Candidate's Viewpoint: Data-driven decisions must serve Washington County

Good government comes with trust – trust in our elected officials to make the right decisions. I have never forgotten that I was elected in 2008 to be a strong voice for you the taxpayer in District 5, which is the majority of Woodbury.

Woodbury acts as the economic engine of Washington County and deserves to be the epicenter of population-based service delivery. We are the largest city in the county and the 10th-largest city in the state, following the 2010 census.

This year I have served as vice chair of the County Board and with the support of voters in November, I will serve as the County Board chairwoman in 2013 to bring principled leadership to issues affecting our district and the entire east-metro region. I pledge to keep Washington County a safe and pleasant place to live and work, while maintaining our low county tax rate and AAA bond ratings that reflect long-term planning and the fiscal discipline of the county board.

In the coming months, I will continue to champion ongoing efforts with state lawmakers to give counties more flexibility in service-delivery of state-imposed mandates to gain greater budget control by county commissioners. Expanded local partnerships may deliver essential projects our community values, while stretching public funds as far as possible. This will ensure an affordable tax rate to keep families in their homes and to dynamically grow commerce.

Under my leadership the Gateway Corridor Commission has delivered initial transportation study results incorporating extensive public feedback and the strong support of our business community, while keeping state lawmakers apprised of our progress. Project goals include a cost-effective solution for fixed-transit in the vital Interstate-94 corridor to grow the regional economy and increase mobility needs for citizens. We have made progress but there is more to do.

Speaking with fellow Woodbury residents about the Gateway Study this year, I have listened to majority support for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in a dedicated lane as offering the most flexibility at less than half the cost to build and operate when compared to Light Rail Trains. My constituents expect data-driven decisions by elected officials when spending public funds in order to maintain the public trust.

I respectfully ask for your vote on Nov. 6. I run against no one. I run for our citizens.

Weik is the incumbent candidate for Washington County Board, District 5

Tags: opinion, viewpoint, elections