April 15, 2024
DAN WOLTER ANNOUNCES LAKEVILLE CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN
--Lakeville’s newest councilmember pledges continued “sensible leadership”—
Lakeville, Minn. – Saying he will continue to put public safety and fiscal responsibility first, Lakeville City Councilmember Dan Wolter announced he will be seeking a full term on the City Council in the November general election. Wolter is the newest member of the Council, having served since January 2023.
“As one of the fastest growing cities in America, we have a two-fold responsibility: to protect those small-town qualities that make Lakeville special and to ensure this is the kind of community people want to move to, stay in, and call home,” said Wolter. “We need to take a measured approach to growth that is mindful of the critical importance of public safety while keeping our tax burden low. Every action I have taken on the City Council has been made with an eye on keeping our quality of life second to none.”
If elected to a full term, Wolter said he would prioritize investments in public safety, including growing the Lakeville Police Department to catch up with rising population and the transition of the Lakeville Fire Department from paid-on-call volunteers to a hybrid full-time department.
“As other parts of Minnesota make you shake your head at how they treat their police, firefighters, and those who put on the uniform, we can be proud that Lakeville has never done that,” said Wolter. “We need to have our public safety professionals’ backs not just when tragedy strikes, but when they are doing the day-to-day work of keeping our families, schools, and community safe.”
Other priorities Wolter identified include:
• Keeping taxes in Lakeville low, while preparing for a time when development slows;• A renewed focus on growing the city’s commercial and industrial base and maximizing our historic downtown area, industrial park, and airport;• A measured and thoughtful approach to housing, driven by community needs and protecting both the quality of our schools and public safety;• Recognizing our schools are one of our greatest community assets and improving collaboration between the city and its three school districts, while supporting Lakeville’s students, teachers, and parents; • Connecting with our natural environment, both through the continued build-out of our parks and trail system and a renewed commitment to green space and practical environmentalism;• Support our bustling arts community and continue to show that Lakeville is THE destination for arts in the South Metro.
Wolter said his past experience in city and state government positioned him well to hit the ground running as an effective city councilmember, dealing with the major issues of growth and development. He has a long history of public service, including representing most of northern Dakota County on the Metropolitan Council, serving as a Planning Commission chair, serving on the Lakeville Finance Committee, and chairing the Envision Lakeville “Cultivate a Sense of Community” Task Force.
“Having worked in – and with – government at all levels, I’ve come to believe one undeniable truth: the government that listens most, governs best,” added Wolter. “The voices of those impacted by decisions must inform them. It’s up to those we elect to make tough decisions and balance competing interests, but we can only do that well with a deference to those we serve. That is the brand of leadership I will continue to bring to the City Council.”
Wolter said he’s learned a lot in his time on the Council, including the importance of reaching consensus for the day-to-day decisions of governing a city of Lakeville’s size. However, he said there are also times when you need to stand on principle, including when he was the deciding vote in favor of banning cannabis smoking in public places and parks after the Legislature legalized recreational marijuana. Other decisions he said he was proud of include increasing pensions for Lakeville firefighters and pushing back against Met Council overreach and protecting local control.
“My campaign slogan of ‘Lakeville’s Bulldog’ means more than I am a dog owner and wanted to put my handsome dogs on lawn signs,” said Wolter. “Bulldogs are an interesting breed. They’re not the most athletic or attractive dogs in the room, but they are the most loyal and often the most stubborn. I am stubbornly committed to ensuring this community has the best quality of life in the metro area and that the decisions we make on the City Council reflect the sensibility of our people.”
The Friends of Dan Wolter website is at www.danwolter.com for those who want to learn more about Wolter or contact him.
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“As one of the fastest growing cities in America, we have a two-fold responsibility: to protect those small-town qualities that make Lakeville special and to ensure this is the kind of community people want to move to, stay in, and call home,” said Wolter. “We need to take a measured approach to growth that is mindful of the critical importance of public safety while keeping our tax burden low. Every action I have taken on the City Council has been made with an eye on keeping our quality of life second to none.”
If elected to a full term, Wolter said he would prioritize investments in public safety, including growing the Lakeville Police Department to catch up with rising population and the transition of the Lakeville Fire Department from paid-on-call volunteers to a hybrid full-time department.
“As other parts of Minnesota make you shake your head at how they treat their police, firefighters, and those who put on the uniform, we can be proud that Lakeville has never done that,” said Wolter. “We need to have our public safety professionals’ backs not just when tragedy strikes, but when they are doing the day-to-day work of keeping our families, schools, and community safe.”
Other priorities Wolter identified include:
• Keeping taxes in Lakeville low, while preparing for a time when development slows;• A renewed focus on growing the city’s commercial and industrial base and maximizing our historic downtown area, industrial park, and airport;• A measured and thoughtful approach to housing, driven by community needs and protecting both the quality of our schools and public safety;• Recognizing our schools are one of our greatest community assets and improving collaboration between the city and its three school districts, while supporting Lakeville’s students, teachers, and parents; • Connecting with our natural environment, both through the continued build-out of our parks and trail system and a renewed commitment to green space and practical environmentalism;• Support our bustling arts community and continue to show that Lakeville is THE destination for arts in the South Metro.
Wolter said his past experience in city and state government positioned him well to hit the ground running as an effective city councilmember, dealing with the major issues of growth and development. He has a long history of public service, including representing most of northern Dakota County on the Metropolitan Council, serving as a Planning Commission chair, serving on the Lakeville Finance Committee, and chairing the Envision Lakeville “Cultivate a Sense of Community” Task Force.
“Having worked in – and with – government at all levels, I’ve come to believe one undeniable truth: the government that listens most, governs best,” added Wolter. “The voices of those impacted by decisions must inform them. It’s up to those we elect to make tough decisions and balance competing interests, but we can only do that well with a deference to those we serve. That is the brand of leadership I will continue to bring to the City Council.”
Wolter said he’s learned a lot in his time on the Council, including the importance of reaching consensus for the day-to-day decisions of governing a city of Lakeville’s size. However, he said there are also times when you need to stand on principle, including when he was the deciding vote in favor of banning cannabis smoking in public places and parks after the Legislature legalized recreational marijuana. Other decisions he said he was proud of include increasing pensions for Lakeville firefighters and pushing back against Met Council overreach and protecting local control.
“My campaign slogan of ‘Lakeville’s Bulldog’ means more than I am a dog owner and wanted to put my handsome dogs on lawn signs,” said Wolter. “Bulldogs are an interesting breed. They’re not the most athletic or attractive dogs in the room, but they are the most loyal and often the most stubborn. I am stubbornly committed to ensuring this community has the best quality of life in the metro area and that the decisions we make on the City Council reflect the sensibility of our people.”
The Friends of Dan Wolter website is at www.danwolter.com for those who want to learn more about Wolter or contact him.
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