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The candidates for the District 3 County Commissioner seat had their first public event Monday night this week at Center City. The district encompasses Center City, Chisago City, Lindstrom and Chisago Lake Township. The primary election field is crowded, and only George McMahon was missing from the line-up of six total primary vote-seekers looking to unseat incumbent Bob Gustafson.

The forum consisted of several questions, read by a moderator, which each candidate got two minutes to respond to. Questions from the public were also submitted by notecard to Butch Johnson, who collected the cards and gave them to moderators Judith Erickson and David Whitney.

Also involved in the event were Bruce Zemlin serving as the timekeeper, Don Bungum and Jack Doepke, who videotaped the event and Pinky Morrison, Swedish Village Mall Restaurant owner who donated use of his large group dining room.

On a law enforcement center; Stignani said he was "torn" on this issue, knowing the existing facility is under-sized but concerned about costs for a new project. Glassel repeatedly called a jail a "boondoggle" and said there's no support for this in any district from taxpayers. Flug wants to construct an expand-able jail, making the smallest project possible where the county starts. DuBose said he is concerned about timing and the price-tag but hopes to sit with the sheriff and learn more. Gustafson stated the law enforcement center is "long overdue." Gustafson said the jail is one of the reasons he's running "one last time" to make sure the project gets built.

On transportation issues: some candidates favored getting the county involved in a mass transit/bus corridor option on the so-called Rush Line, currently along I-35. Others stated strongly-held opposition to public transit programs in general. Supporting continued involvement in Rush Line initiatives were-- Curt Flug, Chris DuBose. Opposed to contributing county funding to commuter mass transit options were Johnathan Glassel, Bob Gustafson, Jon Stignani. McMahon as stated was absent.

On budgeting; all candidates said all the county's programs and services must be more closely scrutinized and priorities set.

Flug advocates a start from zero approach, setting the levy increase at nothing and having the Board working its way up from that. Gustafson said there are many budget items the county has no control over and is mandated by state and federal lawmakers to provide. The county is "the gopher" for these entities, Gustafson added.

Glassel stressed working with county staff on budgeting. He said county workers who live locally know that any pay raise they get comes out of their property tax. He said the County Board has to start making budget cuts for department heads who can't.

DuBose noted that when he took the entered Chisago City government that city was in serious financial hardship. He was proud of the budgeting and financial progress the city made while he was involved and welcomes the county budget as a challenge. Stignani pointed to Health and Human Services as one department he'll look into and find lower cost ways of offering services. Public safety and infrastructure are his two priority budget items.

On Hay Days permit; all the candidates were open to at least reviewing this huge event which seeks a Conditional Use Permit. While the site of the proposed grass drag strip and swap meet is not within District 3, the event was on peoples' minds.

Stignani and Glassel said they have attended Hay Days in Columbus and said it seems a well-run and popular thing, that could boost the local economy. Flug, DuBose and Gustafson said environmental review is underway and they were keeping an open mind at least until information is developed and aired in public. (The SnoBarons Hay Days EAW is scheduled for a public hearing Sept. 2.)

On roads and bridges; Glassel argued that Commissioner Gustafson has agreed to send too much of the county's road budget to the northern part of Chisago County, short-changing Dist. 3 citizens. "I will work to change that unbalance," he said.

Stignani stressed maintenance funding needs, and said county public works personnel have told him of frustrations in their lack of maintenance budgeting. Flug said the county needs to better-coordinate road projects with cities. Gustafson said the County Board usually goes with projects recommended by county engineering staff. DuBose stressed that existing roads need to be budgeted for for upkeep. Instead of bonding (debt) for roads he'd like to see projects budgeted.

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