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FAIRMONT -- Three candidates, Hollee Klesh, incumbent Randy Lubenow and Edward Paschke will appear on the ballot Nov. 3 for Fairmont's City Council Ward 3. They were all asked the same four questions and below are their responses. Paschke did not respond to the questions before the deadline.
1 -- What is your background, and why are you running for city council?
Klesh: I grew up in Fairmont and graduated in 2007, then moved away for college and work. I returned three years ago with my husband to be near family and to build relationships in a smaller, closer-knit community. In college I studied physics and astronomy and I have held a variety of jobs over my working life ranging from customer service to risk management to project management to software engineering. I have consistently found that this diverse working background helps me examine problems from many different perspectives to find possible solutions. I always find myself returning to service-oriented jobs because at the end of the day, I am at my best when I am helping people.
My decision to run for city council was a result of wanting to give back to the community that raised me and seeing the potential this town has. We have a real opportunity to start making positive decisions now which drive a Fairmont that is resilient and ready for the future and I am excited to contribute to that.
Lubenow: I grew up in Martin County and graduated from Fairmont High School, where my roots in the community began. I was actively involved in 4-H and FFA for many years, experiences that helped shape my values and commitment to serving others. I went on to attend Mankato State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.
For the past 23 years, I have proudly called Fairmont home, where I have built a life with my wife, Brenda, and our two now-grown children.
Throughout my seven years serving on the city council, I have worked hard to represent the residents of Ward 3, listen to their concerns and make decisions that reflect the best interests of the people I serve. I am committed to continuing that work by encouraging responsible growth, attracting new businesses and strengthening Fairmont's economic future.
As we look ahead, I believe it is equally important to maintain a responsible budget that meets the needs of our residents while remaining affordable for our community. My goal is to help Fairmont continue to grow and prosper while being mindful of the financial responsibilities we share as a community.
2 -- What do you view as the top issue facing Fairmont, and why?
Klesh: We have a communication issue on multiple fronts and it slows our ability to progress. The current council often struggles to communicate with each other effectively, and that runs over into ineffective communication and coordination with city staff. It is in everyone’s best interests for us to work hard on building trusting, respectful, open communication between these folks to enable efficiency. An environment of positivity and cooperation leads to better ideas, better problem solving, and better outcomes.
Throughout this campaign I have also seen that we have a communication problem between the city and the citizens of Fairmont. Many times I’ve talked to folks who are dismayed that specific services aren’t available when in reality, they are available but are either hard to discover or difficult to navigate through applying for. This is somewhat driven by technology gaps as our society continues to evolve rapidly into digital-first communication. We need to be intentional about re-learning how to keep folks in the loop about current projects, being inclusive of all Fairmont residents at any technology level and make plans to proactively communicate as the need arises.
Lubenow: Growth is my top priority. A growing community creates opportunities for new businesses, housing development and an expanded property tax base, helping distribute the tax burden more fairly among residents. Growth also brings new jobs, strengthens our local economy and provides more opportunities for people to build their futures right here in Fairmont.
As a city, we need to embrace a "Yes, We Can" mindset. We should work collaboratively with residents, business owners and developers to find solutions, remove unnecessary barriers and turn good ideas into reality. Our city government should be a partner in progress, helping make the dreams and aspirations of our citizens and businesses possible.
My goal is to see Fairmont continue to grow, attract new opportunities, and build a stronger future for generations to come.
3-- How would you navigate disagreements among city councilors?
Klesh: Disagreement is natural and even healthy when you’re addressing complex topics and making big decisions. I would hope everyone on council brings their best ideas to problem solve together, and sometimes those ideas will conflict with each other. It is important to remember the goal you are trying to achieve when problem solving and always keep that at the forefront. I commit to working through those disagreements with respect, seeking to understand diverse perspectives and uniting behind whatever decision the council ultimately makes as a group.
Lubenow: I believe that differing opinions and healthy disagreements are not obstacles to progress; they are opportunities to learn, collaborate and develop better solutions for the challenges facing Fairmont. Each member of the city council brings valuable knowledge, passion and unique life experiences to the table.
By listening to one another, respecting different perspectives and working together, we can combine our strengths and resources to make thoughtful, informed decisions that benefit our entire community. Ultimately, we share a common goal: to make Fairmont an even better place to live, work and raise a family.
4-- What are your goals if elected this term?
Klesh: As a city council member, I want to make decisions that have concrete effects on the quality of life of the citizens of Fairmont while moving toward a future where we are ready for what the world throws at us. It is becoming a matter of urgency that we act aggressively to address the quality of the water in our lakes. Not only have we built our brand on the lakes, but we also drink their water. The longer we wait to take strong action, the harder the problem will be to solve. The good news is that we are still in a place where we have actions available to take.
We also need to take a growth stance on housing. Development has slowed tremendously and we will find that it is difficult to attract the amount of business we need to turn the tide of our economy without any place for those businesses' employees to live. I want to see us invest in rehabilitating or rebuilding blighted properties to restore a proper balance of workforce and senior housing. An investment in affordable housing frees up income for struggling folks to breathe a little, injects that newly available money back into our economy and allows our businesses to grow their workforce at the rate of demand instead of the rate of availability.
Lubenow: I want to see more young people choose to stay in Fairmont or return home after completing their post-secondary education to build their careers, raise their families and make a lasting difference in our community. Some of our greatest leaders have roots right here in Martin County, and we need to create opportunities that give the next generation a reason to come back and invest in their hometown.
We can work toward this future by investing in Fairmont--attracting new businesses, encouraging new housing development and working together to improve our neighborhoods and protect our lakes and natural resources. These efforts will help create a community where people want to live, work and build their future.
Progress will take time, commitment and collaboration, but I believe that when we work together toward a shared vision, we can accomplish great things for Fairmont and future generations.
Thank you for your continued support and for believing in Fairmont's future.