Willmar voters go to the polls Nov. 4 to vote for Willmar City Council seats. It is important to elect City Council members who are involved, can evolve with city changes and can proactively focus in partnership with all city residents to make Willmar a great place to live, work and play.
City’s Ward 1 and 3 seat choices feature the current incumbent or the challenger in each race.
Ward 1 choice: DeBlieck
In Willmar’s Ward 1, voters have the choice of incumbent Bruce DeBlieck, 61, and challenger Andrew Plowman, 31.
DeBlieck is seeking re-election to a Ward 1 seat, where he has served since 1990. In addition, he current serves on the city’s Public Works/Safety Committee and Community Development Committee, as liaison to the Willmar Municipal Utilities, and as a member on the Vision 2040 Steering and member of the Central Community Transit (formerly Kandiyohi County Transit) Joint Powers Board. He has been very involved in the community’s Vision 2040 project to identify long-term priorities.
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A Minnesota Department of Transportation supervisor, DeBlieck has lived and worked in Willmar for more than 30 years. He contributes sound and rational thinking to the council. He believes in a city that provides necessary services in a well-run manner. He has demonstrated positive leadership during difficult times on the council in recent years.
DeBlieck understands the council’s primary roles are to set policy, approve the budget, set the tax rate and focus on major projects. He also believes it is important to respect the city administrator and staff and to seek out their input and expertise. He has critical listening skills, wants to seek citizen input and then make appropriate decisions on what is best for the city overall; instead of other agendas.
Plowman is the challenger in the Ward 1 race. He believes that solid relationships between citizens, the council and city staff are “vital” to moving Willmar forward. He emphasizes the importance of economic development and infrastructure maintenance. He believes there are many things right with Willmar, including good health care, education, good infrastructure, new airport, Minnwest Tech campus and the industrial park expansion.
Employed in a family-owned Prinsburg business, he has served on the Kandiyohi County Republican Board as well as state and national delegations. He said he is running to bring a young adult voice to the table.
In the end, DeBlieck has displayed positive and respectful leadership, community involvement and the ability to make sound decisions throughout his tenure. DeBlieck is the sound choice for this Ward 1 seat.
The West Central Tribune endorses Bruce DeBlieck for re-election to a Ward 1 seat on the Willmar City Council.
