Leading up to the Nov. 3 General Election, the Roseville Reporter will publish Q&A responses from candidates on the ballot. Readers can get to know the candidates and learn about their goals and stances on current issues to make an informed decision come Election Day.

Here you will get to learn more about the candidates for Roseville Mayor, Roger B. Hess, Jr. and incumbent Dan Roe.

Candidates sent their responses to the Roseville Reporter via email. The Roseville Reporter remains neutral and publication of a candidate’s responses does not indicate endorsement.

Roger B. Hess, Jr.

City of Residence: Roseville
Occupation: Self-employed — Master Distributor of Professional Hairstylist Tools and Supplies

I have been a resident of Roseville for my whole life, about 70 years, part of the fourth Generation of six Generations of my family to live here in the past over 100 years. Our family business has been here since before 1920. My father was a member of the City Council in the mid-70s, which sparked my interest and ever since then I have kept up and commented on city issues, and I ran for Mayor in 1979.

What abilities and ideas do you hope to bring to City government?

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, so I have spent special attention to City Finances, and commented on them to the City Council and staff quite frequently. I like to think outside the box because I feel throwing more money at a problem isn’t the only solution. I want to get Roseville residents much more involved in their City government! I want to create a VOLUNTARY database of the talents and expertise of Roseville residents, and call upon them to be directly involved when issues arrive that are in their area of knowledge. Roseville residents need to keep an eye on City activities! Because of my efforts, the Roseville Police Department now releases an annual report concerning forfeiture funds.

Name three issues that are most interesting or concerning facing Roseville

1. As always, the large amount of money the city receives from residents is top of the list— especially since it isn’t just property taxes and utility fees, but also fees on Xcel electric and gas service and the new city sales tax. I understand how these great increases negatively affect our senior population and others.
   
2. Lack of participation by city residents in the workings of the city. I want to see City Council meetings packed with residents.
   
3. The new Public Works building and the License/Passport/Dance Studio building, and the large, currently unfunded burden the License/Passport/Dance Studio building will bring to taxpayers.

How do you plan to address these issues?

1. I would find ways to save money and increase non-tax revenue. A more efficient License/Passport Center, with more customer friendly days/hours would increase revenue greatly.
   
2. With my VOLUNTARY database, when an issue came up, I would contact those people to tell them what is happening and encourage them to come to city hall and participate, and would try to find ways to get all residents interested in participating.
   
3. Public Works desperately needs new facilities, but I don’t feel the current plan is the best way to go. The License/Passport Center needs to be designed for a more efficient work flow. To get the most bang for the buck, the Dance Studio should be a Black Box Theater with a first class Dance Studio, for basically the same cost. It then could be used 365 days a year and increase revenue!

Dan Roe

City of Residence: Roseville
Occupation: Sales manager

I have been mayor of Roseville for four terms, beginning in 2011. Prior to that, I was on the city council for four years and served on the city’s planning commission and several task forces. While in office, I have served on the boards of Nine North, NYFS and the Rice & Larpenteur Alliance. In my day job, I am a sales manager for industrial capital equipment.

What abilities and ideas do you hope to bring to City government?

Being a mechanical engineer and selling industrial capital equipment for over 30 years has helped me to know how to gather information, analyze and understand problems, envision creative solutions and communicate those solutions. Being a pastor’s son has helped me to see people as individuals and have empathy for others. Serving on the city’s planning commission and city council has helped me to understand how local government works (and doesn’t work) for people and how to involve everyone in decision-making so that better decisions are made. I believe in the role of mayor. It continues to be important to seek solutions that work the best for as many people as possible and to have decision-making processes that engage, honor and respect all perspectives.

Name three issues that are most interesting or concerning facing Roseville

The three top issues facing people in Roseville are their cost of living, their health and safety, and their quality of life.

How do you plan to address these issues?

As everyone faces increasing costs, the city budget will remain an important focus. Spending pressures from increases to the costs of ongoing operations will be joined by pressures from improving services in public safety, primarily through strategic additional hiring for fire/EMS and police. In addition, the city must complete our maintenance facility replacement within cost and time limits. And we will be involved in updating our comprehensive plan as well as our parks & recreation master plan in the coming years. All of this needs to be in the context of, and informed by, the strategic planning that the city completed over the last couple of years, which identified maintenance of quality of life as the north star for city decision-making. To be respectful of resident cost of living pressures, the allocation of resources at the city must be done with priority toward maximizing impact on quality of life.