole community in decision-making, strategic planning, and defining the common good, together. The opportunity lies in the immense progress possible by engaging the energy and expertise of all of our community assets. I believe we can become a more resilient, welcoming, and prosperous community. I will continue to convene, reach out, and be responsive to all parties willing to work together for the common good.
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?
Business is an incredibly important community asset to prosperous communities. Our city is blessed with forward-thinking businesses that truly recognize the value of the community in which they do their business. They work with local educational organizations and contribute to community organizations. As a result of our recent housing study, we have identified a critical imbalance that we are actively addressing. Too many of our residents are rent- or mortgage-burdened. And a significant percentage are severely burdened, spending 50-60% of their income on housing. Our vibrant business community sits in a city that does not have adequate housing for its workforce. In fact, less than 5% of our residents work in Vadnais Heights. I think that the legislature is working hard to address issues in support of business and the lives of our citizens. I also think that party politics is a huge obstacle to getting things done. This issue is beyond the primary scope of city government. I intend to advocate for reform that decenters parties in elections and governing.
How would you characterize the business climate in Vadnais Heights and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Vadnais Heights?
Our efforts will be spent on creating more housing opportunities to meet the need for employees and customers. This will also build our tax base to provide resilient and sustainable services and infrastructure for all of our constituents.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
We continue to increase our support of public safety. One of our top goals is to upgrade our primary fire station to meet the need of the community and provide for the health and safety of our firefighters. We will also continue to connect our communities to one another and create opportunities for neighbors to get together. The safest communities are those where neighbors know each other and look out for one another.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
We, as a city, have already changed codes to allow Auxiliary Dwelling Units on residential lots. We are pursuing other avenues to partner with property owners and developers to build workforce housing and maintain Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing. And we started a home improvement loan program to help homeowners. We will continue these efforts and any others that will make Vadnais Heights a place where people can afford to live.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We have worked hard over the last two years to improve our city streets, expand bike/pedestrian paths, and improve transit coverage. We have had significant success in all of these areas and are pursuing funding to do much more. Our ongoing master parks and trails plan will provide a strategic basis for progress to connect our community for all modes of transportation.
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?
We have spent one time funding as wisely as possible. I have focused on reforming our planning and budgeting process since I was elected. We will continue this important work going forward to make sure we have sustainable models to meet the changing needs of our residents and the changing environment.
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?
There are so many critical issues that are not well addressed by the market. If the market were rational, teachers, daycare workers, and other professions critical for daily life would make living wages. It would also mean that those who create new ways to exploit other people’s labor or desperation profit less. The role of government is to do, together what we cannot do, individually. It will take all levels of government, the private and humanitarian sectors, to address these intractable problems. And we will play any part we can in this work.