A proposed mayoral candidate debate was declined by challenger Roger Reinert, however both he and incumbent Mayor Emily Larson agreed to answer the same set of questions from Robin Washington of Wisconsin Public Radio's "Simply Superior," Ron Brochu of Business North and Bob Boone of The Reader. Due to length, we ran part one in the Oct. 26 Reader, and this part just days before the Nov. 7 election.

Robin Washington: In the face of California and Hawaii wildfires, as well as hurricanes and other natural disasters, Duluth has been called the nation’s climate change haven by the New York Times, CNN and even our program. Officials from the local Realtors association confirmed that Duluth home prices are skyrocketing due to climate refugees who can now work remotely and bring their big city salaries with them. Yet locals are being priced out, some taking as long as two years to find an affordable house. What will you do to make sure that those who have long lived here aren’t priced out by newcomers?  

Mayor Larson: So on this issue, there’s a couple of different angles. First of all, on climate change, climate resilience and climate action, my opponent is absolutely, positively silent. Silent. And that is concerning for a variety of reasons, including the pinch this issue puts on our daily budget, whether it involves streams, overflows, storms or climate migration. So hopefully we’ll have a chance to unpack that a little bit because on this issue I am an unwavering champion of decreasing our greenhouse gasses and advancing climate resilience into every single thing that we do.  

As it relates to climate refuge, I have been very public in saying we have to put our oxygen mask on first. We just have to. And so when it comes to housing, that means being absolutely tenacious about every development opportunity that we have. That includes the infill land and the infill properties that we have acquired through demolition or tax forfeit, immediately turning those into developable and incentivizing that. That means opportunities like Lester Golf. We absolutely cannot continue to provide recreation, a second public recreation opportunity, over the hemorrhaging needs of a community that actually needs housing and an expanded tax base. It means we have to be very clear about our values, about who are we investing in and who are we investing for.  

I have brought on 1,700 new units of housing in the downtown alone. We just conducted a post-pandemic housing study for the downtown. We believe 2,200 units of housing are possible there in the conversion of office to housing. We have to be completely dedicated in every opportunity we have to getting every unit online and to do that as affordably as possible. That is why we have put into place a funding affordability and driving the mass? through the ARP funds and other opportunities that we have to get things more affordable.  

And then the other thing that I think we have to really recognize, Duluth is a very, it’s a very green, beautiful city. About 30 to 35% of our land is parkland. It is undevelopable, it is untaxable. And it’s what we all love about living here. But it means that every other parcel we have available to us in town, we got to activate, we got to move on, we got to recruit developers. We have to make sure that we’re providing an expansion of homeownership opportunities and we have to invest in places like One Roof, which is positioned right now, I think, to double their vision and their capacity in the next few years if they can get the legislative support. And that’s an issue I will champion and get behind because those supporters or the supporters that I have, too.  

Roger Reinert: That's a — I mean, you had the most appropriate build up to that question, Robin, because we have all of those dynamics at play. And even if it's not climate change, it's folks coming to our community for good paying jobs. And so what we're seeing is a market that doesn't have inventory in a market that is classically stuck in the middle.  

You know, most of us have seen significant home price valuation increases. I looked at my own and it's something like 46% in just the last five years. And it really is pricing lifelong Duluthians out of sometimes out of existing homes because of the related property taxes or the inability to buy a home. So we come back to that idea of we're stuck in the middle. We need more middle of the portfolio housing stock, and we even need some some additional upper end so that people will move through the housing stock and be willing to put existing homes on the market.   And it's not the city's job to build homes. We talked about one of the obligations the city has, which is to have a process that is predictable, reliable and timely. And we continue to struggle in that area as a couple of recent surveys, including the chamber survey indicate. But the other one is the place I do think the city has an obligation, and I'm hopeful yet for the remaining $24 million ARPA that we have, we have an opportunity to invest in infrastructure. We have existing lots where we can demo houses, do the site prep, use available current infrastructure, and then we could partner with developers by adding the additional water, sewer and gas lines necessary.  

You know, the last time we did a significant middle market housing development was Hawks Ridge, and that was begun a number of years ago. So if we want to if we want to add inventory and inventory of enough size and scale, not in square footage, but in individual single family homes, we need to work on the infrastructure side of that equation. And I think it's important for listeners to know that right now that expense is carried by the builder. So when you meet with a builder, what they'll say is I can't get a mid-market home to market because I usually have $100,000 in before I even start building the home. And that's why we don't get something under 300. And we watch homes and even our traditionally more affordable neighborhoods push up against that 300,000 mark, which is pricing Duluthians out of buying a home.  

Ron Brochu: City Hall currently requires reporters to funnel all interview requests through a public relations gatekeeper rather than contact department personnel directly. Would you continue that practice? And if so, why?  

Mayor Larson: So that has been the policy since before we took office. I can't remember the year it was there. Maybe it was 2009, 2007, and it is a policy that we actually put into practice and it is something that is less — I appreciate that you use the word gatekeeping, Ron, because I understand that may be how it feels to you. And that certainly is not the intent. The intent is to have some organization, because what we were finding is that we have a director who's got a full day of work, meetings and things to attend to, and they, she he are receiving many, many calls and unable to kind of focus in and get the work done. That also has to get done.  

So it's less about trying to gatekeep and it's more about trying to be organized and responsive to you in a way that's both useful and effective for you and also effective and efficient for the staff who are doing the hard work. And so I would continue to do that. I have found that, you know, I don't get all of those requests. I get a summary at the end of every day or every other day or something like that. It isn't something that we're necessarily looking to control. It is something that we're looking to help organize.   And so it works a little bit better for everybody. I would continue to do that. And if there are, if you have ideas on how that would look different, I really am open to that. This isn't something that has come up again since we started working more with it about four or five years ago. But I'd be happy to listen and hear if there are adjustments we could make that would make it feel less gatekeeping to you. But the intent has never been that. It has always been to protect staff time in a way that allows them to show up for you with intention, meaning and content, and to have some organization in a planful way to do that. And I think that is providing better information and content for readers and for residents because they they should have all the content available to them. And we think that that actually helps staff answer, answer it and give it in a good way.  

Roger Reinert: Thanks for that question. I would not. And I think that is, you know, I'm informed on that by my experience in the Navy as a public affairs officer. You know, I think when we control information in that way, it's because we're concerned about what a staff person might say. And it’s just that's not consistent with my leadership style. Number one our folks that are on the front edge of various services, whether that's streets or plowing or construction services or fire or police. They are subject matter experts. Our job then is to have a communications staff that will work with those folks. And, you know, we have a really great example in one of our best partners, and that’s Saint Louis County. Here's an organization that is significantly larger than the city of Duluth, who does not function in that way, who has one communications person, Dana Kazel, who is amazing at her job and will work with the media and that subject matter expert to get you the information you need or if that person's going to go on camera, on the radio, in the newspaper to do an interview to help support that person who may be nervous, who maybe not have done that before. But that's not a reason to not have them do that. They are still the best source of information.  

So, you know, I am very interested. The city does not have a great reputation in terms of being a good communicator. And again, maybe because of the background I come with from my Navy work and having done that work in very challenging environments, I don't think it is to try and control or take away. I think it is to better educate and support our staff who are the subject matter experts.  

CLOSING STATEMENTS

Mayor Larson: This has been a really, really good conversation. And thank you for having me. When I took office, Duluth faced steep challenges and one by one by one. We’re taking them on and we’re addressing them from streets to lead service lines, parks funding to climate action, housing creation and economic expansion. We’re making important critical progress, and the momentum we’ve built together as a community is real, and it is at risk in this election.  

This next term is about revitalizing our downtown. It’s about doubling down on housing. It’s about a ten-year parks plan and a vision for the library. It’s about getting the lead out of your private water line and expanding child care solutions so you can support your family. It’s about continuing to invest in ways that make every neighborhood ones of choice and opportunity. And it’s about getting as many people through each day and each week as whole and as healthy as possible.  

Today, I think I’ve made a solid case about what I bring, who I am, and why this vision is one worth continuing. Under my leadership, I have forced the city to look forward and be proactive while staying true to a long term plan and vision. That vision is our vision and it’s the one we’ve carefully built together. This election is a major choice point for Duluth. Either we continue to grow and build on our success or we risk going backwards. Who leads the city and how they lead it matters. Who stands alongside candidates publicly. We’ll be partners in the work, and that’s why I’m proud to be endorsed by the folks I talked about, but also including 11 labor unions and the central labor body, which represents 17,000 workers. Every single one of these people has my back and your back to help us be successful. Your vote is important and it’s precious. You’re voting for someone you can work with and someone you believe in. My name’s Emily Larson, and once again, I ask for your support.

Roger Reinert: Well, thank you again, and I really appreciate this opportunity. As I mentioned in my open, I’m running for mayor because like many Duluthians, I’m ready for something different. Those things I’m concerned about (are) the five big issues, many of which we talked about: housing across all income levels, growing our commercial tax base, doing a better job with our streets, downtown Duluth and affordable property taxes. I believe there are practical, tangible steps the next mayor administration can take in each of these areas. And honestly, it’s time we do.  

I feel that earning 63% of the vote in the primary told us that we’re on the right track, that the Duluthians agree that these are the big issues. And right now Duluth is sort of good and we should be exceptional. We have unique neighborhoods, abundant outdoor spaces, Lake Superior, and of course, our people. Yet in the last census, we grew by 400 residents 0.05%, while other, all other regional centers in Minnesota grew at an average of 10%. We need to be concerned because that’s not growth, it’s stagnation. Our city government cannot do everything, nor should it. Our role is to be a good partner, to do the hard work of paying attention to the basics: streets, utilities and public safety, our neighborhood parks and community centers. Doing these things effective, efficient, and at a tax rate that we can both afford and sustain. We all know that when that’s done right, it doesn’t even make the news. It just works. And it’s a foundation that allows our residents to succeed, our businesses to grow and our neighborhoods to thrive.  

I’m so grateful for the support we’ve had from one end of Duluth  to the other. East, west, old, young, liberal, conservative. And for folks still looking to make up their mind I’d encourage them to check out our website Rogerforduluth.com or follow us online, we’re at Roger for Duluth on all our socials, and encourage everyone to participate in the election on November 7. Thank you.  

THE CANDIDATES

Emily Larson was first elected to serve the city of Duluth as a city councilor in 2013 and elected mayor in 2015. During her tenure, she says, she’s increased affordable housing, set a record for private business investment, oversaw an 850% increase in street repairs, and moved the city to be cleaner and greener. Mayor Larson says her commitment has never wavered to make Duluth a healthy, sustainable and inclusive community for all neighbors across all neighborhoods, and that when decisions get tough, she gets to work. Prior to serving the community in elected office, Emily did so as a social worker. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Scholastica and her graduate degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Emily and her husband, Doug Zaun, live in the Hillside neighborhood, and they have two grown sons. When she’s not running for office, you may find her running the trails in Duluth.    

Roger Reinhert has been a Duluth city councilor, serving from 2004 to 2009; a state representative from Duluth, elected in 2008; and a state senator. serving from 2011 to 2016. He’s a Naval Reserve officer with the rank of commander and teaches at the College of Saint Scholastica. Since last serving in elected office, he completed a law degree and was deployed in combat in Afghanistan and also to Italy during the pandemic. He served as the interim executive director of the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. He described himself as low key, not flashy and frugal, and says he loves Duluth with a passion and can’t imagine calling any other place home. Like Mayor Larson, he too, is a runner. So it’s not surprising to see them running against each other.