Walt Buller
1. I have been married for 46 years to my wife, Cindy. I began my working career as a bricklayer/construction worker. From there I changed my career working at Cottonwood County as a heavy equipment operator. After seven years, I got promoted to highway maintenance supervisor. Having moved to International Falls in 1994, I continued my career for the next 22 years as highway maintenance supervisor for Koochiching County until my retirement in 2015. I am now currently a part-time employee at Menards in building materials. For the past 5 years, I have volunteered to help, sort and deliver United Way Buddy Backpacks (food supplies for kids) for our Koochiching countywide school districts. I have also volunteered with Ruby’s Pantry for several years. For the past number of years I have donated time with for the International Falls Bass Championship and currently I am on the board as Facility Coordinator.
My hobbies are: bird watching, grilling on the Green Egg grill, candle making, spending time at the shack, saw/knife sharpening and spending time with the grandkids.
2. As highway maintenance supervisor, I have 29 years of experience in working with employees and the public in solving problems. Budgets, contractors and vendors were also a large part of my job duties that have given me insight in dealing and purchasing to spend county monies wisely.
3. Help with improving infrastructure and city streets through the passing of the one percent sales and use tax. I think that if more funding were available through this tax, we could potentially increase more projects. This would allow for more interest from numerous contractors, thus, allowing for more competitive bidding. This would save the city money.
4. After seeing that International Falls is on the top 10 list of, “Worst Cities in Minnesota to Live In”, I would like to do my best to change this. I have an open door policy where I am willing to listen and help in any way possible. There is an old quote; “The only person that wants change is a baby with a wet diaper.” I hope that we can overcome this quote and change the people’s perception that we are a great community that we are proud of and a wonderful city to live in.
Roger Jackson
1. I grew up in the Ranier area and graduated from Falls High in 1970. After graduation I joined the Navy. I spent 21 1/2 years in Nuclear Submarines, of which almost 4 years was spent under water. I achieved the highest Enlisted rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. After retirement, I worked in the private sector as a Maintenance Superintendent for over 20 large rental communities. After 43 years of employment, I retired. In 2016 I moved back to the Falls and married my childhood sweetheart. Within 2 months of moving back I started volunteering at Backus regularly. I’m a member of Backus, Elks Lodge 1599, a life member of the VFW and a volunteer at Ruby’s Pantry. I am a member of the City Charter commission and attend almost every City Council meeting.
2. I believe I am the best candidate for the City Council-West Ward seat because of my extensive background in leadership and upper management positions, both in the Navy and civilian sector. My knowledge of budgets will help me be a great steward of the city’s tax dollars. I am a problem solver and believe in tackling the city’s problems head on. Putting issues on the back burner and slowly working on them is not my approach to problem solving. You have to work as a team and use every resource available to resolve the issues quickly or in many cases it will only get worse. I’m a team oriented person and as such I believe in working with all local boards and Governments to help bring in businesses and create jobs. I also believe in getting our citizens input in making the Falls a better place to live, work and raise a family.
3. The two issues I’m most passionate about are blight and helping our homeless citizens. First of all, I cannot fix these problems by myself. As I stated before, it takes a team to resolve these issues and all members of City Hall will have to work together and solve the issue of blight. The two main corridors leading into town should be taken care of as swiftly as the law will allow. The Highway 53 corridor is the worst one and with the upcoming rebuild of it starting in 2020, the blight issues should be addressed quickly. As for the homeless issue, it will take strong leadership and commitment from City Hall and all local housing Authorities. It’s time to stop having our citizens living in their cars, in tents along the Rainy River or in dugouts at our ball fields.
4. I’m a big advocate of buying locally whenever I can. I’m a big believer in term limits at any level of Government. Elected office shouldn’t be a lifetime appointment. If elected I would only serve two terms, and any salary received will be used for campaign debt with the remainder donated to charity. I am running for city council to serve the West Ward of the city.
