Dick Reis
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family
Retired 63-year-old Minnesota native
Two married daughters, 5 grandchildren
Widowed in 2002, came to Benton County in 2003 and remarried in 2005 to Shirley Chmielewski
What experience do you have that prepares you for public office?
I have a thirty-two year banking career and am a six-year owner of a trash hauling business. As a retiree, now I am able to devote my time, energy, talents and skills to the Commissioners position.
Former public official:
Elected to Adair County Board in Iowa, in 1996
Elected to City Council, City of South St. Paul in 1975
I was a chairperson of the South St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Experienced with economic development issues and business recruitment and retention. I have a working knowledge of public finance tools such as tax increment financing, revenue bonds and business revolving loan funds.
Why did you decide to run for this office?
I have always given back to communities in which I have lived though volunteering, service organizations and elected positions. As a retiree I can apply my time, energy, talents and skills to many challenges facing Benton County.
Top three issues you would tackle, if elected.
Ever increasing real estate taxes. Benton County is the highest taxed county when compared to contiguous counties and counties of similar population and taxable market valuation.
Economic development is a crucial consideration in Benton County’s future. We need to further diversify the tax base and garner employment opportunities for out citizens. This issue is very dynamic and to a great extent problematic. We have the highest industrial and commercial real estate tax rate in an economy that is contracting. Every development tool needs to be explored and the chairperson of the Board of Commissioners needs to lead a concerted effort to formulate a plan that will bring about real results.
Reduce operating expenses and adopt a fiscal constraint mentality. In January call for a budge amendment to reduce expenditures in the 2009 fiscal year by one million dollars, which will be approximately 5% of the real estate tax levy.