The most meaningful moments serving as your city councilor happen outside of Council Chambers. Meeting with you and your neighbors at community events and forums and meeting one-to-one and at your doorstep, I've shared your joy for our community and talked with you about public safety, parks, and (of course) our infrastructure. Your engagement and passion for Duluth makes me a stronger policymaker.
I am running for reelection because I know community engagement and policy can break down barriers for people. I have developed concrete policy solutions by building partnerships with stakeholders and community leaders, rooted in sustainable development and equity. I'm running for reelection because there is more to do.
We need to build on our momentum. Duluth has seen positive economic growth, but until our economic and other disparities are addressed, that growth never will be sustainable.
Throughout the last four years, I've talked about how when we increase economic equity we have the resources to repair our infrastructure, provide public safety, and preserve our environment.
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I am proud of my experience as council president, in which I brought diverse voices together to create the Earned Sick and Safe Time Task Force to work toward this important protection for workers. No one should have to choose between getting better and getting a paycheck.
As an accountant, I see individuals struggling to plan for their future and help small businesses make positive financial decisions. As secretary of the Duluth Economic Development Authority and as a former treasurer for the Duluth 1200 Fund, I have worked on projects that create good-paying jobs and housing for people in Duluth. We sustainably grow our tax base when we invest in our local economy and ensure workers who live here benefit from the revenue they generate.
During my first term on the council, and for the past six years, I led lobby teams to the Capitol to support Duluth projects like the steam plant conversion and the Duluth Transit Center. Duluth must lead locally to sustain and preserve our environment for future generations through partnerships on solar energy, on stream restoration, and to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
The bottom line is our aging infrastructure, streets, and utilities need work, and Duluthians demand bold action. So, as an At Large councilor, I support the mayor's 25-year street improvement plan. And, because increasing residents' access to safe, affordable housing is critical, we need to drive investment in low-income, mixed-income, and mixed-use housing citywide.
I grew up in the East Hillside next to Chester Creek and graduated from Duluth Central High School. I worked my way through college and earned my bachelors of accounting degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth. My parents and grandparents taught me to always stand up for working people, protect our environment, and, most importantly, never forget where we come from.
I will be honored to continue to represent these values on the council, because everyone deserves to build a life here. That is why I am asking for your vote on Nov. 7.
Zack Filipovich is an incumbent At Large Duluth city councilor, seeking re-election. Four candidates will be on the Nov. 7 ballot for two open At Large seats. The others are Janet Kennedy, incumbent Barb Russ and Rich Updegrove. They all contributed columns that are being published this week on the News Tribune Opinion page.
