I would first of all like to say thank you to all the supporters I had in my bid for the 4th Ward City Council seat.  I would also like to congratulate Vern Rasmussen Jr., Reid Olson, Al “Minnow” Brooks and Larry Baker in their being able to retain their current City Council positions.

It was nice to see how many other taxpayers in the 4th Ward and throughout the city saw a necessity for change.  We need fresh ideas and new approaches to all of our same old issues. Stagnation occurs when you consistently stay on the same path with the same leadership and expect different results in the future.   Some of the races were very close, and now is the time for our current leaders to recognize that fact. My hope is that they reach out to the almost half of the voters, who in the mayoral and the 4th Ward City Council races voted for and support change.

A good leader leads by example, and they are humble and receptive to listening to everyone and anyone’s concerns. Good leaders reach out to connect with all taxpayers and business leaders so that they can better understand what we need to have a community where we all prosper, not just a select few. There is no place in a leadership position for arrogance, sarcasm or condescension. When there is a perceived battle for power and control, ugliness in people can raise its head. A good leader would immediately address that sort of thing and say stop, let my record or my proposals speak for themselves. Silence is condoning. Good leaders will speak to every issue, knowing that their involvement not only affects their immediate family, but every family they were elected to represent and protect.

We as a community need to step up our game. I know all too well how hard it is in our busy lives to find the time to get involved and speak out, but anything that is important to us deserves our utmost attention, or we may lose it. We need to demand more from our leaders.  We pay the bills and the salaries of the people who work for us. We need to demand transparency and accountability on every issue and to know how our tax dollars are being spent. This community and its future belongs to all of us. Our future is in our hands, and we cannot let only a few dictate our destiny.

Gary Hagen

Albert Lea