Candidate letters: Red Wing Wards 3 & 4 - Ralph Rauterkus

To the Editor:

I am Ralph Rauterkus and I’m asking for your support in my re-election to the City Council. Twenty-six years ago Mary and I chose Red Wing, with its excellent schools, diverse culture and caring citizens, as the ideal community to raise our family. As I travel throughout the region I’m proud to represent our great city.

I have a wealth of civic experience and the private sector skills that’s necessary to lead the City. Four years on the City Council, two years on the Port Authority, five years on the Planning Commission and many advisory committees. I have 32 years of technical and management experience working in high-tech manufacturing and am the director of information systems at Polar Semiconductor, based in Bloomington. I have and will continue to put that knowledge and my management experience to work for you.

For the past four years I have worked hard to serve our community —with integrity, passion and compassion. I’ve asked tough questions, challenged city staff and evaluated city operations. While the state imposed drastic revenue reductions on the city, sound financial stewardship was still accomplished by working with employees to cut costs and eliminate positions.

My focus is on setting a solid foundation to position our city for a better tomorrow. And we now have the Upper Harbor land in a conservation easement and a silica sand ordinance in place. I will continue to support healthy growth for our city while still preserving our community character and our natural environment.

While on the Port Authority I worked the fiscal and governance problems and now this agency is well positioned to foster future growth within the city. While on the Planning Commission I worked closely with former Mayor Donna Dummer on the “Imagine Red Wing” planning process. As we move out of the great recession it’s time to “Imagine” once again … and proactively move the city forward.

It will take patience and hard work to lead Red Wing into the future. While there are many challenges ahead, like strengthening the downtown, expanding our tax base, managing solid and nuclear waste and many more, I’m committed to making decisions based on what is best for the future of our community with a fair and open public process. Working together we can keep Red Wing strong and vibrant.

Please vote for me in November.

Ralph Rauterkus

Red Wing

Ralph Rauterkus is the incumbent candidate for Red Wing City Council Ward 3-4.

Tags: opinion, letters