Cooperation & Collaboration or Calamity?

November 2008 elections concluded with the turnover of two of three Chisago county commissioners. Lora Walker replaced District 1 Commissioner Lynn Schultz and George McMahon replaced District 3 Commissioner Bob Gustafson. District 5 Commissioner Mike Robinson was re-elected to serve a third term. District 2 Commissioner Rick Greene and District 4 Commissioner Ben Montzka will be up for re-election in November 2010.

District 1, 3 and 5 county commissioners were sworn in immediately preceding their first board meeting on 1/6/09. With a new county board comes a change in dynamics and business relationships. Voters have great expectations of a county board faced with major cutbacks in Local Government Aid, dwindling tax revenues and a recession likened by some to the Great Depression.

Will the newly seated Chisago county board set aside personal biases and power struggles? Will they make a fresh start and focus on public service, overcoming challenges and achieving positive results?

Will the newly seated Chisago county board cooperate and collaborate in unity to ensure that all Chisago county residents are fairly represented and equally served?