A bit about me
I’ve been a resident of North Mankato for 10 years, and this is the place that I love most. I’ve lived here, worked here, and raised my kids here. Before coming here, I went to college in Fargo, earning a mechanical engineering degree. I worked in the Twin Cities for four years while my partner earned her PhD in Scientific and Technical Communication. My work life along the way has been incredibly varied, and gave me a broad experience of leadership styles and other working people.
Since stepping away from professional engineering, I’ve learned a lot about working with trees, and spent time working as a line clearance tree trimmer, and serving as an AmeriCorps member in the city of St. Peter. It amazed me how many things are working so well in a town even smaller than ours, and I definitely want to bring successes from St. Peter to help out around here.
I’ve never met a problem I don’t want to solve, or a subject I don’t want to understand; just ask my wife! She occasionally calls me Bentonpedia when I demonstrate a solid grasp of obscure topics. It may sound stuffy, but I think that scientific literacy is one of the most crucial skill sets that a decision maker can have, and I am on a continuous quest to understand how things work.
On some more personal notes, I’m also an avid player of tabletop strategy games, so let me know if you’d like to pull out your favorite to challenge me some time. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed participating in community theatre as an actor, and have met some incredible people through it. I recommend you make it to any of the shows that interest you at MSU, Merely Players, Mankato Playhouse, Social Justice Theatre, and more.
What I like about North Mankato
A vibrant community
North Mankato is a beautiful place. That should be on display in our neighborhoods, landscapes, and culture. We should protect and expand efforts that make North Mankato more social, and more ecologically healthy.
Serving residents
Local government should be the most responsive to its constituents, because it is made up of your neighbors. I will work hard to make sure that all of our residents are treated fairly, and without favoritism or prejudice.
Making people matter
More than 14,000 people live in our city; there’s no way that 5 people know everything they need to about the city’s needs. I will work to honor and validate the experiences and views of our residents by creating more ways for them to be heard.
A good place to stay
With well-informed vision, our community can maintain what is distinctive about it, while preparing to be ready for whatever might be coming our way. I want to help make sure North Mankato is a place that people want to move to for all seasons of life.
I’m here for you
I’m very interested in helping people navigate their government, and solve problems that they feel are beyond them. Let me know if there are issues that you really want the city to step up about. Feedback is always welcome.