Terri Mallet
Name: Terri Mallet
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-890-7702
Campaign Website: terriformaplewood.com
Twitter Handle:
Facebook Page:
Candidate Bio
Resident of Maplewood for 35 years.
Member of the No Rush Line/Save the Bruce Vento Trail Coalition, effectively stopping the Purple Iine.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner for 13 years.
Employed 34 years as office manager of a law firm.
Volunteered coaching, girl scout leader and many hours in our city.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I am energetic, caring, and a hard worker. I do not stop until a task is completed. I am not afraid to put in the hard work necessary to serve on the Maplewood City Council. I have served as a manager at my office for 34 years and pride myself that I can get along with everyone. I am a problem solver and encourage others to be their best.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top three priorities are: to support our public safety officers and their wellness, encourage and support our local businesses to thrive and grow, and to ensure our trails and parks serve as a happy place for all to enjoy. During the growing uncertainty in state and federal funding, we will need to be more creative and prioritize how we invest our valuable property tax funds. We will need to seek out grants and other sources of funding to continue to offer city services at a high level.
What is the biggest challenge facing Maplewood right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Our biggest challenge in Maplewood is balancing rising costs and keeping property taxes reasonable. I believe the new growth at the Ponds will help offset big tax increases as more homes come online. We will need to be creative and seek a local option sales tax to help pay to refurbish the Community Center and fund a future joint police and fire training center. We cannot simply tax our way into the future.
How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
The business climate in Maplewood is improving and expanding. We need to work with small business owners and offer incentives for them to hire more employees, especially our youth.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
The most pressing public safety challenge facing our community is dealing with teens and young adults and not having consequences for them. Drugs and mental health continue to be a problem. Sponsoring Park activities for youth would go a long way to help support our next generation. Connecting young people with our local businesses would help prepare them for future careers.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
Maplewood has already been doing a great job providing a wide range of housing including affordable housing. The majority of Maplewood homes are already affordable under federal guidelines. The city is in the process of building new Habitat for Humanity homes and starting a low interest loan program for homeowners to rehabilitate aging housing stock. I am completely against rent control and do not believe it works. Instead it hampers development of new projects.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
I was a big opponent of the Purple Line because it did not make any sense financially or in the projected ridership numbers. Further, it did not support the environment and would have destroyed the Vento Trail. I support transit that matches the needs of our community. Safety is key to successful transit. I am strongly in favor of our trails and bike routes that provide access and safety for all.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the city levy?
We may not be able to reduce spending all at once, but we can communicate clearly with residents and prioritize our expenditures. We should also focus on new developments to share the tax burden with new housing and new park creation. Residents need to be able to weigh in with their priorities and I want to listen to them.
What are the two or three issues where you believe city government is best positioned to lead — and why the city rather than the state or county?
I believe cities are especially equipped to provide police and fire services for our community at a local level. I also believe cities are in tune with their residents and can provide parks and trails that improve the quality of life for everyone. Parks and trails should be up to date and welcoming. Cities know their small businesses and can promote them by encouraging growth, and the addition of staff. All business is local business!
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
It is imperative we keep our residents informed about budget conversations and involve and seek their input. This will help prioritize expenditures, and keep the city on track. We need to approach communication with residents through a variety of channels from print media, pop-up events, website blasts, and personal events.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-890-7702
Campaign Website: terriformaplewood.com
Twitter Handle:
Facebook Page:
Candidate Bio
Resident of Maplewood for 35 years.
Member of the No Rush Line/Save the Bruce Vento Trail Coalition, effectively stopping the Purple Iine.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner for 13 years.
Employed 34 years as office manager of a law firm.
Volunteered coaching, girl scout leader and many hours in our city.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I am energetic, caring, and a hard worker. I do not stop until a task is completed. I am not afraid to put in the hard work necessary to serve on the Maplewood City Council. I have served as a manager at my office for 34 years and pride myself that I can get along with everyone. I am a problem solver and encourage others to be their best.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
My top three priorities are: to support our public safety officers and their wellness, encourage and support our local businesses to thrive and grow, and to ensure our trails and parks serve as a happy place for all to enjoy. During the growing uncertainty in state and federal funding, we will need to be more creative and prioritize how we invest our valuable property tax funds. We will need to seek out grants and other sources of funding to continue to offer city services at a high level.
What is the biggest challenge facing Maplewood right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Our biggest challenge in Maplewood is balancing rising costs and keeping property taxes reasonable. I believe the new growth at the Ponds will help offset big tax increases as more homes come online. We will need to be creative and seek a local option sales tax to help pay to refurbish the Community Center and fund a future joint police and fire training center. We cannot simply tax our way into the future.
How would you characterize the business climate in Maplewood, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
The business climate in Maplewood is improving and expanding. We need to work with small business owners and offer incentives for them to hire more employees, especially our youth.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
The most pressing public safety challenge facing our community is dealing with teens and young adults and not having consequences for them. Drugs and mental health continue to be a problem. Sponsoring Park activities for youth would go a long way to help support our next generation. Connecting young people with our local businesses would help prepare them for future careers.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability, and how do you view the role of rent control policies in that process?
Maplewood has already been doing a great job providing a wide range of housing including affordable housing. The majority of Maplewood homes are already affordable under federal guidelines. The city is in the process of building new Habitat for Humanity homes and starting a low interest loan program for homeowners to rehabilitate aging housing stock. I am completely against rent control and do not believe it works. Instead it hampers development of new projects.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
I was a big opponent of the Purple Line because it did not make any sense financially or in the projected ridership numbers. Further, it did not support the environment and would have destroyed the Vento Trail. I support transit that matches the needs of our community. Safety is key to successful transit. I am strongly in favor of our trails and bike routes that provide access and safety for all.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the city levy?
We may not be able to reduce spending all at once, but we can communicate clearly with residents and prioritize our expenditures. We should also focus on new developments to share the tax burden with new housing and new park creation. Residents need to be able to weigh in with their priorities and I want to listen to them.
What are the two or three issues where you believe city government is best positioned to lead — and why the city rather than the state or county?
I believe cities are especially equipped to provide police and fire services for our community at a local level. I also believe cities are in tune with their residents and can provide parks and trails that improve the quality of life for everyone. Parks and trails should be up to date and welcoming. Cities know their small businesses and can promote them by encouraging growth, and the addition of staff. All business is local business!
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
It is imperative we keep our residents informed about budget conversations and involve and seek their input. This will help prioritize expenditures, and keep the city on track. We need to approach communication with residents through a variety of channels from print media, pop-up events, website blasts, and personal events.