Spirited campaigning in store for Scott County

Mike Luce ran for city council in Shakopee two years ago and drew 900 votes, a decent showing. But he fell a bit short of what it took to be sworn in.

He thinks he might not have been outspoken enough in a crowd of eight candidates seeking two seats. He plans to change that this fall as he runs again.

"This time," said the lifelong resident, "I'm not going to hold back. This time they're going to get it full force."

No more Minnesota Nice? "No more Minnesota Nice."

It might be a lively election this fall in both Shakopee and Savage.

By the time filings for office closed last week, Savage had only one challenger for three seats, but that challenger wasn't just anyone: He was a retired businessman who has been serving as a volunteer wingman for the city's own staff on important issues.

Shakopee has another crowd. Nine people are seeking two council seats, Mayor John Schmitt faces a challenge from a civic leader, the board chairman of the chamber of commerce.

In Savage, after a close-up view of City Hall as an economic development commissioner and volunteer consultant, Joe Julius praises the staff and council as having "generally done a very good job." But he also wants to shake things up.

"It seems like whatever the staff recommends, the council rubber-stamps, rather than listen to the citizenry," he said. "Maybe it's time for a change of direction."

In Shakopee, Brad Tabke also has a close-up view, as chairman of the city's parks-and-recreation advisory board in addition his chamber role. At times, in a written statement accompanying his filing for mayor, he grows pointed about the status quo:

"Our new vision," he says, "must create connections within our diverse community while casting aside the notions of old vs. new, east vs. west, town vs. country, in favor of a vision promoting a positive future rather than dwelling on the past."

It seems an only lightly coded criticism of grumpiness about the changing demographics and power dynamics in the area. City officials have been irritated by the powerful role of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and prickly at times about the growing immigrant presence in the city.

The existing council feels a bit "good ol' boy" to her. Knowing that last time voters plucked a woman from a crowded field, she notes that this time, "I'm the only female in it."

The race features at least one immigrant: Suresh Nair, who came here from India and works in the high-tech sector downtown. He has lived in the city for seven years. He isn't zinging anyone for anything, but does add:

"Diversity is an issue for me. In Shakopee we have a significant number of Indian people, and I just want to get that visibility, bring those people into the mainstream. It's a mutually benefitting process."

Luce, the Shakopee candidate who promises no more Mr. Nice Guy, will campaign on a raft of issues, ranging from overpaid city officials to over-aggressive code enforcement ("a garbage can sitting on grass -- an ordinance that says it can't?!") to the lack of competition in garbage hauling, which he says leads to "abuse that you would not believe."

Both cities have had televised candidate forums in the past, and candidates expect that will be the major chance to debate one another.

He worries, among other things, about threats to the fiscal health of municipal liquor as major discount competitors move in, and about the long-term outlook for a multi-million-dollar sports dome that's being proposed for a city park.

"City government should stick to the principles for which it was founded," he said. "Roads, fire, police."

Beware consultants who come in and tell you what they think you want to hear, he said. "I've lived in Edina and Bloomington and seen them age," with less demand for youth sports facilities, "and the same thing will happen south of the river."