Monday, October 26, 2009
Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce Forum
Tonight the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a "Meet the Candidate Forum" from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the New Brighton City Hall Chambers. I'm excited to be participating in it and I encourage residents to come out and hear what the candidates have to say! The event is open to the public, though there won't be an open microphone for public questions. However, an opportunity for the candidates to interact with guests will follow the forum. I always enjoy the opportunity to meet with New Brighton citizens and I'd love the chance to chat with any of you tonight!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
League of Women Voters Candidate Forum
I'll be participating in the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum on Monday, October 19th at 7:00 pm. The forum will be held at New Brighton City Hall and is open to the public. I would greatly appreciate it if you could come to the event and lend me your public support! The forum will also be shown live on CTV 16, so make sure to watch if you can't be there in person.
What: LWV Candidate Forum
Where: New Brighton City Hall
803 Old Highway 8 NW
New Brighton, MN 55112
When: Monday, October 19th at 7:00 PM
As always, you can contact me at allenfornb@gmail.com or feel free to call me at (612) 481-2144.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thank you!
Thank you so much to everyone who came out to support me at the fundraising party! It was great to get a chance to talk one on one with people. A huge thanks to those who were able to donate and another huge thanks to those who signed up to volunteer!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Join me tonight at The Bru House!
Please join me tonight at The Bru House for an informal fundraising party! The event starts at 7:30 and goes until 9:00. There's going to be delicious coffee, appetizers and live music. I'd love
to have a chance to talk with you about my ideas for growth opportunities in New Brighton, my plans for city outreach to the schools as well as my pledge to put aside personal politics and put a non-partisan focus on the important issues facing the city today. I'm also looking forward to meeting with the members of the community I haven't had a chance to speak with yet and hearing thoughts on what they'd like to see me do for them on the Council.
Please come and enjoy a hot drink on this cold October evening and have the opportunity to have your voice heard!
When: Monday, October 12th
Where: The Bru House
1431 Silver Lake Rd NW
New Brighton, MN 55112
You can contact me at allenfornb@gmail.com or feel free to call me at (612) 481-2144!
to have a chance to talk with you about my ideas for growth opportunities in New Brighton, my plans for city outreach to the schools as well as my pledge to put aside personal politics and put a non-partisan focus on the important issues facing the city today. I'm also looking forward to meeting with the members of the community I haven't had a chance to speak with yet and hearing thoughts on what they'd like to see me do for them on the Council.
Please come and enjoy a hot drink on this cold October evening and have the opportunity to have your voice heard!
When: Monday, October 12th
Where: The Bru House
1431 Silver Lake Rd NW
New Brighton, MN 55112
You can contact me at allenfornb@gmail.com or feel free to call me at (612) 481-2144!
Monday, October 5, 2009
An Introduction
Hello! My name is Graeme Allen and I'd like to represent you on the New Brighton City Council. I want to add a new voice and a fresh perspective to the issues that face our city. I will put aside personal politics and work to encourage thoughtful conversation on topics that are important for the future of New Brighton.
I’ve learned the value of hard work and fairness and I have always sought to incorporate those lessons into my professional and volunteer life. I work as an advocate for public college students and higher education institutions in Minnesota at the state and federal level which has given me a deep understanding of how policies and laws directly impact people's lives. The experience of seeking solutions, building coalitions and providing a vision for the future has taught me how to get things done in government. I also serve as a volunteer board member for the 621 Foundation who's mission is to encourage the community to invest in excellence in education in the Mounds View Public Schools. My parents are both educators and share thirty years of experience between them. They instilled a passion for education in me, and I'd like to bring that commitment to the council. Exploring the potential for more communication and collaboration between the city and our top-rated schools is just one of the tasks I'm eager to take on as a council member.
I believe that economic redevelopment is a key issue for our city. We're all feeling the strain of the current financial situation. We need to make sure we're doing our best to utilize city resources and staff to maximize our opportunities. As a council member, I would like to explore the idea of increased cooperation with our neighboring cities to expand shared services. The next city council will need to design a plan to revitalize our economic base and make sure that city planning and development make sense--not just for the next 2 to 4 years, but for the next 30.
The most pressing redevelopment task is the Northwest Quadrant. The Northwest Quadrant has been tangled in unwise decisions and bad luck for over 20 years. It's become a lasting headache and caused public mistrust. The ability to think forward and reevaluate options for the area will be crucial for the next city council. I believe I will be a valuable asset to the process as the council explores development opportunities and continues the search for grants and funding to address the remaining environmental concerns. Decisions will need to be made that affect not only the current situation but take into account goals for the future.
The growth of new businesses is vital to that future. By attracting enterprise to the Northwest Quadrant area, as well as the old Highway 8 corridor, we can bolster and expand our tax base. New Brighton has many strengths that can be capitalized on to help us achieve that goal, as the maintenance of our city infrastructure provides us with safe streets, clean water, and beautiful parks. The city council can use these already existing assets to promote New Brighton as an excellent place to live, work and play.
I firmly believe elected officials have a responsibility to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently, especially when communities across the state, including ours, are being affected by our nation’s economic troubles. These uncertain times have sent city officials scrambling to find creative solutions to make up deficits in the city budget. Our public workers have done an exemplary job in continuing to provide us with the excellent services we’ve all come to expect in New Brighton while making personal sacrifices. I would like to take a moment to personally thank our dedicated workers for agreeing to freeze their wages in the short term to help our community. Their selfless act has allowed the city to fill gaps in the budget and maintain essential services. However, we all know this is only a short term solution. The next city council must be innovative and find ways to capitalize on a slowly strengthening economy while not overburdening the people of New Brighton. As your voice on the city council, I will work with the mayor and other members of the council to provide practical, long lasting solutions to our city’s budget problems.
As I go door to door through the city I've had the great opportunity to hear first-hand about the issues affecting people in the community. I've heard over and over that with the uneasiness many residents feel about their financial situations, they're looking even more toward the city government for leadership and answers. They want elected officials who understand the issues that they and their families are facing and who are willing to listen. As a member of the city council, I will always strive for the best for the city of New Brighton and the people who live here. I have the track record, the passion and the deep commitment for the work that lies ahead. I would be honored to have your support on November 3rd.
I welcome any questions or comments. Please feel free to comment here, contact me at allenfornb@gmail.com, or call me at (612) 481-2144.
Thank you!
I’ve learned the value of hard work and fairness and I have always sought to incorporate those lessons into my professional and volunteer life. I work as an advocate for public college students and higher education institutions in Minnesota at the state and federal level which has given me a deep understanding of how policies and laws directly impact people's lives. The experience of seeking solutions, building coalitions and providing a vision for the future has taught me how to get things done in government. I also serve as a volunteer board member for the 621 Foundation who's mission is to encourage the community to invest in excellence in education in the Mounds View Public Schools. My parents are both educators and share thirty years of experience between them. They instilled a passion for education in me, and I'd like to bring that commitment to the council. Exploring the potential for more communication and collaboration between the city and our top-rated schools is just one of the tasks I'm eager to take on as a council member.
I believe that economic redevelopment is a key issue for our city. We're all feeling the strain of the current financial situation. We need to make sure we're doing our best to utilize city resources and staff to maximize our opportunities. As a council member, I would like to explore the idea of increased cooperation with our neighboring cities to expand shared services. The next city council will need to design a plan to revitalize our economic base and make sure that city planning and development make sense--not just for the next 2 to 4 years, but for the next 30.
The most pressing redevelopment task is the Northwest Quadrant. The Northwest Quadrant has been tangled in unwise decisions and bad luck for over 20 years. It's become a lasting headache and caused public mistrust. The ability to think forward and reevaluate options for the area will be crucial for the next city council. I believe I will be a valuable asset to the process as the council explores development opportunities and continues the search for grants and funding to address the remaining environmental concerns. Decisions will need to be made that affect not only the current situation but take into account goals for the future.
The growth of new businesses is vital to that future. By attracting enterprise to the Northwest Quadrant area, as well as the old Highway 8 corridor, we can bolster and expand our tax base. New Brighton has many strengths that can be capitalized on to help us achieve that goal, as the maintenance of our city infrastructure provides us with safe streets, clean water, and beautiful parks. The city council can use these already existing assets to promote New Brighton as an excellent place to live, work and play.
I firmly believe elected officials have a responsibility to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently, especially when communities across the state, including ours, are being affected by our nation’s economic troubles. These uncertain times have sent city officials scrambling to find creative solutions to make up deficits in the city budget. Our public workers have done an exemplary job in continuing to provide us with the excellent services we’ve all come to expect in New Brighton while making personal sacrifices. I would like to take a moment to personally thank our dedicated workers for agreeing to freeze their wages in the short term to help our community. Their selfless act has allowed the city to fill gaps in the budget and maintain essential services. However, we all know this is only a short term solution. The next city council must be innovative and find ways to capitalize on a slowly strengthening economy while not overburdening the people of New Brighton. As your voice on the city council, I will work with the mayor and other members of the council to provide practical, long lasting solutions to our city’s budget problems.
As I go door to door through the city I've had the great opportunity to hear first-hand about the issues affecting people in the community. I've heard over and over that with the uneasiness many residents feel about their financial situations, they're looking even more toward the city government for leadership and answers. They want elected officials who understand the issues that they and their families are facing and who are willing to listen. As a member of the city council, I will always strive for the best for the city of New Brighton and the people who live here. I have the track record, the passion and the deep commitment for the work that lies ahead. I would be honored to have your support on November 3rd.
I welcome any questions or comments. Please feel free to comment here, contact me at allenfornb@gmail.com, or call me at (612) 481-2144.
Thank you!
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