Just the thought of Bob Benke once again becoming the mayor of New Brighton should outrage citizens into action to assure that it doesn't happen.
The Benke years were characterized by an arrogant central command-and-control style of city government that propagated the irresponsible use of tax increment financing (TIF), annual steep property tax increases, and a shameful abuse of eminent domain that destroyed the commercial tax base and tarnished the reputation of New Brighton nationally. The sweeping eminent domain reform legislation subsequently passed by the state was partially in response to the actions of New Brighton under Benke and his politically allied successor as mayor. The legislation was too late to help New Brighton, and the current barren landscape of the Northwest Quadrant is a fitting metaphor of Benke's toxic legacy.
Under the steady and responsible leadership of Dave Jacobsen as our current mayor and the hard work of some current and past council members city government has begun to undo the failures of the Benke legacy. Over the last few years responsible fiscal and operational policies have been implemented that has resulted in new construction in the area that will help to defuse the bonding time-bomb created by the Benke era policies. This has been accomplished without raising taxes or cutting essential services.
We cannot afford to return the architect of so many of the problems the city is just beginning to recover from back into power. Please join me in supporting the re-election of Dave Jacobsen as our mayor.
