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In the West St. Paul municipal election this year the mayor and three City Council members are on the ballot. We’ve asked the candidates a series of questions to see where they stand on the issues. We’ll share one question and the responses at a time leading up to the general election on November 5. See our 2024 voter’s guide for more.
Previously we asked about candidates’ top issues and the budget. This time we’re talking about housing.
Amid a nationwide housing shortage, how will you manage housing growth in West St. Paul? What types of housing do you support? How should the city use subsidies to incentivize growth?
Here are the candidates’ responses:
Candidates for Mayor
This is an uncontested race.
Dave Napier
(no campaign site)
Dave Napier did not respond to our questionnaire.
Candidates for City Council Ward 1
Doug Fromm
West St. Paul has already added over 1000 housing units in recent years, leading the County and much of the metro area. We need other communities to follow our lead in adding housing options. The state is working on legislation to help facilitate additional housing across the state. I believe this legislation should include providing cities grants to help spur more needed housing development across the region.
I support adding a mix of single family homes and apartments as space becomes available to do so, in a way that minimizes the impact to the neighborhoods where the housing is being added. Any development should involve the residents of the impacted neighborhoods in a manner where input could be given before decisions are made. We should address concerns such as increased traffic and pedestrian safety before any project begins.
I do support some subsidies to incentivize building quality housing that is in high demand, and fits the character of our community. Providing subsidies allows the city to have greater input on the kinds of housing development for any given project.
In addition to adding housing, we need to look at improving existing housing and develop a better system to enforce renter’s rights.
Andrew Rydlund
(no campaign site)
Andrew Rydlund did not respond to our questionnaire.
Candidates for City Council Ward 2
This is an uncontested race.
Robyn Gulley
We have a huge need for housing in the Twin Cities. I support all kinds of housing options and we need all kinds of housing. As we are considering partnerships with developers or considering any subsidies, I am most concerned with whether the developers pay fair wages and provide safe working conditions. I have worked hard to ensure developers are paying prevailing wage and have encouraged project labor agreements that help ensure safe working conditions.
Candidates for City Council Ward 3
Lisa Eng-Sarne
As a city, we have been doing our part to address the housing shortage. I will emphasize that this issue needs to be solved at a larger scale than our five square miles. We have approved a healthy mix of housing from affordable, workforce, senior, market rate and are working on the “missing middle housing.” We are adjusting our zoning to not just talk the talk, but to walk the walk. However, for a real dent to be made in shortage and affordability, other communities will also need to step up and say “yes, in my backyard.”
A great example of how the city has used subsidies to incentivize growth was the recent Redevelopment Incentive Grant with Dakota County for the M&I townhome expansion on Oakdale Avenue. This provides more housing, desirable housing, and property taxes that help fund our roads, services, and other amenities that folks are pushing for. Other sites may require the use of TIF to finance projects and when those projects create a lasting impact to better our communities, I would support the use of TIF as well.
Anthony Smith
(no campaign site)
Anthony Smith did not respond to our questionnaire.
Vote on November 5
The general election is on Tuesday, November 5. Learn more about where and how to vote. You can also vote early with an absentee ballot, either by mail or by stopping at the Dakota County offices.
See our 2024 voter’s guide for more on the candidates and other races.
Thank you to the candidates for taking the time to respond to our questions.
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