St. Louis County Commissioner District 3: Meet the candidates

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Chris Dahlberg

City of residence: Duluth

Occupation: County commissioner; attorney; U.S. Army Reserves

Age: 50

Education: Law degree, University of Minnesota Law School; Master’s in Public Policy, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs; B.A. Political Science, UMD.; Chinese-Mandarin Language, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of California, Monterey.

Elected and civic experience: U.S. Army Reserves, 1988 to present (Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004-2005;) Duluth City Council (1992-1995;) current Commissioner, Duluth Seaway Port Authority; Lake Superior Zoo Board; Bethany Crisis Shelter Advisory Committee; YMCA Board; YMCA Community Services Board.

Endorsements received: Duluth Building and Construction Trades Council.

Hobbies and interests: Canoeing and camping in the BWCAW; Jazz and blues music; trumpet; home remodeling.

Family: Daughter, Maija Olene Dahlberg.

Debbie Isabell-Nelson

City of residence: Duluth

Occupation: Community organizer, activist; retired day care operator and consultant.

Age: 60

Education: Lake Superior College small business program

Elected and civic experience: Former community organizer, Community Action Duluth (2004-2005;) neighborhood coordinator and crime prevention coordinator, neighborhood Housing Services (2005-2011;) member Riverfront Communities Youth Collaborative; Mayor’s Tourism Task Force (2011;) fundraiser, Good Fellowship Center playground (2010;) WDSE Corporate board of directors (2005;) Riverfront Breakfast with Santa coordinator; Morgan Park Sewer Task Force chair; Morgan Park Community Picnic chair; Morgan Park Community Club neighborhood coordinator (2006-present;) Morgan park Community Club president (2000-2008;) City of Duluth election judge (2003-2007;) Grandmothers for Peace (1997-present;) Morgan Park Citizen’s Patrol captain; others.

Endorsements received: DFL party.

Hobbies and interests: Friends, family and community.

Family: Widow; two married sons, 5 grandchildren.

Dennis Szymialis

City of residence: Duluth

Occupation: Unknown

Age: 53

Education: Proctor High School; University of North Dakota Law School; College of St. Scholastica, BA in History.

Elected and civic experience: Founding member of the group Save Our Sky Blue Waters; former vice chair of Eighth District Reform Party; former member of the Rice lake Township Planning and Zoning Board; Member of Save Lake Superior Association; Member of Minnesota Citizens Federation, Northeast.

Endorsements received: Unknown.

Hobbies and interests: Unknown.

Family: Unknown.

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