New City Councilor: Dan Hartman

Dan Hartman

At-large Duluth City Councilor Dan Hartman comes to the Council well acquainted with city government and the issues that face Duluthians. Hartman works as the

program director for Veterans’ Memorial Hall and is very active in local veterans’ issues; he also just finished a term as board president for Duluth’s Neighborhood Housing Services. Hartman has two degrees from UMD: a

bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in advocacy and political leadership. Hartman, who may be the first snowboarder on the council, lives with his wife, Elizabeth, in Duluth’s East Hillside neighborhood.

Budgeteer: What are you hoping to accomplish as a city councilor in 2010?

Hartman: 1. Help build a community-wide economic development plan for the city of Duluth.

2. Build a new biker-reviewed list of bike path routes in the city of Duluth.

3. Build a plan for more bike racks throughout the city.

4. Put together a plan to utilize the old County Jail.

5. Work to complete elements of the East Hillside revitalization plan.

6. Work with members of downtown and Lincoln Park to build a strategic plan [for those neighborhoods].

7. Begin work on developing a downtown Duluth historic trail with interpretative signage paid for by non-city funds.

8. Help support the mayor’s street-improvement plan.

9. Help push for a two-year budgeting process.

While you were door-knocking and talking to voters before the election, what issues did you hear about the most? What do you think are the top issues for the majority of Duluthians?

Streets, jobs and budget issues.

How do you plan to communicate with your constituents while you’re in office?

Actually, we will soon be having “Coffee with Councilors” where I, and possibly other councilors, get together at a local restaurant or coffee shop to allow residents to bring their concerns to us in person. This first week Kerry Gauthier and I are meeting at Randy’s in Lincoln Park. [That meeting was Jan. 8.]

The next meeting is 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at Uncle Louis Cafe. [Uncle Louis Cafe is located at 520 E. Fourth St.]

Otherwise I will continue to respond by e-mail, dhartman@duluthmn.gov, or phone at (218) 310-5356.

In addition, when it gets warmer, I will walk through different business districts and talk with different business owners to hear some of their concerns as well.

Next week, look for profiles of Duluth City Councilors Patrick Boyle and Kerry Gauthier.

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