Ronald Woltjer, Sartell
I attended the candidates’ forum Oct. 15 featuring the four candidates for the two positions open on the Sartell City Council.
Going in, I personally knew the two challengers, Amy Braig-Lindstrom and Mike Pietrowski, but I only knew the incumbents, Sandra Cordie and Steve Hennes, from their profiles in this paper. Both challengers offered themselves as fresh voices, but in the end I left with the conclusion the knowledge, depth and experience of Sandra Cordie and Steve Hennes make them the best candidates. On issue after issue, the two incumbents showed the nuanced wisdom that will help to guide Sartell in solving the problems we face. On the proposed community center, Sandra nailed the vision of coming up with the “Grand Plan” and working backwards to achieve it. Steve brought up the idea of expanding the city-hall site to share land and parking. Repeatedly, the newcomers seconded points made by Sandra and Steve more than offering ideas of their own. Neither incumbent has been in office long enough to be blinded by the system, but both have almost four decades of community service behind them. Sandra Cordie and Steve Hennes deserve re-election.