Candidates Breezy Point Mayor – Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce

Breezy Point Mayor

All candidates listed above were contacted by the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce for participation in this Voting Guide. Responses received from our questionnaire are published exactly as submitted, with no additional editing. Please note that candidates marked with * did not respond.

Tom Lillehei

Political Office: Mayor, City of Breezy Point
Political Party: N/A
Age: 73
Family: Wife of 50 years; Son & Daughter; 5 Grandchildren
Occupation: Retired Electrical Engineer
Contact: 612-414-0923

What are three words that define you as a candidate?

Analytical. Thoughtful. Devoted.

What are your priorities as they relate to our local business community?

The business community and specifically the tourism industry is the lifeblood of the city. It is a very high priority to maintain all the businesses healthy and thriving. As such, actively promoting the city identity, building public infrastructure and encouraging private infrastructure that supports our businesses is a high priority.

If elected, how would you engage the business community when weighing your decisions?

As part of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan we created a new Economic Development section relating to the business community. This was developed with direct input from the business community to establish the roadmap for growing businesses within the city. Current priority is to develop workforce housing to support business needs.

In your opinion, what has been the (city’s, county’s or state’s) greatest success in encouraging business growth or eliminating barriers? What could be strengthened or improved?

The prime concern identified by the business community was to develop housing for the local workforce. Currently working with CWC HRA to encourage workforce housing development and with CWC Land Services to develop tax forfeit properties. New CWC HRA Workforce Housing Study provides insight and guidance to achieve that goal.

Why should people vote for you?

My prime goal for the last 6 years is to grow the city incrementally each year without taking on any debt. So far I have been successful. Within 2 years we should be debt free. Currently we are one of the most financially secure cities in all of CWC.

Todd Roggenkamp

Political Office: Mayor
Age: 50
Family: Wife and three daughters 19, 21,24
Occupation: Assistant Director of Education, Safari Club International
Foundation
Contact: 218-562-4050 traphunt7005@gmail.com

What are three words that define you as a candidate?

For the people

What are your priorities as they relate to our local business community?

- Work with businesses to encourage providing jobs for area citizens. - Promote small business to development within the community. - Create open dialog with current businesses on how the city can work with them. t them

If elected, how would you engage the business community when weighing your decisions?

If elected mayor, I and the city council would create opportunities through public meetings and other venues to allow for open dialog with the city. This would allow businesses/citizens a time to provide suggestions/ideas of how to create a better city for the benefit of the citizens who reside there.

In your opinion, what has been the (city’s, county’s or state’s) greatest success in encouraging business growth or eliminating barriers? What could be strengthened or improved?

I believe the city of Breezy Point has provided opportunities for businesses within the city while not creating competition among business. I believe the city should provide more opportunities to the citizens to express what they would like to see for business development within the city.

Why should people vote for you?

If I am elected mayor of Breezy Point, I will work with the city council to create an open dialog with citizens and businesses about what they want as a part of their city, promote a small city with a country feel and work first for the citizens.