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Health & Fitness

Get Out the Golden Valley Vote!

This Tuesday, November 5th, Golden Valley residents have the opportunity to help shape our city’s future path by voting to elect three City Council Members.  This election is very important in determining how our community will move forward and I personally encourage all Golden Valley residents to get to the polls and vote.

To the candidates, I would like to extend my congratulations.  It is a difficult task to run for office; requiring much time, commitment and courage to organize a campaign. I thank you for taking on this challenge and showing how much you truly care about Golden Valley.

I would also like to recognize outgoing City Council Members, Paula Pentel and DeDe Scanlon, for their combined decades of service to Golden Valley.  Their legacy and dedication to our city can be seen in programs, services and projects that will continue for years to come. 

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But now, this election has the chance to be a major turning point for our city.  With candidates running for three of the four City Council seats, a new majority could be elected to address a number of important issues which impact the city for the next decade and beyond including:

·       Residential and commercial redevelopment opportunities;

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·       A new Golden Valley community center;

·       The proposed Bottineau Light Rail line and possible train stations at Golden Valley Road and/or Plymouth Avenue next to Wirth Park; and

·       Selection of a new city manager and other senior management staff as a result of retirements.

The new City Council will certainly have significant influence in all of these discussions, among others which will come up over the course of their terms. Therefore, it is crucial that your voice is heard in determining this new Golden Valley majority.  Candidate and polling location information can be found in the latest edition of CityNews or on the city’s web site at http://www.goldenvalleymn.gov/elections/index.php.

In addition to the City Council elections, more than 2,600 Golden Valley households will have the opportunity on Nov. 5 to elect three candidates to the Hopkins School Board and vote on two proposed Hopkins School District levies. The proposed levies would both be for 10 years, paying for student programming and services and capital projects for school safety, classroom-based technology upgrades, and general classroom improvements.  For more information about the proposed levies, go to http://www.hopkinsschools.org/district-news/news/hopkins-public-schools-community-vote-two-levies.

I am proud of Golden Valley’s strong civic “work ethic” and how we vote!  Last year’s voter turnout was over 90%, one of the highest turnout rates for a community our size in Minnesota and possibly the entire United States.  We all understand our civic duty as voters and need to vote in this year’s elections too.  Please get informed about the candidates, exercise your right to vote on November 5, and set an ongoing example to other communities in our state and country! 

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