After 32 years of service, Jim Kordiak will retire from the Anoka County Board; his father held the District 4 seat for 32 years before him. Four candidates are running in the August 14 primary to narrow the field to two for the November 6 election. Early, no-excuses-needed, voting is available now at city halls throughout the district during normal business hours.
The candidates were invited to a forum at Columbia Heights City Hall at 8:30 p.m. following the Heights Mayor forum 7 p.m. July 18, conducted by the ABC League of Women Voters (after this edition went to print). The Northeaster offered candidates the opportunity to interview or email their answers to four questions, presented here. Broom was interviewed, the other three emailed answers. The questions:
1.) In 50 words or less, your qualifications and background.
2.) List three things that the county government does, that directly affect residents of Columbia Heights, that you or constituents you’ve talked with believe need improvement, and what you would do about them.
3.) In what ways might your views and perspective differ from (or be similar to) the two former commissioners who held this seat? Please cite a specific example.
4.) Transportation gets mentioned early in conversations. What needs to be done, and what do you see yourself accomplishing regarding transportation as it affects Columbia Heights?
Sean Broom 
Qualifications/bio: Currently policy director for Minneapolis Area Chamber of Commerce, was policy aide to Congressman Keith Ellison, then Minneapolis Council Member Blong Yang. Married, father of three-year-old daughter, five year Columbia Heights resident. Self-described nerd, passionate about policy, “I know what it takes to be a legislator and a good, professional colleague.”
Three county functions to be improved: Roads/transit, parks and libraries. Broom would like to see expanded library services, and longer hours in general. Parks are a manifestation of the county’s commitment to the environment, water management and to all of the families and residents of Anoka County.”
Broom hastens to add, as he’s door-knocking, that improvements need to be done while keeping property taxes down, and to be able to point to the tangible things done with tax dollars. “The county’s functions touch everybody’s life, particularly, if you hit the skids.”
He described being homeless at 15 and 16 years old with his mom, little sister and three cats in a van. “It’s not the only thing that defines who I am, but I know the feeling of a county service coming through and being the difference.”
Perspectives and views compared to previous commissioners: “I would be more of a transit advocate. There have been strong transit advocates on the board before, Dan Erhart and Dennis Berg. It just didn’t happen to be in the Kordiaks’ wheelhouse. I would also have an increased interest in economic development. A recent study showed basically that with some promotion we have a great opportunity to attract business here.”
Transportation: “County roads are generally the last streets you’ll travel on before you reach your home street. In Heights, that’s the major east-wests, anything that has an intersection with state Highway 47 (University Avenue). The best example: four of five Columbia Heights schools are on 49th and kids are getting hit. It has incomplete sidewalks and no bike paths. The county can be a partner in getting sidewalks and other safety measures for the kids.”
As for transit, “we need to be an advocate for transit, for better buses on highways 47 and 65, and every possible option to connect us to the region and the state. Transit is transformational.”
Adam Davis 
Qualifications/bio: Life-long resident of Columbia Heights. Married to my wife, Maria. I’m a teacher, providing private piano, voice, and percussion lessons. Produce the City Council and Planning Commission meetings for City of Columbia Heights. Member of Columbia Heights Lions Club, and Minnesota Music Teachers Association. Experienced journalist, photographer and videographer.
Three county functions to be improved: The most common item I have heard from constituents, by far, is their property taxes. As your County Commissioner, I will not forget that every property tax dollar that we spend comes from a hard working member of our communities. Anoka County must provide its services efficiently, so that everyone who needs them can access those services. In my district, many of the residents, especially in Columbia Heights and Hilltop, have been hit with double-digit property tax increases while often not having the financial means to pay for them. We have many people who need services, and increasing their taxes will increase their need for services, not lessen them. It is crucial that the County is fiscally responsible and improves the way property taxes are determined and levied so our residents don’t suffer “sticker shock.” Additional priorities would include improvements to our juvenile justice system and mental health services.
Perspectives and views compared to previous commissioners: I appreciate Al Kordiak’s efforts in establishing the Anoka County Park system, and Jim Kordiak prioritizing recycling programs. I will continue improvements to County Parks and recycling programs. My perspective may differ most with property taxes, as I hear from people in my community they simply can’t afford another tax increase. It’s not even a matter of whether the government program is a good one or not; if you are on a fixed income, or are living check to check, you simply don’t have any expendable income to give. Asking for more money from taxpayers should become a last resort, not a yearly demand.
Transportation: I want to see targeted improvements for our County roads, as well as for Highways 65 and US 10 that provide the critical links connecting Anoka County. In order to have a thriving economy, we must have a road system that can allow trucks to efficiently move goods.
Specifically for Columbia Heights, I would like to see county road designations redirected when the use of the roads does not serve a county purpose well. For instance, I would consider redirecting County Road 2 in Columbia Heights from 40th Avenue NE and Reservoir Blvd to instead go on 37th Avenue NE, which serves as the southern Anoka County boundary and connection to Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. Upgrading this heavily traveled road, 37th Avenue, to a county road will put the priority needed to finally have major improvements done.
Likewise, I would redirect County Road 4 from 49th Avenue NE and move it to 44th Avenue NE, connecting industry on East River Road and Main Street on the west to County Road E in Ramsey County on the east. Having the current county designation on 49th Avenue NE, a local road with four of the five schools in the Columbia Heights School District is not helpful, as it encourages commuters to travel on it as if it were a main thoroughfare. Placing the county road designation on the heaviest traveled roads and those that have the greatest ability to connect with areas beyond Columbia Heights makes the most sense.
Mandy Meisner 
Qualifications/bio: I have lived in the community for nearly 20 years. During this time, I have served on numerous boards, committees and local projects including SACA, Springbrook, and the Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health. Currently, I am the Community Relations Manager for the North Metro Mayor Association.
Three county functions to be improved: Issues I have heard the most about from residents are:
1) Senior Services. Seniors have told me about their desires to remain independent and in their own homes. As County Commissioner I will work with agencies and committees preparing and supporting our aging population.
2) Taxes. Many I speak with are on fixed incomes and frustrated when taxes are increased. My first budget priority would be to take a good look at the “General Services” that account for the largest section of the Anoka County expenses. I’ve been meeting with county employees and will continue to do that as a County Commissioner to listen to their ideas and gain a better understanding of where we might be able to increase innovation and quality of services, while reducing/eliminating redundancies that are wasting taxpayer dollars. As a community partner over the past decade, I understand the support our local nonprofit organizations offer people in need. By bridging the gaps we can offer needed services while being fiscally responsible.
3) Road Safety. In Columbia Heights there are several intersections along University Avenue of concern. While University Avenue is a state road and not under the jurisdiction of the county, as Commissioner I would use my current relationships with leaders at MNDOT like Senior Engineer Scott McBride to communicate and problem solve. State Representative Connie Bernardy is the DFL lead on the Transportation and Regional Governance Policy Committee in the House and I am confident in our ability to work together to create safe roads. I am on the Fridley Police Advisory Board consistently reviewing road safety issues and discussing collaborative solutions. Road safety affects our entire district and it is vital that Columbia Heights, Spring Lake Park, Hilltop, and Fridley work together for common sense solutions.
Perspectives and views compared to previous commissioners: Al and Jim Kordiak have held this seat for 64 years. Both have been advocates for progressive values, protecting union jobs, looking ahead to community needs and being available to constituents to solve problems. In all of these areas, I will carry on what they started. I am the only labor endorsed candidate and I understand the importance of unions because my dad was a union worker through his entire career. Now, more than ever, we must protect workers and good paying jobs in Anoka County. As a community service leader for the last decade, I have a diverse network that informs me of current issues and how we can work together to solve them.
Transportation: My focus is on making the county work for the people of Southern Anoka County and not necessarily adopting policies that are a continuation of the core cities. Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley and Spring Lake Park are different than Minneapolis. Our needs are different. And our solutions are different. We need safe and well-maintained roads to connect our communities to jobs, education, and to move goods and services. We also need accessible public transportation so that our residents can get to work and school while reducing their carbon footprint. Public transportation isn’t only about getting from one place to another, it is another tool in our toolbox to reduce emissions and move towards becoming a greener economy in Anoka County. More public transportation is an economic driver. People have to be able to get to jobs. Not everyone has a car. As Commissioner I will work to get the best transportation options for my community that make sense and are fiscally responsible.
Joseph Sturdevant 
Qualifications/bio: Life long member of communities, served and volunteered in communities for two plus decades, elected three times to two separate school boards, served on board of directors of local food shelf, attended and graduated from Columbia Heights High School.
Three County functions to be improved: Communication needs improvement in everyway, at every level. County government can improve on educating the public about the great many programs that are available. Government could also do a much better job in educating the public on all the ways in which their tax dollars are used, and further what county government is responsible to implement with the use of their tax dollars.
Perspectives and views compared to previous commissioners: The specific example is that I have the same background as both the commissioners, and I too have the passion for the betterment of the communities. I have tremendous respect for the past two commissioners. I first met the current commissioner when he was a probation officer for Anoka County in the 1980’s. Like him, I grew up in the Columbia Heights community. I and my bride are raising our children in the community and they attend school in Columbia Heights. Jim Kordiak’s father Al was and continues to be a great supporter of the community and is the only person I know that shows his support via a bumper sticker he created and proudly gives out to others to also show their support. Both the prior commissioners were and are extremely good at their jobs and represent the communities well.
Transportation: We need to get the public’s input and consider educating and changing the culture of the community as it relates to mass transit. We, as a community, need to consider the many ways in which transit can get us to where we need to go. In part, that would help reduce pollution and traffic congestion. I would work with everyone in all the many aspects of transportation. I would share all the information out there as to what transportation is currently available, so we can educate and benefit from mass transportation use. I would also ask for community members input on what they would consider spending their tax dollars on as to any other means of mass transit.