1) Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
Lifelong Duluthian who loves the Duluth area and the many amenities that the community has to offer. I am deeply passionate about my home-town and want to see us all reach our full potential. I am independent, objective, empathic, open to feedback and input as well as analytical. Duluth needs effective leadership now, more than ever, which is why I decided to run for a second time for the city council position.
2) Family: Wife Lisa, daughter Chelsea, son Jordan and Brittany Spaniel Benelli
3) Educational background:
Educated in Duluth public schools. 1987 Graduate of the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Bachelors of Business Administration, concentration in Finance. Additional coursework in Economics and Political Science.
4) Employment background: M & I Marshall and Ilsley Bank, Vice President - Commercial Banking Division (1996-present). First Bank – Duluth, Assistant Vice President, Commercial Banking Division (1987-1996), Kenwood Jubilee grocery store, Night Manager and stockperson (1981-87).
5) Volunteer background; Duluth Animal Allies Humane Society, Treasurer & Executive Committee (2005-present); Duluth Airport Authority (2002-2006); Duluth Rotary Club (2003-present), Member, The Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth (1992-2002) including Co-Chairmanship of Youth Services Committee (1993-94), Co-Chairmanship of the Kiwanis TV Auction (1995) and Board of Directors (1995-1996); Board Member, United Development Achievement Center (1994-1996) including Finance Committee and Executive Committee; Board Member, Junior Achievement (1996-2001) including Program Committee; Consultant, Junior Achievement (1992-2000)
6) Hobbies: Being a father and husband, golf, upland bird hunting, gardening
7) Your address and contact information: P. O. Box 3049, Duluth, MN 55803. Phone number: 525-0300. E-mail address: todddlh@charter.net
8) The Hillside and the Lincoln Park neighborhoods are some of the most ethnically diverse areas in the city of Duluth. How do you see this ethnic diversity as an asset to Duluth?
The more you get to know and learn from folks of other groups and ethnicities, the broader your understanding of our community and our neighbors’ perspectives. The United States has been referred to as “the great melting pot”, which is an asset. Our culturally diverse community keeps us all from being myopic in our attitudes and allows for healthy personal growth.
9) Some people blame the increase in neighborhood problems such as crime on immigrants from Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis. Do you think it's true?
Disclaimer:
Added Nov. 5, 2007
"The Hillsider" apologizes for this question. It was originally asked in August 2007 and published in the September issue. "The Hillsider" does not believe the statement/question below is true. It was asked in an effort to pin down the candidates on an his or her personal beliefs on crime and newcomers. The statement is often heard at many venues. "The Hillsider" did not intend that newcomers were immigrants as in not citizens and did not mean the word in a negative connotation.
Without some form of empirical evidence, it would be irresponsible to state that this claim is true or false. Unfortunately, the recent indictment of 29 individuals involved in cocaine trafficking, with so many having Chicago ties, only perpetuates this suspicion within our community. The City Council has funded a survey to gather demographic information on perpetrators, which I think is a great idea. One can never have too much information, on any issue.
9a) If so, what do we do about it? Prioritize our funding to ensure proper staffing of our police force, including the DARE program which targets our young folks. Full restoration of our proactive community and neighborhood policing efforts.
9 b) If not, why not?
10) It is estimated that 15 percent of Duluthians are living below the poverty line including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65. What are some of your ideas to bring Duluthians out of poverty?
Create opportunities and an environment for creation of family-supporting jobs. One of the first resolutions that I would author would be an “Employment 1000” initiative whereby stakeholders in the City of Duluth would work collaboratively to create new opportunity for the citizens of Duluth.
11) The city has a mandatory recycling law yet walking by many people’s homes it is obvious that they do not recycle. Is recycling important?
It is important in our home. We recycle religiously and have recently converted many lights in our home to fluorescent. We purchase groceries that are contained with recyclable materials. Our bi-weekly refuse pickup has a larger can for recycling than for garbage, and it’s consistently full. We also bring our paints and chemicals to WLSSD for proper disposal once we’re finished with them.
12) Why do we have a law on the books if it isn’t going to be enforced?
We have many laws on the books that are hard to enforce, because we don’t have the human resources to commit towards enforcement of quality of life regulations. It is unfortunate that these laws have to be made because, oftentimes, it’s very hard to dictate personal behaviors.
13) Over-flowing garbage cans are a problem in lower East Hillside. Many of the homes where this is a problem are rental units. What kinds of ideas do you have to prompt landlords to encourage their tenants to take better care of their property?
I don’t have any ideas on this issue. This is a personal responsibility issue. There are good tenants/bad tenants, good landlords/bad landlords, good attorneys/bad attorney, doctors, bankers, etc. If I was in this scenario, I’d find out who the landlord is and talk to him/her. If that didn’t work, I’d call the solid waste collection officer and take enforcement action up the chain until results could be achieved.
14) In the last census, Duluth had a dearth of people age 24 to 35? What can be done to attract and keep this population in Duluth?
Create OPPORTUNITY! We don’t have career opportunities for our young folks, unless you’re involved (largely) in a medical occupation. We have to stop creating obstacles to job development, and create enthusiasm. Take a look at Fargo, ND. Vibrant, growing, dynamic. We have so much potential in Duluth; we just need to grasp it.
15) This city has yet to settle the retiree’s health care budget. What type of action would you take?
You need to first determine what the city is obligated for to the current retirees. We are currently administering 90-some different plans through our Third Party Administrator which is why the Task Force’s recommendation that we seek a Declaratory Judgment is so important. If those 90-some plans cannot be collapsed into a few, our strategy for mitigating this burdensome liability would probably change dramatically. We cannot put the puzzle together with pieces missing.
16) Is paying for health care a problem that needs to be addressed on the city, state or national level?
We have to pay our obligations under the current system that we’re operating under. If we are not proactive, and wait for some other governmental entity to solve our problem, then we’re being extremely negligent. There are many governmental entities that are struggling with this same problem, it is just that Duluth has one of the higher per-capita obligations in the country. I’m not prepared to discuss the merits of nationwide healthcare at this point.
17) Have you or anyone you know, had trouble paying a health care bill or worried about how much health care would cost?
Both Lisa and I have chronic health conditions, but also enjoy employer-sponsored health care coverage. We worry about how to pay for health care bills, co-pays and deductibles but we adjust our personal expenditures to pay for them. I’ve also known folks on MinnesotaCare and the many challenges that they encounter.
18) Do the city departments work well together? How can inter-department work be done more efficiently?
I would like to see an organizational chart for the City of Duluth posted on their website to determine who reports where, to whom, etc. My suspicion is that the organization could be “flattened out” and an entrepreneurial spirit fostered within city government in an effort to make it more user-friendly and efficient. We need a strong team (i.e. Mayor, Chief Administrative Officer, Department Heads) to institute changes in Duluth government conducive to an improved environment and better morale amongst our public employees.
19) What makes you unique as a candidate for city office?
Twenty years of Commercial Finance experience, community involvement on many boards/commissions and unencumbered independence will benefit the city in a leadership capacity. As a “big picture” person and as a city councilor I would focus on direction, mission, policy and goals rather than as a micro-manager. We have an excellent staff in City Hall so let them perform what they do so well.
