Six candidates running for three seats on Washington County Board

Some people call it the invisible layer of government, less familiar to them than what city and state governments do. But Washington County commissioners, from five districts that represent all 230,000 county residents, wield considerable authority over roads, public safety, libraries, community corrections, transportation, elections, health, welfare and environment.

Three of the five commissioners are up for reelection and face challenges for new four-year terms. Commissioners will earn $52,713 each this year.

• In District 2, Dean Johnston challenges incumbent Bill Pulkrabek in Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Landfall and the east end of Woodbury.

• In District 4, Autumn Lehrke challenges incumbent Myra Peterson in Cottage Grove, Denmark Township, Newport, St. Paul Park and Grey Cloud Island Township.

• In District 5, Kelly Monkman challenges incumbent Lisa Weik in the greater portion of Woodbury, the county's largest city.

Johnston vs. Pulkrabek

Johnston criticizes Pulkrabek for what he said is lax meeting preparation and a lack of time spent on county business.

Pulkrabek, 40, said that Johnston is running a "negative smear campaign" against the county board, staff and county services. "Negative campaigning is the hallmark of desperation," Pulkrabek said.

Residents worry about taxes, declining home values and the scarcity of good jobs, Johnston said. His accomplishments as Lake Elmo's mayor, he said, include working for $18 million in state funding to clean up county landfill pollution in Lake Elmo, assembling a coalition to fix long-term traffic safety problems at Lake Elmo Elementary School, and working with residents and county officials to reopen the county branch library in Lake Elmo after a three-year closure.

Pulkrabek, a former Oakdale mayor, said he wants to continue to reduce property taxes. Pulkrabek voted for no increase in the 2011 property tax levy and has supported paring the county budget to "core and essential services."

He said a diverse group of public and private stakeholders elected him last year as chair of the Gateway Corridor Commission.

Lehrke vs. Peterson

Peterson, 71, said she differs from her opponent because of "my years of listening to constituents and delivering programs and service to the citizens of Washington County."

Lehrke, a small business owner, said residents need to better understand the cost of the proposed Red Rock commuter route through south Washington County. All county residents will be paying for Red Rock but only 2 percent use public transportation, Lehrke said. She doesn't oppose Red Rock, which she said would encourage economic development along the route, but she said all the facts haven't been disclosed.

Peterson, who chairs the Red Rock Corridor Commission, said transportation will remain her priority. "We will have to look at our transportation corridors, rail public-private partnerships, and maximizing public investment in our county, state and national transportation system," she said.

She, too, takes the position that Red Rock -- and other county transit initiatives -- would result in economic development.

Monkman vs. Weik

Weik, 52, said she has "unmatched energy and commitment" and has knocked on thousands of doors in Woodbury "to be the best representative voice" for her district. Weik, who worked in health care before becoming a county commissioner two years ago, said she can hold office "without the distractions that come from running a business."

Monkman said he wants to control property taxes and ensure that government "lives within its means," bring jobs to Woodbury and the east metro through "vigorous economic development efforts," and pursue partnerships with cities and neighboring counties for "cost-effective delivery of needed services."

County commissioners, he said, should cut their own pay in accordance with other budget cuts.

Weik wants to continue working for projects benefiting Woodbury's business development, such as transit planning for the Gateway Corridor on Interstate 94. She pledged to keep county property taxes low, continue city and county partnerships, to "continue my work bringing greater transparency and accountability of county government to taxpayers" by posting her schedule and commitments on social media, and to work on improvements in solid waste disposal.