Coon Rapids mayor candidates talk issues, not trash

A gentleman's agreement to avoid negative campaigning has set a civilized tone for the Coon Rapids mayoral race.

Fellow City Council members Jerry Koch and Ron Manning are facing off in the Nov. 4 election, seeking to succeed Mayor Tim Howe, who has decided to step down after 12 years in office.

Koch, a real estate agent, and Manning, a retired teacher, say they've had a congenial relationship while on the council and that won't change this campaign season.

"We have a very cordial race going. We are running it the right way," Manning said. "I think either one of us would do a good job as mayor. I just know I will do a good job."

"I think we have a good relationship," Koch concurred.

During interviews with the Star Tribune, each candidate shared some personal history and laid out the issues he'll make top priorities if elected mayor.

Mayoral candidate

Manning, 67, served on the council from 2000 to 2008 and was elected again in 2012. He was also on the Anoka-Hennepin School Board for 10 years.

He currently is an Anytime Fitness franchise owner.

If elected, he said, his three priorities are: better marketing the city to the rest of the Twin Cities, moving forward on the Coon Rapids Boulevard redevelopment and attracting new businesses to the city while maintaining good relationships with the existing ones.

For the last decade, the city has been buying up land on Coon Rapids Boulevard and razing old structures in preparation for redeveloping the street, which at one time was the lifeline of the city. It's time to start making plans to build, Manning said.

"It's been sitting long enough," he said. "I am going to be real strong on trying to get development along Coon Rapids Boulevard, especially in the Riverwalk area."

Manning said he'd also like to launch a more coordinated marketing effort for the city of 65,000.

"Coon Rapids is a fantastic city. We have tons of things to offer people, but most people in the metro don't know about us," Manning said. "We have fantastic parks and trails, a fantastic golf course at Bunker Hills and the dam area, which is gorgeous."

Mayoral candidate

Koch, 57, was born and raised in Coon Rapids. He grew up in a house off Hwy. 10.

"It's a nice community. It's got that perfect blend," he said. "It's big enough where there are things to do, but it's small where you have that sense of community. I like that small-town feel."

He and his wife, Sue, who is a nurse, have five children. Koch was appointed to the council in 2011 to fill a vacancy and was elected in 2012.

If elected mayor, his priorities are: improving city hall's relationship with the business community and continuing efforts to revive the city's aging house stock so it will be appealing to a new generation of families.

"We need to rebuild relationships with the commercial and business community," Koch said. "We've had some issues with our inspection department."

The city's brief experiment with an ordinance requiring customers to prepay for gasoline to avoid drive-off thefts is another example where elected officials didn't weigh the effect on business carefully, he said. The City Council repealed the ordinance after gas station owners complained their sales had declined by double digits.

"That is what I never want to do to our businesses again," Koch said.

"It's happening very organically," Koch said.

Koch said he will continue to support the city's Home for Generations program, which has offered grants up to $5,000 to homeowners completing large-scale remodels regardless of income. Koch said he was adamant that the program be open to all income levels.

Koch said his strengths are his commitment and strong ties to the community.

"I am really connected with the community," Koch said.