BRAINERD CITY COUNCIL WARD 3
Barbara Egan
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Age: 42.
Address: 820 Second Ave. N.E., Brainerd.
Occupation: Employed by ISD 181 and Pam's Hallmark.
Education: Graduate of Brainerd Senior High School.
Family: Husband Ken Olson; two stepsons, Riley and Cody Olson.
America is facing harsh economic times. If elected, what specifically would you do to control government spending?
Barbara Egan
If I am elected I will make every effort to control the unnecessary and wasteful spending that the council has approved. The council needs to address the $17 million debt. The city taxpayers cannot afford to take on anymore tax increases.
What abilities or qualifications separate you from your competition? Why are you the best candidate for the Brainerd City Council?
I have no special agenda but to represent the citizens of northeast Brainerd and to make the best possible decisions for them. If elected my commitment and promise is to always be available to the citizens. When it comes to spending the taxpayers' money I will be as thrifty as I am with my own personal budget.
Kevin Goedker
Age: 37.
Address: 1308 Eighth Ave. N.E., Brainerd.
Occupation: Self-employed real estate sales agent.
Education: Brainerd High School, Central Lakes College, Okaloosa-Walton Community College.
Family: Married, two children.
America is facing harsh economic times. If elected, what specifically would you do to control government spending?
Kevin Goedker
Since a big portion of what the city provides is service, which equates to employees, we need to hold off on any new hiring. Current employees may need to pull extra weight if we lose any current employees. We also need to hold off on improvements that will not be paid by the benefited properties.
What abilities or qualifications separate you from your competition? Why are you the best candidate for the Brainerd City Council?
This position has a learning curve and right now we will need some sense of stability in order to weather the current economic conditions. I have the experience on the council and people know what kind of decision-making abilities they can expect from me. I am not a one-issue person and I always try to do what is in the best interests of the city of Brainerd.
Howard J. Brewer
Age: 64.
Address: 121 Third Ave. N.E., Brainerd.
Occupation: Tradesman.
Education: Associate degree.
Family: Three adult daughters and grandkids.
Howad J. Brewer
America is facing harsh economic times. If elected, what specifically would you do to control government spending?
First, any talk of a tax increase would get a no vote from me. City departments in Brainerd are going to have to live within budget. I am from the old school, if you can't afford it, do not buy it. The taxpayers will have enough to do just to pay off the current deficit already incurred. To make it simplistic, I would only be one vote, but, to squeeze a nickel out of me would be a very, very hard sell. In other words, chances would be zero to none.
What abilities or qualifications separate you from your competition? Why are you the best candidate for the Brainerd City Council?
I'm not a native of Brainerd nor am I member of the "good old boys' club." I came here in 2000 and feel I can offer a different perspective on issues facing Brainerd. I chose to settle here, and probably die here because of the uniqueness of Brainerd. I'll work for one boss only, the taxpayer. I've studied the Downtown Master Plan for Brainerd. It was adopted in February 2002 and perhaps needs an updating. Also, there are 10 vacant storefronts from Eighth Street to the East Mall. Why? Brainerd could do a little more to bring jobs here.