In Maplewood mayor’s race, 2 political veterans square off [Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.]

Oct. 31--It's a battle of the exes in Maplewood's mayoral race this election season.

Past mayor Diana Longrie and former longtime legislator Nora Slawik are going head to head to replace the outgoing mayor, Will Rossbach, who is stepping down after one term.

Both are well-known names in the northern suburb.

Longrie made waves after beating out Rossbach for the mayoral post in 2005, only to lose to him four years later after a turbulent tenure.

Slawik served seven terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives for Maplewood, Oakdale and Woodbury before deciding not to seek re-election in 2012.

This is Slawik's first foray into politics at the local level.

Longrie has the uphill battle after garnering 32 percent of the vote in the primary compared with Slawik's 60 percent.

Both say outsiders encouraged them to run, but for different reasons.

According to Longrie, residents are looking to be welcomed back into the political process after feeling shut out by Rossbach.

"I've got video of him at meetings over the last four years telling citizens to shut up and sit down. ... Citizens (feel) shut out of city hall, that they aren't being listened to," Longrie said. "If I'm elected, citizens can be assured I will always have time for them."

Rossbach acknowledges taking a terse tone with a few people who regularly attended council meetings, and once losing his cool at a packed meeting on city garbage collection.

But that was not the norm, he said.

"Any resident who came before the council or contacted me during my term who had an issue that was something that could actually be resolved ... I did everything I could to make sure those people had a voice," Rossbach said. "The group of people that came to strictly make trouble, I don't have time for them and it's a waste of the council's time. They are not looking for solutions."

For her part, Slawik said residents of the city known for its tumultuous politics tell her they want a mayor who can lead without "drama."

"I have been a resident for 19 years and (Longrie's term) was the rockiest time in Maplewood history. ... City Pages called us the most dysfunctional city in the Twin Cities area ... not a title most cities want," Slawik said.

She added that some residents feel a lighter shade of drama has continued under Rossbach, given the adversarial tone he sometimes takes with citizens who speak up at public meetings.

"The no-more-drama approach is what people are looking for," Slawik said. "I will bring that common sense, that strong leadership, that stability to the city of Maplewood."

Slawik works as the director of education for the Autism Society of Minnesota. She also serves on Maplewood'sParks and Recreation Commission.

The mother of two says her greatest contributions as a state legislator were in the arenas of early childhood education and autism.

She stepped down in 2012 because the salary paid to state representatives didn't stretch far enough to support her children heading in to college, Slawik said, noting the unpredictable schedule was also tough on her family.

As mayor, she said she hopes to see the city complete its acquisition of the Fish Creek Greenway, redevelop the historic Gladstone area and reopen the conversation that shuttered two of Maplewood's fire stations.

The restructuring of the fire system was meant to combat the decline in volunteer firefighters by putting full-time staff at fewer centralized locations.

The move has left residents in the southern leg and western side of the city concerned about delays in response times to their neighborhoods after stations in those areas closed.

A new fire station on 3M's campus will replace them. Construction is expected to start on the facility in the spring.

"There is a strategic plan in place but not all residents know what it is," Slawik said. "So we need to have more conversation and full transparency on what is happening."

The city's fire and paramedic restructuring is a top concern for Longrie as well. The attorney, who is married and mother of two, says she's better prepared to ask the tough questions needed to get to the bottom of potential flaws in the plan.

Slawik, on other hand, already supports the plan, Longrie said, citing an email exchange between Slawik and Maplewood Fire Chief Steve Lukin she received after a Freedom of Information Act request.

"That's the telling difference between us," Longrie said. "(Slawik says in the email) she is looking forward to getting the information so she can say she supports the position. I would say I am looking forward to hearing the city's position and asking the relevant questions about it."

Being willing to ask hard questions is another reason Longrie said she had residents stopping by her law firm asking her to run again.

Her last term grabbed headlines.

Former City Manager Greg Copeland's appointment without a formal search was highly contentious during her term, leading to significant staff turnover within the city.

Some staff filed employment-related claims, prompting the League of Minnesota Cities to consider dropping Maplewood's insurance coverage, partially citing a "contentious and divisive situation" at city hall.

Instead, its premiums and deductibles were upped substantially.

Longrie said there were people working against her behind the scenes who had the ear of the media and unfairly mischaracterized her time in office.

"I would suggest that (came from) a small group of political elite insiders, many of whom have not actually talked to me in person who don't perhaps like that I challenge the idea of elite insiders," Longrie said. "I believe we should have openness and transparency; that is what I have always fought for and will continue to fight for."

In addition, Longrie said if elected she would push to reopen the fire station closed on the city's west end and permanently protect Maplewood's parks and neighborhood preserves.

Four people also are vying for two city council seats this November. Incumbents Kathy Juenemann and Rebecca Cave as well as Margaret Ann Behrens and Marylee Abrams are after the spots.

Sarah Horner can be reached at 651-228-5539. Follow her at twitter.com/hornsarah.

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