Two incumbents, two newcomers will vie for two council seats
Newcomers are arts center critics; incumbents voted against center but say city must now make it work
by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers
Two City Council incumbents who voted against building the Burnsville Performing Arts Center will be joined in the November election by two newcomers who say their displeasure with the center is a key reason they’re running.
Incumbents Charlie Crichton and Dan Kealey will seek re-election to four-year terms in November. Joining them in the four-way race for two seats are Paul Mudge and Greg Tomlinson. Filing closed June 1.
Crichton and Kealey say their goals include a 2011 tax levy with little or no increase over the 2010 levy, which was held flat through an unprecedented $3.5 million in city budget cuts.
They also said the council must try to boost revenue at the financially underperforming arts center. In its first year, 2009, the center required a $533,600 operating subsidy from the city, according to VenuWorks, the Iowa company hired by the city to manage the $20 million venue.
The company had predicted a $346,220 subsidy, and the city budgeted for only $265,475, according to VenuWorks.
Tomlinson, 28, criticized Crichton and Kealey for approving more spending to acquire a grand concert piano. Last December, the council voted unanimously for a five-year lease-purchase of the piano at an annual cost of $6,687. The cost is being shared equally with the Friends of the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.
“That doesn’t fit right with me,” Tomlinson said of the city contribution.
Kealey countered that the piano is a sound investment that will increase bookings. A one-term incumbent, Kealey also voted last year to spend $237,000 on an orchestra shell and other arts center upgrades. Crichton voted against that measure.
“It’s built,” Kealey said of the center, “and there’s nothing we can do about that. However, I don’t believe the thing to do now is to torpedo it. The more we try and torpedo it, the more cost we put on taxpayers. The only logical and common-sensical thing to do is to do whatever possible to make it the most successful it can be to reduce the burden on taxpayers.”
Crichton said his goal is to make the center self-sufficient, free of city subsidy.
“The people who run it (VenuWorks) say it’s not possible,” said Crichton, 82. “But maybe then we need new people to run it.”
First elected in 1992 and re-elected four times, the council’s perennial tax-and-spending hawk said he decided to run only days before the filing deadline. A paralyzed vocal cord that left him without a voice for several weeks in the middle of last year was fixed with collagen injections, he said.
After the city’s deep budget cuts, Crichton said he wants to make sure core services in public works, police and fire haven’t suffered.
“You don’t just raise taxes to get money,” said Crichton, of 2104 Manor Drive. “But there are certain things we have to do in the city that are necessary, and I want to get those done.”
Kealey, 52, said he’s been a “good manager of other people’s money” and was influential in a unanimous council vote to hold total tax collections flat in 2010.
“I definitely think I had a positive influence on other council members to realize the gravity of the recession and that the thing to do was to hold the line at a zero tax rate change and show the citizens of Burnsville that we really do recognize the value of a dollar,” said Kealey, of 320 E. 152nd St., who called for a larger portion of city spending on roads.
Mudge, 38, said the arts center is a “money loser. And it’s costing the taxpayers more money than needs to be put into any kind of public utility like that. It’s ridiculous.”
Mudge, who lives at Vista View Apartments at 1575 Highway 13, suggests looking for private investors to take the center off the city’s hands.
Mudge said he’s working on a criminal-justice degree at Rasmussen Business College.
Tomlinson, who lives at The Woods of Burnsville Apartments at 14745 Portland Ave., said the arts center shows that changes are needed at City Hall.
“I’m not a big fan of recklessly spending money on projects,” said Tomlinson, who is studying information technology and elementary education online through the University of Phoenix. “I think the taxpayer money should go to fund things that are helpful, like education, safety or roads.”
He said he’d like a smoking-cessation program in Burnsville and city efforts to help students succeed in school.
“Definitely, I’d like to see County Road 42 (expanded to) three lanes all the way to Apple Valley,” Tomlinson said. “I used to drive that every day to work, and it’s just a pain with only two lanes and 40 miles an hour.”
John Gessner is at burnsville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
Hmmm. I agree 100% that change is needed in City Hall, but these 2 greenhorns don’t sound like they really have their act together. A single agenda item, the PAC (which never should have been built) is not a platform to run on. Where real change MUST come is at the top, with the replacement of Mayor Kautz. She has a history of brow-beating the counsel until she gets her way. I would run myself, but I’m moving out of Burnsville while the getting is good.
Crichton is the council’s “perennial tax and spending hawk”???? Where have you been for the last 18 years? Get your facts straight. If anything, he has been our sole ANTI tax and spending hawk! I think a correction on your part is in order here. Without Charlie holding firm and holding the line on spending, we would be in far worse shape than we are, and it can’t get much worse.
I will not be brow beaten by anyone into anything I don’t agree with. My platform is a lot more than just the PAC if you read more about my ideas and visit my website.
Jack,
A single item agenda like the BPAC,is not a platform to run on. Having said that, I think the important issue is the allocation of taxpayer monies and keeping stability within the community. I believe one of the issues that needs to be adressed is more police and emergency services even though a grant has been allocated to hire a few more officers and emergency personnel more needs to be allocated.
Gail, I think you’re confused. A tax and spending hawk is someone who’s hawkish – stingy – about taxing and spending, not someone who taxes and spends freely.