Sartell residents Mark Bromenschenkel and Joe Perske will vie for the Stearns County Commissioner District 2 position this November. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Name: Mark Bromenschenkel. My wife Denise and I have been married for more than 32 years. We have two children and seven grandchildren. This makes seven consecutive generations of our family in Stearns County’s District 2.
Please give a brief biographical background: I was born and raised on a dairy farm in LeSauk Township. I have lived in Stearns County’s District 2 for most of my life.
Please give highlights of your education, jobs you’ve held, memberships, honors received, special skills and knowledge: I worked as a peace officer for 23 years. I also worked 15 years as an EMT for our local ambulance service. I’m employed by St Cloud State University as an instructor at the Minnesota Highway Safety and Research Center.
Why are you qualified to serve as District 2 Stearns County Commissioner? I know the people, values, issues and concerns of the residents of Stearns County. As your county commissioner, I’ve learned a lot about how county government works and about how it doesn’t work. I’ve been able to make many changes. These changes have saved the taxpayers of Stearns County a great deal of money. The tax rate has fallen 7 percent, and the debt service has gone down by $600,000 since you’ve elected me to serve as your commissioner.
I served as a LeSauk Township Supervisor for nine years.
With my experience and service history, I am very qualified. I have shown I listen and advocate for the residents of Stearns County. I have resolved many issues for my constituents.
I’ve served as Stearns County’s District 2 Commissioner for the past six years. I also serve on the following boards and committees:
- Area Planning Organization Board
- Area Planning Organization Executive Board
- Association of Minnesota Counties Delegate
- Central Minnesota Emergency Services Chaplaincy Board (president)
- Central Minnesota Emergency Services Chaplaincy Executive Board (president)
- Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (alternate)
- Stearns County Extension Committee
- Family Services Collaborative Joint Powers Board (alternate)
- Great River Regional Library Board of Trustees (board member and past president)
- Great River Regional Library Finance Committee
- Great River Regional Library Assessment Committee
- Highway 15 Coalition Partnership (alternate)
- Stearns County Human Services Board
- Northstar Corridor Development Authority (alternate)
- Noxious Weeds Appeal Committee
- Stearns County Parks Board
- Parkland Dedication Fee Committee
- Stearns County Planning Commission
- St Joseph Township/City of Waite Park Joint Planning Board
- Tri-County Solid Waste Management Commission
What are the biggest challenges this county faces as it continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? Controlled growth, expansion, controlled spending, budget and levy. I have been very successful in helping to keep the levy at or very close to zero for increases throughout my elected career in LeSauk Township and Stearns County while still providing excellent service to our residents. This has been achieved by looking at each budget item line by line and deciding if it’s a necessity, benefit or need for our residents.
Which programs and services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? Non-mandated services we currently offer but are not a necessity.
Are there new, creative ways to share costs and services with cities and townships that would be mutually beneficial and more efficient? I believe there are always opportunities for townships, cities and the county to share costs. I look for those all the time. Whenever practical and the other entity is in agreement that it makes sense, we make that partnership work.
What are Stearns County’s greatest strengths? What are its weaknesses? How would you improve the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses? I believe our greatest strength is the hard-working people in Stearns County.
Greatest weakness is by far the non-funded mandates put onto us by the state and federal governments. They are constantly transferring the costs of their mandated services onto the county, making the county pick up the tab.
I’d improve the strengths by continuing to resolve issues/concerns for my constituents. I’m always accessible, answer questions and I make it a priority to return phone calls and emails.
I don’t believe we’ll ever be able to eliminate all the weaknesses I’ve described. The best-case scenario is the state sets sunsets on all the mandates placed onto the county and re-evaluates them every three to five years.
Are county taxes too high, too low or just about right? If you think taxes are too high, how could they be reduced? I think taxes are too high. Taxes are obviously a necessity in order for the county to operate. Since I’ve served on the county board, I’ve been working hard to trim the fat from the county’s budget wherever possible. I believe you always have to be looking for ways to save taxpayers’ money.
I always keep in mind the residents of Stearns County are very hard-working and honest people. Some are living paycheck to paycheck. I try to put myself in their shoes whenever I’m voting on spending county dollars. I ask myself is this the right thing to do?
I’ve worked very hard finding ways to save tax dollars and have been successful in assisting with bringing in more money to offset the burden of dollars levied from residents.
Are there ways to further enhance the Mississippi River at the eastern edge of the county as a recreational and aesthetic shoreline resource for both residents and visitors? Yes. There are many things that could be done and hopefully someday will be done. With that in mind, again, we must be fiscally responsible and good stewards of our taxpayers’ money.
Should the Northstar Commuter Line be extended to St. Cloud? I don’t agree with the way Northstar was created and set up. However, I do believe if it were to be extended to St Cloud, more people would take advantage of this transportation. It would depend on the cost and if BNSF is going to assure us the Northstar trains would be allowed to stay on time. Oil and freight trains have taken priority and Northstar trains are arriving hours late. People aren’t going to use this transportation if they’re arriving late to work or events.
Feel free to add any other ideas you may have. I’ve found there’s a lot of waste. Some are programs that are not needed, not functioning and/or just not worth the amount it costs us as taxpayers.
I’m very thankful for the opportunity you’ve given me to personally represent you and all of Stearns County. I take this responsibility very seriously. I understand you may not be able to, or even want to go to a county board meeting. This is why I host my “Coffee with Commissioner Bromenschenkel” meetings throughout the Second District. This has been a great opportunity for me to get personal input from you as constituents.
I’ll continue to work very hard at representing you. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve you.
Joe Perske
Name (and family information, if you wish): Joe Perske, 60, Sartell resident. Recently retired teacher with 37 years of classroom experience. Married to Jan Perske for 37 years. Three adult daughters – Michaela, Jenna, Greta, all married.
Please give a brief biographical background: Born in St. Cloud. Grew up in Sauk Rapids, moved to St. Cloud in ninth grade and graduated from Apollo High School in 1974. Completed bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and psychology,at St. John’s 1979; master’s degree in physical education, St. Cloud State University, 1995. Coached Sartell Varsity girls’ soccer 10 years. Completed over 100 marathons, including U.S. Olympic Trials 1980 and 1988.
Please give highlights of your education, jobs you’ve held, memberships, honors received, special skills and knowledge: First taught in Onamia, 1979-81. Taught for Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Augsburg, Germany 1981-88. Taught Avon Elementary 1981-90. Taught in Sartell School District 1990-2016. Served on the Sartell City Council 2005-10 and as Sartell mayor 2011-14. In 2014 was a U.S. Congressional candidate in the Sixth District. Served on the Area Planning Organization, Greater St. Cloud Development Corp., St. Cloud Area Human Rights Board.
Why are you qualified to serve as District 2 Stearns County Commissioner? I grew up in the area. In my years of teaching, coaching and public service, area residents have gotten to know me well. Serving on the city council and as mayor for 10 years, I have demonstrated my leadership skills. I have learned to work government through both bad and good economic times in those years. I served as mayor during the terrible fire and closure of the paper mill in Sartell and helped our community work through recovery after that tragic loss. I have advocated in Washington, D.C. and St. Paul for transportation and other local issues like the Wobegon Trail.
Should the Northstar Commuter Line be extended to St. Cloud? Yes. Having worked with the Area Planning Organization and the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp., we know the tremendous benefit Northstar would be to this area. Going to the Twin Cities Metro, passengers would have commuter access to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Airport, professional and college sports, VA and University hospitals, work, shopping, entertainment and many more opportunities. Coming to the St. Cloud area, commuters would have similar access for employment, education, recreation and family. I understand there is a tremendous cost to the project, but there are tremendous costs to expanding roads, bridges and parking space. I believe we can work together with state and federal resources to accomplish getting Northstar here over time and in a fiscally responsible manner. While Northstar might not be feasible to be done immediately, we need to keep the vision and conversation open.
Are their ways to further enhance the Mississippi River at the eastern edge of the county as a recreational and aesthetic shoreline resource for both residents and visitors? The Mississippi River is a blessing and a treasure. I have worked with and support the efforts of the group “Mayors on the Mississippi River.” About 20 million Americans use the water for daily consumption. The river also provides for agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, recreation, hunting and fishing. Having grown up in the area around the Mississippi and Sauk rivers, I have seen many changes in the landscape and water quality throughout the years. In the 60s and 70s, some of the practices of dumping waste and raw sewage into the rivers was nothing short of hideous. Today, with water-impact awareness and better management practices, we have seen the Mississippi “comeback” and should continue those efforts. We can enjoy and use the waterway with reasonable practices that allow us to do so with little scenic and water-quality impact.
Are county taxes too high, too low or just about right? If you think taxes are too high, how could they be reduced? People who know Joe Perske, know how frugal I can be. In the school, city, county or state, I have little tolerance for wasted tax dollars. The people of Stearns County want to be safe, travel efficiently to work and home, take care of the well -being of their residents and enjoy life. All that costs money. At the present time, I think there is a good balance of county services and what folks are paying for to receive those services. Again, I am always welcome to hear suggestions on the wants and needs of the community and how we pay for it.
What are Stearns County’s greatest strengths? What are its weaknesses? How would you improve the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses? One of Stearns County’s greatest strengths is its diversity of landscape, business and population from the Mississippi to the western farmlands. The St. Cloud area provides many metro amenities folks desire, while the west end supports smaller towns, wildlife habitat and agriculture. Our diverse business economy is not centralized around any one particular sector, which allows it to remain relatively stable. We have quality schools here, as well as many college and technical opportunities. A growing population is often followed by an increase in criminal activity, and Stearns County is not an exception. Stearns County Sheriff’s Department must continue to be adequately funded and work cooperatively with local police departments so we have a safe and secure community.
Are there new, creative ways to share costs and services with cities and townships that would be mutually beneficial and more efficient? We should always be looking for these cooperative ways to reduce and share costs. Our mutual-aid agreements with neighboring cities and the sheriff’s department, as well as fire and rescue, are good examples. Likewise with other expensive pieces of public-works equipment, an agreement can be made for mutual benefit.
Which programs and services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? We experienced a severe economic downturn around 2008 in the area and we worked through it. Government should not react wildly but be prepared for those situations. Using county department heads and staff input to make budget cutbacks can help reduce costs with less service impact. Extending turnover in vehicles and equipment can help, as well as delaying replacement and new hires when it’s applicable. All nonessentials would need to be looked at and prioritized.
What are the biggest challenges this county faces as it continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? Stearns County, like many local governments, is continually challenged by rising costs, increased unfunded state and federal mandates and growing needs that require tax dollars to meet those needs. We must continue to work hard using our tax dollars wisely without putting unbearable stress on individuals, families and businesses. The recent increased immigrant population has presented challenges for our cities and schools at levels we have not seen before. These cultural differences and economic demands need to be cooperatively discussed openly at all levels of government to meet the needs of all residents, new and old.
Feel free to add any other ideas you may have. Having recently retired from teaching, I am excited to serve local residents as their county commissioner. People know me as hard-working, civic-minded, personable, honest and a fiscally responsible individual. My experiences from years of teaching, coaching, politics and running has connected me to many local folks, and I have earned their trust and respect.
Mark Bromenschenkel
