Klein files for rematch against Schouweiler
Candidates file for Dakota County commissioner race
After 20 years on the Inver Grove Heights City Council, Bill Klein has filed to run for
Bill Klein
Dakota County commissioner against incumbent Nancy Schouweiler.
“It’s all or nothing,” Klein said in an interview hours after he registered as a candidate when filings opened May 22.
Klein ran against Schouweiler in 2010, losing by 755 votes, according to the Minnesota secretary of state’s website.
He predicted a different outcome this time, stating that the district’s boundary change will give him a boost.
Klein said he brings enthusiasm and experience to the position, and was critical of lobbying trips to Washington, D.C., Schouweiler and other commissioners have taken because they add costs to taxpayers.
Schouweiler said in an interview that the trips have resulted in millions coming to Dakota County.
Klein said the county has lobbyists for that, and if commissioners want to be involved, they could accomplish the same thing with a phone call or video conference at no cost to the taxpayer.
“I don’t like to spend tax dollars,” Klein said.
Schouweiler said she is proud of her leadership in national organizations, including the National Association of Counties, calling it advantageous for the county.
“To represent the concerns of the county at the other levels of government, that’s what commissioners are expected to do,” Schouweiler said.
Other issues Klein cited include property rights, reining in spending and addressing county costs that he said are passed on to cities,
Klein said if elected, he would be in frequent contact with city officials in the district.
Other Dakota County Board candidates who previously announced their candidacy and filed this week are:
• District 1 – Hastings City Council Member Mike Slavik, Farmington City Council Member Christy Jo Fogarty,
• District 7 – state Sen. Chris Gerlach, and
• Incumbents Tom Egan (District 3), Liz Workman (District 5) and Paul Krause (District 6).
Fogarty’s and Slavik’s terms on their respective city councils end in 2014, and Gerlach’s term expires this year.
Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland has also announced plans to run for County Board, but as of presstime, had not filed.
In an interview, Hamann-Roland said she is out of town and plans to file next week.
Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 5 to file for office; they have until Thursday, June 7 at 5 p.m. to withdraw their filing.
Joe Harris and Will Branning, a county commissioner since 1997, have both announced they will not seek re-election.
Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.
