Robinson running for board
Chris Robinson, a Brainerd attorney, filed Friday for one of the three four-year terms open on the Brainerd School Board.
Robinson, 42, a former mayor of East Gull Lake, lives in Baxter with his wife, Julie; and their son, Gus, 9, a Lowell fourth-grader, and daughter, Sophie, 7, a Lowell second-grader. He is an attorney with Askegaard and Robinson in Brainerd.
Chris Robinson
Robinson is a Forest Lake High School graduate and a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota Law School. He's been practicing law in Brainerd since 1992.
He recently completed a four-year term on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Board,, where he also is a former board chair. He's a graduate of the chamber's Leadership in the Lakes Area program and served for two years on the East Gull Lake Planning Commission before he spent four years as East Gull Lake mayor from 2000-2004. He's an active member of the Brainerd Kiwanis Club, Trinity Lutheran Church and is a soccer coach with the Baxter recreational soccer program and also LAYSA.
Robinson said he has chosen to run for school board because of his long-standing interest in the district. His Kiwanis Club activities are focused on service for children and he's got two children enrolled in the district.
Robinson said, if elected, he would bring his experience serving on other community boards and governing organizations, along with his experience working with the Brainerd Lakes Chamber and its partnership with the district on workforce initiatives.
"I hope to work with the school board on continuing to expand opportunities for learners that will maintain the school district as a vital part of the community and I'm looking to expand and maintain the workforce partnership between the school district, Brainerd Lakes Chamber and Central Lakes College," said Robinson. "I believe the biggest challenge going forward for the board is to continue to wrestle with balancing optimum class sizes at each grade level with fiscally responsible budgeting."
In addition to Robinson, board chair Ruth Nelson also filed for one of the three four-year terms on the board. No one has yet to file for the special two-year term also up for election. Filings close Sept. 8.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.