On Sept. 20, the North 65 Chamber of Commerce and Cambridge-Isanti Community Education held a special candidate forum for those running for a position on the Cambridge City Council and the Isanti County Board of Commissioners.
Each group was asked two questions and asked to give a short response. Members of the audience were also allowed to ask questions of the candidates.
Cambridge City Council
Question 1: What are the top two issues facing the city of Cambridge?
Question 2: How will you gather information from people and businesses in the community?
Candidate
Duane Bickford
Question 1: “We need to do something about Highway 95; it gets to the point where it takes 20 minutes to get to the bridge from Menards. The second part is growth and taxes; you get more growth, you get more taxes, and more money in, you can lower the property taxes.”
Question 2: “You got to get out and meet people. I am able to meet a lot of people and talk to them and get their information.”
Candidate
Jim Godfrey
Question 1: “I think the main issue is how to manage our continued growth as a city. We have challenges, like what to do about 95, what do we do about facilities that are outdated. We need fresh leadership in order to adapt.”
Question 2: “I believe personal contact is best, and I make an effort to do so with as many people as possible. I will go seek out other information to help people. Face-to-face is still the best way of communication.”
Candidate
Brandon Grell
Question 1: “One of them would be providing amenities and jobs for the people in the city. The second issue is taxes. Some of the things I think can help is if the council also goes through the budget and see what we need.”
Question 2: “Everyone should know that they have a chance to get their voice heard. You can talk to me, call me; I will talk to anyone who has a concern.”
Candidate 
Lisa Iverson
Question 1: “The first issue is the traffic on 95. The railroad has made some changes and reduced the amount of time the intersections are closed on Highway 95. The second top issue is the tax rate; we do have a high tax rate in Cambridge.”
Question 2: “I will listen to anyone who wants to share anything with me. I have always welcomed any conversation that someone wants to have. I have invited people to come over to my house, and I enjoy to talk to people one on one.”
Candidate
Chris Olson
Question 1: “We need to show we are a community who accepts people. And the second issue is to help the youth of the county here, to make sure that they have something to keep them off the streets, have somewhere that they can stay out of trouble.”
Question 2: “I talk to people everywhere I go, ask them what their concerns are. You can reach me by email, my phone or just come up to me out in public.”
Candidate
Michael Stylski
Question 1: “No. 1 for me is to make sure that the taxes in town remain affordable. At the same time, we need to do a balancing act in town as to what we are providing the community. The second is to see an uptick in community development, to see some of these empty lots built up.”
Question 2: “Communication is key. My cell phone is listed on the city website, all they have to do is call me. I am here to serve the people.”
Isanti County Board of Commissioners
Question 1: What are the two most critical issues facing Isanti County in the next four years?
Question 2: Economic vitality is essential. What would you do retain business and jobs and bring new ones into the county?
Candidate
Greg Anderson
Question 1: “I see a need for strategic and long-range planning that results and includes cost saving and service to the public. Another critical issue is public safety. Public safety is No. 1 and the sheriff’s department must be provided with the required resources.”
Question 2: “As Commissioner Terry Turnquist said, the county appreciates cities’ effort of bringing new business into the county. One thing worth addressing is broadband needs in the county and Highway 65 congestion. The GPS 4593 is supposed to grow and attract business.”
Candidate
Tim Swanson
Question 1: “I think we got a great sheriff’s department. I see a problem rising in property tax. A 23 percent increase in the last three years, and I don’t know what is going on, but we need to take care of it. We need to make the county more business friendly.”
Question 2: “The best way to deal is with the cities. We have a great opportunity with Highway 65; we really need to make the county business friendly so that they will want to move up into the county.”
Candiate
Terry Turnquist
Question 1: “I feel that the most critical issues facing the county in the future are dealing with drugs and long-range planning. Drugs are a huge problem in our county, and we spend a lot of taxpayer money to fight this.”
Question 2: “The county’s role in development has to come from the cities. The county has an EDA and is a member of the GPS 4593. I would like to see a full-time EDA and full-time grant writer employed by the county.”