Laurie Rieb enters Lakeville mayoral race
Laurie Rieb, a 12-year Lakeville City Council member and one-time mayoral candidate, has announced she will challenge incumbent Mayor Mark Bellows and fellow Council Member Matt Little for the mayoral seat this November.
“I am proud to call Lakeville my home and I am excited to be running for mayor,” Rieb said in a press release today. “I have always made my decisions based on what is best for the community. I do not have any political machine behind me and I don’t represent special interest groups. I work for the voters of Lakeville.”
Laurie Rieb
Rieb also served on the Planning Commission for six years in the 1990s. She has been acting mayor since 2006, a position that fills in for the mayor when he or she is not available to carry out the duties required of the position.
“I have been through the booming growth of the city, and also the economic downturn,” Rieb said. “Both have had their challenges. As the city starts to grow again, we have a great opportunity in front of us, and I want to help lead Lakeville into the future.”
Rieb said she has pushed for a community visioning process for the last two years, believing that the citizens of Lakeville need to have a greater voice in planning the future of their city.
“I believe in collaboration,” she said. “We need to work more closely with our three school districts, our neighboring cities, the county and the state to find ways that we can work together to maximize our resources and reduce costs for the citizens of Lakeville.”
Rieb last ran for mayor in 2006 against Holly Dahl.
Little and Bellows are, to date, the only other declared candidates for mayor. Little, a first-term council member elected in 2010, announced his run in November 2011. Bellows, a longtime council member before being elected mayor in 2010, announced his run for re-election this summer.
Rieb’s council term expires this year, so with her mayoral candidacy her current seat becomes an open one. This is a risk, but she said she felt 2012 was her year to run again for mayor.
“I’m in or I’m out,” she said in an interview with Sun Thisweek.
The filing period for city and school district offices ends at 5 p.m. on Aug. 14.
Wonderful news! Little is too immature and inexperienced for a city that is diverse in both businesses and families. Bellows is just unrealistic in his approach. Reib brings long term experience, especially during Lakeville’s boom 5/6 years ago
So is she running as the Democrat-lite in the race? Matt Little is the DFL candidate in the race. She seems to be the DFL candidate for those progressive voters that want a more established career politician than Little.
Last evening I arrived to watch Laurie Reib, Matt Little, and Mark speak at the debate for mayor. I was originally a supporter of Laurie Reib but after watching her speak it was clear she was not prepared as well as she could have been and is not the correct fit for Mayor. It seemed as if she was shooting off the hip and struggling to string together thoughts. But I really do mean that in the nicest way possible but it was the truth. It seemed as both men where well prepared but I was impressed more with Mr. Little’s points. He was able to speak clear and direct to the questions asked. He avoided the classic pointing the finger at the other opponents (which is all too common in politics). But I noticed he would acknowledge clearly when he would agree with the other debaters, while also showing clearly the times when he did not and why.
To acknowledge “Love the water’s” point; Matt Little was the most professional, mature, and well-spoken candidate in front the crowd last evening. If you would have attended the event like the rest of us you would have seen the same thing. I do agree with you that Bellows is unrealistic. He was also the most defensive which leads me to believe he has the most to hide. Reib lost my vote last night. She seems to be out of place in a mayoral campaign (as she looked 6 years ago) and I believe she is best suited for serving Lakeville in other regards.
So, the union-backed Matt Little packed the room with teachers? Matt Little has nothing to offer the people of Lakeville. This run for mayor is an attempt at a stepping stone to higher office so he can repay the favors he owes to union bosses. He is on a scholarship to college paid for by Big Union Bosses. Matt Little cares LITTLE about Lakeville, and is looking to be a Washington DC power broker.
If I were still in Lakeville I would definitely vote for Laurie Rieb for mayor. She is certainly the most qualified with her background in this area with her time on the Planning Commission as well as the City Counsel for many more years than either Mr. Bellows or certainly Mr. Little. I believe her record shows significant commitment to the people of Lakeville and the people of the surrounding areas.Her knowledge of the needs of the community are superior to her opponents and are needed in this area. I would urge all voters in the area to vote for Laurie Rieb for the next mayor of the city of Lakeville!