For eight years, St. Louis County Commissioner Steve O'Neil consistently has been on the right side of downsizing government, holding budgets in check and more. And he has earned re-election in District 2, which includes eastern Duluth.
"I've learned a lot," O'Neil said at a News Tribune candidate forum last week. "I've worked to try to (create) a more civil and peaceful County Board. And I think the County Board is doing a good job in a number of ways."
Those ways start with fiscal responsibility. Earlier this month, commissioners, including O'Neil, set the county's preliminary 2013 property tax levy with an increase of less than 2 percent expected, extending to five straight years a streak of reasonable tax increases at lower than the rate of inflation.
During O'Neil's time, the board also has consolidated 911 emergency services, launched a partnership between Duluth police and its sheriff's department, privatized nursing home care and restaurant inspections, and partnered with the city of Duluth to do property assessments. In addition, the ranks of full-time county employees have been reduced by about 16 percent between 2007 and 2011, from about 2,000 employees to about 1,700.
Tough decisions have been made in the name of saving money and making government leaner, more efficient, more effective and more sensible.
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"Over the previous three years our levy rate per year averaged just below 1.4 percent. ... I think we've done an exceptional job of trying to be fiscally responsible and provide services throughout St. Louis County," O'Neil said. "We've worked very well with other governments."
The county's largest
*esponsibilities include protecting children and vulnerable adults and keeping in good repair 3,000 miles of roads and more than 600 bridges. Road repairs support and encourage economic development and job creation. Protecting those who are vulnerable fits well with O'Neil's many years of advocacy on behalf of the homeless for CHUM and other organizations.
When first elected, O'Neil promised a more visible and transparent county government. Now, evening meetings are held, mailings go out to explain taxes and other relevant issues, and all County Board meetings and workshops are televised. Voters can hold O'Neil to his pledge to start streaming meetings live online.
"We're making progress, absolutely," he said.
Voters in District 2 can cast their ballots for O'Neil confident of continued progress.
Also on the ballot: O'Neil's opponent is Becky Hall, who's active with the local Tea Party movement.
"I see around me an area of wonderful opportunity for jobs in Northeastern Minnesota," Hall said at the candidate forum. "We can't be saying no to jobs, like in mining."
