Congratulations to our new Mayor-elect Dave Jacobsen and to Council Member Gina Bauman on her re-election. By finally ending the long Benke-Larson era the city stands a much better chance to become the vibrant city it has the potential to be.
Also a heartfelt "thank you" to Sharon Doffing for six years of excellent service to the people of New Brighton. She really started the long tedious process of turning around city government by standing alone against the majority when they were engaged in the abuse of eminent domain to acquire the Northwest Quadrant property. Her actions were largely responsible for the city eventually passing one of the strongest measures to prevent eminent domain abuse in the country. She has served as our nation's founders intended - get elected to office, serve with distinction and integrity, and return to the private sector having left her successor a better situation than she had started with.
Char Samuelson, who originally was a member of past city government that created the problems the current council will have to deal with, was not high on my list of preferences to replace Sharon on the council. But the people of New Brighton voted her in and I hope she will take heed of what Sharon accomplished and do her best to work with the new leadership and serve with comparable integrity.
New Brighton still has a long way to go, but the election results on Tuesday is a great first step to start along the journey.
