Letter: Drotos brings energy and ideas

To the Editor:

I was in the audience at a recent candidate forum. I was struck by the amount of passion commissioner candidate Paul Drotos has about the future of Goodhue County.

When asked what new ideas he would bring, Drotos fired off answers so fast the audience could not keep up - from sustainability, to new revenue ideas, to new energy production and other things I did not catch. Current Commissioner Ted Seifert could only answer the same question by talking about a past failed effort to combine services.

Seifert answered a question about things that should be done in the future nearly exactly the same as Drotos: fix roads and bridges, deal with the budget problems, etc. — as if he has not already had a decade to solve those problems.

Also, Drotos seemed more knowledgeable than the incumbent. Drotos knew statistics and other information off the top of his head. Both candidates talked about keeping taxes low, but only Drotos talked about the great value and importance of providing seniors the services they need to stay in their homes.

When Paul Drotos presented the idea of saving $60,000 by cutting county commissioner salaries, Seifert said it was not very much money. I can guarantee Mr. Seifert that $60,000 is a lot of money to Goodhue County families.

Another example of the contrast in the mindset of the two candidates: When asked what new industries should be encouraged, Seifert's first thought was "agriculture," already a staple around here for the past 150 years. Drotos' first thought was fiber optics and high tech.

Paul Drotos brought hard work, caring and determination to the Red Wing Community Garden when we volunteered together. I am now convinced that he would bring those same values to the Goodhue County Board.

Hank Brummer

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters