MEET THE 2024 CANDIDATES 10/10/24
BUFFALO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
BUFFALO MAYOR
Steve Downer
Name: Steve Downer
Position you are seeking: Mayor of Buffalo
1. Tell us about yourself.
My wife Lisa and I have lived in Buffalo 34 years. We have four adult children. Our kids all graduated from Buffalo High School and married BHS grads. We have 13 grandchildren, generally nearby and some within easy walking distance. I recently retired after 32 years with the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association. We are active in the Buffalo Covenant Church and various community organizations.
Buffalo is home. We enjoy the natural beauty, city amenities, doing business locally and the people.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I have served on the city council 14 years, from 2008-2014 and again from 2016 to the present. I have served on virtually every City of Buffalo board and commission. I am a board member of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, the city’s wholesale electric supplier. I formerly served five years on the Blandin Foundation Broadband Strategy Board, and formerly chaired the Salvation Army HeatShare advisory board and the local Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee.
I used to coach youth baseball, softball and hockey and served as a BYHA board officer.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I first ran for the council because, with my work experience for city-owned electric utilities, I thought I could be of some help. When considering this election I reached that same conclusion, and determined to run for mayor.
We should focus on the basics of city government—reliable infrastructure, public safety, with recreational opportunities that make Buffalo a good place to live, raise a family and run a business.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
1. Many city facilities are inadequate and overcrowded, including the police station. The council has identified public safety as its No. 1 priority. Planning on an expanded police facility needs to move forward.
2. Redevelopment of the old Wright County government center downtown is proceeding deliberately. We need to get this right, and can with collaborative public involvement.
3. There is a spike in the water/wastewater debt from 2025-28. Making these payments while minimizing the overall financial impact on citizens will require hard choices and fiscal discipline. We should have plenty of discussion on this, so citizens know the situation, how we got into it and how we will climb out.
Initiatives that are underway should continue. City staff are currently concluding the final purchase details of the PenRad building on Hwy. 25, to be used as a new community center. Buildout of the Buffalo Fiber fiber optic system should continue. Together with a new industrial park, Buffalo Fiber promises to eventually reduce property tax pressure. Success of this service rests in your hands. As it becomes available, I urge you to support Buffalo Fiber as your broadband provider.
Conclusion:
It would be a great honor to serve as your mayor. I make the same three promises as when I first ran for a city council seat: To listen, to work with others to find the best solutions to the issues we face, and to be a good steward of our limited financial resources.
For more, contact me or see Steve Downer for mayor on Facebook.
BUFFALO CITY COUNCIL
Sheila Mobley Crawford
Name: Sheila Mobley Crawford
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council
1. Tell us about yourself.
My name is Sheila Mobley Crawford, I am the daughter of Robert (Buffalo Bob) and MaryLou Mobley. I have been married to my high school sweetheart Dave Crawford for 26 years; we have two daughters, Allison and Emily. I have lived in Buffalo my entire life. I actually live in the house I grew up in. I have worked in both the cosmetology and the banking industry. I currently work at North Star Bank in Monticello.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I have served on the City of Buffalo’s Park Board in the past for about 10 years.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I would like to get involved in the community that I love. I want to be a voice of the people I serve, someone that is not afraid to ask the hard questions to our city leaders. I want to find answers for the questions that people in the community are asking. I grew up in a middle-class family. I am realistic, I know that I can’t fix everything, nor will I promise to do so.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
I am not running for city council because I am upset or have an issue with the city and the current way it’s being ran. I feel that the current city staff is doing a great job. I am running as I want to help find answers. I am not afraid to do research and ask questions. For example, why are the utility bills high? I don’t know, but I will try and find out the reason and help find a solution.
George Fantauzza
Name: George Fantauzza
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council
1. Tell us about yourself.
I have been a part of Buffalo and its residents since 2004 and was providing architectural services to the Wright County Board for the year before moving here.
I have circled the sun close to seventy-three times and have been married to my wife Lyn for 17 years. She has lived here since 1991. Together we have a blended family of seven adult children and eight grandchildren.
I started as a construction laborer in 1972. Since then, I have worked as a carpenter, machinist, business owner and architect.
In 1982 I attended college to become an architect.
In 1988 I moved to Minnesota from my home state of Montana.
I am currently working as a Senior Architect for an architectural firm.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I served for three years on the City of Buffalo Planning Commission and was the Chairperson at the time of an abrupt vacancy on the City Council. The Council selected me as a member in June of 2023 and I have filled that seat the last year plus. It has been an extreme honor and education to serve the city in both roles for over the past four years.
I know that we will need to make tough decisions as we move into the future. I believe in listening to my council colleagues, city staff, neighbors, and the community at large to make solid decisions that are as balanced and fair as possible. I will make my voting decisions based on my years of experience and what is best for the community.
As a licensed architect for thirty-three years, I have gained relevant experience besides being on church and PTA boards. Past projects where I have served in leadership positions have been elementary, middle, and high schools; city halls; county and federal courthouses; and large sports projects such as Target Field. I have gained tremendous insight into the workings of the civic organizations that I have served and will continue to bring that experience to the city council position.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I am a commonsense person that looks at all angles of a problem, and then I operate in solutions. I look at each issue independently, with an unbiased and unprejudiced response. My education and experience as an architect have taught me not to jump to conclusions, but rather to use facts to decide. I am fiscally conservative and socially responsible. I believe that all people should work to the best of their capabilities and contribute to our society in all aspects.
My current City Council term expires at the end of 2024 and over the last four years I have gained a good understanding of the operations and challenges facing the city. Downtowns and small businesses have weathered the storm of big box retail, Covid 19, internet shopping, and a wildly fluctuating economy. The people of Buffalo have seen prices skyrocket and I will do everything that I can as a member of the council to keep our costs as low as possible.
I have traveled extensively as part of my work for many years and have come to realize how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful city. We have a very well-run city government with great staff that provide for us. While there is always room for improvement, I also want to preserve, maintain, and help lead us to a future of even better financial soundness and a continued safe, prosperous community.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
First: Taxes, balancing the budget, and containing costs when inflation is affecting our residents who are trying to make ends meet. As all tax paying residents shoulder the burden to finance the city, I will make fiscally conservative yet thoughtful decisions as I am also a taxpayer.
Second: Development and growth. We need to follow the guidelines that have been set forth in the Downtown and Community 2040 Plans while also being open to sensitive and informed development. Development, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, can work to lessen the tax burden on our current taxpayers. I voted to purchase land for the new industrial park that is being planned north of Highway 55 and west of Highway 25 to attract new jobs and tax base. Also, while the city does not own the former Wright County Government Center, having it vacant is detrimental to our Downtown. I am eager to see and comment on any redevelopment plans and look for it to help strengthen our vibrant downtown.
Third: City Infrastructure. I support having our own: Police Force that provides for our safety; Utility Company that provides clean water and handles our storm and sanitary sewer; Electric utility that provides safe, competitively priced and reliable power; and Fiber build-out of high-speed internet that will attract new customers to our new industrial park. I also support continued investment in our roads. I share a concern with high water bills and will work to help bring clarity and fairness to that issue.
Linda Kittock
Name: Linda Kittock
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council
1. Tell us about yourself.
I am retired. Have lived in Buffalo for 28 years. Have an associate’s degree in Bookkeeping and Accounting, as well as Hotel and Restaurant Management.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I am a former Council Member for the City of Buffalo. Served our community from 2016-2020. I enjoy working for the people in our community, because of all the nice people we have living here. I would like to serve again to keep taxes down, as well as bring more affordable housing for all ages and all incomes. Market value housing does not help all the people in our community. When I served as council, I helped accomplish two apartment buildings in the downtown area, as well as a new Buffalo Fire Station that was needed for our men and women that serve our fire department so they can do their job properly and safely. And a Dog Park that is also successful.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I would be able to make a difference in our community.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
Economy is on everyone’s mind. When is it going to get better? Everyone wants the taxes kept low. More affordable housing for all ages and all incomes. New community center and grocery story for the downtown area.
Jeremy Lehn
Name: Jeremy Lehn
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council
1. Tell us about yourself.
My name is Jeremy Lehn, and I have a wife (Candice) and two kids (Easton, Brecken). I am 37 years old and live in the Rodeo Hills development of Buffalo but have lived in Buffalo my whole life. I attended Buffalo High School, and North Hennepin Community College for Higher education.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I have worked in the utility industry for five years, and in the construction, and Water Quality/Plumbing industry for the past 13 years as a salesperson. And I hope to bring the knowledge that I have gained in both industries to the city of Buffalo to help make more informed decisions on some of the problems in both industries that the people of Buffalo have had problems within the past. In working in both industries, I have also done a lot of volunteer work in highway clean-up, food-shelf, local and municipal fundraising, and hosting charitable, and fundraising events for local youth’s and underprivileged.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I have chosen to run for office after meeting with local community members, businesses, and people that are just visiting, and hearing them voice their concerns about a number of problems that they see in the City of Buffalo on a regular basis, and for the people visiting, some of the eye sores that make Buffalo a place that people would rather pass through, then stay and spend money in.
Local community members: Have faced a large problem with utility costs and problems with trying to understand bills, how those bills are being calculated, and how they can go about fixing the problem. I feel the city needs to be more transparent and upfront about what is going on, in the utility side of the city owned municipal sources.
Local Businesses: Local businesses have approached me to question my knowledge of the problems facing downtown Buffalo local businesses. The crimes happening in broad daylight, and the fear of criminal activity affecting those businesses during the evening hours. I want to work with local police and other government officials on how we can prevent these things from continuing to happen, but also how we can help these local businesses thrive and flourish in our beautiful downtown.
Out of town visitors: One thing that everyone tells me every time they come to Buffalo is that the downtown is beautiful, but it always seems to be under some kind of construction, it is extremely difficult to enjoy Buffalo Lake when you do not know when you are going to have heavy machinery running next to you while you are trying to enjoy a peaceful walk, or fishing near the pavilion.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
The three biggest issues Buffalo residents are having at the moment are Utility Bills, criminal activity in the downtown area, and the lack of affordable housing available for people to live in the downtown area, to help our local businesses grow!
1. Utility Bills - I would love to see more transparency in the electric utility, and water bills. This is the main complaint that I hear when I am reaching out to people about their problem with the City of Buffalo.
2. Criminal Activity in Downtown - Many local business owners have had to install security cameras and reach out to local enforcement to try and get more patrol during peak criminal hours, and even non-peak criminal hours to ensure their businesses are not being vandalized, broken into, and that there is not drug activity happening near their businesses. A few business owners are struggling to get the help they need, and I want to work together with them to ensure that the problems are taken care of by ensuring more patrol during peak criminal activity times, but also to have a presence during non-peak times to ensure the stores safety as well.
3. Affordable housing in the downtown area - We have an abundance of senior communities in the downtown area, but one of the things people come to me and talk about the most are where are the communities for the non-seniors. There are plenty of single-family houses right now, but unfortunately in this economy a lot of people do not have the ability to buy homes, my goal is to find a way to help our downtown to thrive by finding a way to get more affordable housing for the citizens of Buffalo in the downtown area.
Benjy Schirm
Name: Benjy Schirm
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council
1. Tell us about yourself.
I’m a 40-year-old father of one amazing “threenager” named Jude Love; my beautiful wife is an OBGYN at Buffalo and Monticello Hospitals, and we are blessed to live on the western shore of Lake Pulaski. We’ve lived here for three-and-a-half years, and I’ve been working as an attorney at the courthouse for the Wright County Public Defender’s Office all of that time. We are here to stay and are so happy that we found this the best kept secret of Central Minnesota, Buffalo.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I am a perpetual optimist. I know that we can lead our city with positivity and care for future generations. Any fundamental differences of opinion are opportunities to find the best answer for the whole of the city and I do that every day in the courthouse. I am able to think through things in a unique way that allows me to recognize collateral consequences of actions of the council and to avoid the pitfalls of possible decisions. I’m a nerd for committee meetings and budgets and hope to bring my keen eye to these discussions to best serve the people of Buffalo’s interests. I’ve led senate district political activities, and pro bono committees throughout my legal career. I’m trained in the law so collateral consequences, problem solving and legal analysis of possible ordinances, as well as various fiscal matters are well within my skill set. I excel at starting with an immovable problem and finding a solution that benefits everyone, and I hope to lend my skills to this beautiful city.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I want to serve the people of Buffalo and to help our wonderful city continue to flourish. I don’t have an agenda or ax to grind because it’s the job of the City Council to amplify the voices of our constituents and to support the actions of the city administration with strong and reasoned counsel. Overall, I want to grow as a community member, serve as a leader and help this great city continue to be the best it can be.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
In speaking with my neighbors and members of the community I’m hearing that the growth of the city and the type of development of current vacant parcels will be the largest issue facing our city. I know we can strike a balance that benefits all of us while reserving the type of town we all want. I hope that arts and entertainment organizations can be supported and grown as assets to the building of a more flourishing community. We always need to be vigilant with the budgets and paying down debts and continuing to support infrastructure in creative and bold ways, and on the flip side of that I know that enticing new businesses to give our young people more opportunities to stay within the community will only benefit our city and I hope to seek those out going forward.
BUFFALO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL ELECTION
Owen Clarke
Name: Owen Clarke
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council Special Election
1. Tell us about yourself.
I am married to Ruth for 44 years with three grown boys and six grandchildren. We have lived in south Buffalo in the Shonhaugen neighborhood for the last 29 years. Ruth was from Grand Rapids, and I was from Canada, emigrating in 1992 (legally). I have been a self-employed handyman to commercial customers for over 10 years.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
As a longtime resident I have been active in many spheres such as athletics, refereeing, church, youth groups and Bible studies serving on several athletic boards and even a startup Bible school. I have taught ‘Get Out of Debt’ classes and understand the need for fiscal responsibility. I have been involved in political organizations for the last 5 or 6 years promoting a more conservative, rural way of life.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
As my wife said, “Somebody has to.” I see that the communities around us, including ourselves, have taken on a more urban look. Although I believe growth is a good thing it must be done in the right way. I believe we should bring more industry and commercial development to our city, diversifying and expanding our tax base. We have a great airport that could attract new business as well as developing a new industrial park. This will attract a working population increasing the residential tax base.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
1. As mentioned above I am a ‘Get Out of Debt’ guy. The city has put its residents in a precarious situation by kicking the debt problem down the road. To get out of debt you must reduce spending and increase income. By developing a more industrial centered tax base this will help, also taking a hard look at budgets and future projects to reduce spending. This will be difficult as there are many deferred maintenance issues that must also be addressed.
2. Our small city feel is in jeopardy with the development of large multi-unit complexes in neighboring cities like Monticello. Although population growth is a good thing, we must limit the expansion of large multi-unit complexes as it is not a good tax base situation. Better to develop single family neighborhoods and small multifamily complexes.
3. We must also find a way to develop our first responder facilities getting ready for future needs of the departments. A hard look at future needs, budgets and locations is instore.
Conclusion:
“I’m Proud to be recommended by the Wright County GOP & endorsed by Senator Bruce Anderson.”
Brady Rathbun
Name: Brady Rathbun
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council Special Election
1. Tell us about yourself.
I am 28-years-old, and I have lived in this city for the entirety of the 28 years. I went to school here and stayed in town pursuing a college degree online. I am currently a respite care worker for my brother with special needs.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I have a fresh perspective that is required if the city wants to bring in younger people and have them stay.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I have decided to run because there is very much a need for a younger voice on the council. To bring younger people in, you need someone younger to understand what they want.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
Housing, a more pedestrian friendly city and the building of new local businesses with more support of the ones already here. Cutting red tape and relieving zone restrictions will bring housing costs down, a more pedestrian friendly city benefits not only younger people, but the elderly too, and we need to stop adding more coffee shops from large companies and focus more on local businesses where the money stays in town and gets circulated.
Erin Walsh
Name: Erin Walsh
Position you are seeking: Buffalo City Council Special Election
1. Tell us about yourself.
Please visit my campaign website for more information about my platform and background, at: https://sites.goog le.com/view/erin4council/home. I live in an 1886 home near downtown Buffalo, having three kids who grew up in Buffalo and graduated from BHS. I graduated from UW-Madison with a double major in Cartography and Climatology, with additional post-graduate study at the University of St. Thomas for my teaching license in K-12 Instrumental and Classroom Music, becoming the classroom music teacher at Montrose Elementary School, and leading the Bravo Strings program until 2020. I currently teach private music lessons, and compose and perform music.
2. Describe your qualifications for the position you seek and how you can serve the people:
I have attended almost every City Council meeting in person for the past four years, developing a strong interest in the detailed work needed to serve a successful city. I’m a founding member of three local non-profit groups, and volunteered as an instructor in 877 Community Ed/ Opening Doors program for adults with disabilities. With my education background, I have forged effective working relationships with a wide variety of people locally. Though my background indicates my willingness and ability to work hard as a Council member, it does not, however, limit my range of vision. I want to serve all citizens of Buffalo equally, by:
• Facilitating clear and productive communications between government and citizens.
• Advocating for essential economic growth while maintaining Buffalo’s small-town appeal.
• Improving quality of life for residents with attention to amenities, services, and community programming.
• Working for effective budgets that consider the needs of ALL citizens, highlighting balanced spending decisions that represent a commonsense approach and an eye to the future.
3. Explain why you have chosen to run for this office.
I am a lifelong volunteer and feel strongly about offering my time to the people around me who I am privileged to call my friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens.
4. What do you consider to be the most important issues facing the city now:
It is hard to accurately list the most important issues, since what is not necessarily important to one resident may be critically important to another. Everyone’s voice counts. But there are common concerns.
First, keeping living costs and taxes affordable in Buffalo and managing growth effectively-- all cities need economic growth in order to improve their tax base, but in Buffalo it needs to be managed and balanced with an eye on our natural assets: our small-town charm, our lakes, parks and trails, and city amenities.
Second, maintaining a safe community-- we need to keep ensuring pedestrian safety, support our outstanding local police, and providing more community-based programming so we continue to address mental and physical health across all age groups.
Third, a city’s health is tied to maintaining its historic downtown, so we need to keep our downtown vibrant by encouraging a family-friendly and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere that does not stop at 5:00 p.m. When people choose to stay in Buffalo for their social/recreational needs instead of driving to Maple Grove, their spending benefits local businesses and our tax base.