Todd Jakober
Name: Todd Jakober
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-208-6829
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Jakober4woodburycitycouncil
Candidate Bio
I have been a resident of Woodbury for the past 22 years in the Woodbury Heights Neighborhood. I am an Eagle Scout (1987) and a graduate of Harding Senior High School in St. Paul.
I have worked for the St. Paul Public Schools for the past 24 years. I also have previous business management experience while working for Lowes in Lima, Ohio from 1999-2002.
In my current position with St. Paul Public Schools I work as an Educational Assistant/Travel Trainer. My primary focus in this position is to instruct Special Education students (16-22 years old) in Independent Travel using Public Transportation options. This position requires that I listen and adapt instruction for varied disabilities (physical or cognitive).
I have exceptional skills working in a Teamwork Environment to work towards solutions that would allow Woodbury to continue to be a destination for residents and consumers.
I feel that my above experience and accomplishments will make me an ideal candidate and representative for the Woodbury City Council.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I would work as a valued team member of this Council to listen to feedback from residents and businesses to foster common sense solutions.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
Keeping taxes and special assessments at reasonable rates. I would do this by being active in finding alternative funding.
Making sure that vacant businesses are filled. This would allow for continued tax compensation from existing infrastructure before building more.
Expansion of public transportation options within Woodbury. I would do this by tapping into funding from the Metropolitan Council and having open dialogue with Metro Transit Leadership.
What is the biggest challenge facing Woodbury right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Affordable housing options and keeping taxes at stable levels without increases or special assessments that are excessive.
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
I see Woodbury as a thriving business community. I believe that local Government should listen to the needs and ideas for continued success while making sound decisions with existing tax payer dollars.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Crosswalks – I feel there is a need for a study of crosswalks in neighborhoods within Woodbury. Add and update as needed.
Excessive speeding within the smaller Woodbury developments. I would suggest mobile trailers to assist with reminders of actual speed and more frequent patrols in developments within Woodbury.
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?
I feel that there are plenty of housing options within the city. I think the true issue is affordability. I would offer tax breaks or other incentives to housing communities to lower rent or to cap them at reasonable rates.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
I would suggest that we study traffic signals to better improve traffic movement so that we do not have long lines.
I would reach out to Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council to create more public transportation options beyond what currently exists.
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?
I would propose caps on increases in property taxes. I would also seek to work through partnerships with the state and county to continue the existing services that are in place.
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?
Affordable housing options. I believe the City Council and City Administrator can broker deals with existing townhome and apartment complexes to lower rent with incentives or tax breaks.
Bringing in new businesses to fill existing vacant buildings. This can be done by the City Administrator and the City Council.
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?
I would offer quarterly breakdowns of how taxpayer money is used for existing and new use of tax money. This would be offered to residents upon request.
I would also continue to send out the mailing that currently exists now but add more information relating to where the Mayor and City Council will be in future community events.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-208-6829
Campaign Website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Jakober4woodburycitycouncil
Candidate Bio
I have been a resident of Woodbury for the past 22 years in the Woodbury Heights Neighborhood. I am an Eagle Scout (1987) and a graduate of Harding Senior High School in St. Paul.
I have worked for the St. Paul Public Schools for the past 24 years. I also have previous business management experience while working for Lowes in Lima, Ohio from 1999-2002.
In my current position with St. Paul Public Schools I work as an Educational Assistant/Travel Trainer. My primary focus in this position is to instruct Special Education students (16-22 years old) in Independent Travel using Public Transportation options. This position requires that I listen and adapt instruction for varied disabilities (physical or cognitive).
I have exceptional skills working in a Teamwork Environment to work towards solutions that would allow Woodbury to continue to be a destination for residents and consumers.
I feel that my above experience and accomplishments will make me an ideal candidate and representative for the Woodbury City Council.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I would work as a valued team member of this Council to listen to feedback from residents and businesses to foster common sense solutions.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
Keeping taxes and special assessments at reasonable rates. I would do this by being active in finding alternative funding.
Making sure that vacant businesses are filled. This would allow for continued tax compensation from existing infrastructure before building more.
Expansion of public transportation options within Woodbury. I would do this by tapping into funding from the Metropolitan Council and having open dialogue with Metro Transit Leadership.
What is the biggest challenge facing Woodbury right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Affordable housing options and keeping taxes at stable levels without increases or special assessments that are excessive.
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury, and what role should city government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
I see Woodbury as a thriving business community. I believe that local Government should listen to the needs and ideas for continued success while making sound decisions with existing tax payer dollars.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
Crosswalks – I feel there is a need for a study of crosswalks in neighborhoods within Woodbury. Add and update as needed.
Excessive speeding within the smaller Woodbury developments. I would suggest mobile trailers to assist with reminders of actual speed and more frequent patrols in developments within Woodbury.
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?
I feel that there are plenty of housing options within the city. I think the true issue is affordability. I would offer tax breaks or other incentives to housing communities to lower rent or to cap them at reasonable rates.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
I would suggest that we study traffic signals to better improve traffic movement so that we do not have long lines.
I would reach out to Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council to create more public transportation options beyond what currently exists.
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?
I would propose caps on increases in property taxes. I would also seek to work through partnerships with the state and county to continue the existing services that are in place.
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?
Affordable housing options. I believe the City Council and City Administrator can broker deals with existing townhome and apartment complexes to lower rent with incentives or tax breaks.
Bringing in new businesses to fill existing vacant buildings. This can be done by the City Administrator and the City Council.
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?
I would offer quarterly breakdowns of how taxpayer money is used for existing and new use of tax money. This would be offered to residents upon request.
I would also continue to send out the mailing that currently exists now but add more information relating to where the Mayor and City Council will be in future community events.