BREEZY POINT 2022 CANDIDATE FORUM

BREEZY POINT — Managing growth. Keeping finances in check. Improving communication with the public.

These were some of the top issues for Breezy Point mentioned during a city council candidate forum Thursday, Oct. 6, at Eagle View Elementary School.

The six candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot – Gary Bakken (incumbent), Steve Jensen, Tom Lillehei (appointed), Michael Moroni (incumbent), Brad Scott and Angel Zierden – discussed their stances on various issues the city faces.

Scott, Lillehei, Moroni and Bakken are vying for the two open four-year council terms, while Jensen is the sole candidate for a two-year role on the council and Zierden is the only candidate for the mayor’s seat.

Forum moderator Rebecca Timmins asked the candidates what their top priority will be if elected. Answers varied, but Jensen and Zierden both cited a desire to revise or replace city ordinances they deemed “outdated.”

Lillehei mentioned the Buschmann Road improvement project as a chief concern.

Moroni said he wants to manage the city’s growth and address staffing concerns.

Scott said his priority is engaging the citizens and bringing more public input to a city hall that has at times been “not welcoming” to outside voices.

Bakken called for cooperation among council members in the new term.

“I am talking about the seated members of the council working together,” he said. “No hidden agendas. We work for the people, not ourselves. That has been my goal forever. I do what is right for the masses.”

Timmins, a volunteer with the League of Women Voters, asked candidates about their philosophies on controlling taxes and fees. Consensus from several candidates was that taxes needed to be maintained responsibly, and different revenue streams need to be obtained.

“I believe you can’t just keep raising taxes every year to cover expenses,” Jensen said. “It places burdens on…