Kathleen Backer

Why are you running for election to this position?

It would be an honor and privilege to serve as the mayor of the City of New Ulm. In my role as mayor, I would promote New Ulm as a great place to live, work and play. If elected, I will dedicate my time and talent to work tirelessly for the betterment of New Ulm.

As mayor, I will support the development and implementation of the New Ulm Comprehensive Plan which will be the roadmap to guide development and growth over the next ten to twenty years. The project will address recommendations for business development, downtown vitality, economic development, housing, land use, parks, and transportation.

What do you feel is the role of mayor in New Ulm?

New Ulm has a “Home Rule Charter” which limits the mayor’s duties. The mayor serves as the official head of the city for all ceremonial purposes and is an ex-officio member of the City Council.

The mayor appoints citizens to serve on city commissions. The commissions are made up of New Ulm citizens that are recommended by the mayor to serve on the respective commissions with approval by the City Council.

The mayor should be accessible to residents to listen to concerns and suggestions and help them find solutions to their individual issues.

What are the issues facing New Ulm?

New Ulm is facing many complex issues including shortage of labor, housing and day care; revitalization of downtown New Ulm; economic development including business retention; public safety; blight and restoration of the Hermann Monument.

Finding solutions to these issues is the challenge facing the leadership. It will require a combination of short- and long-term initiatives that will be included in the New Ulm Comprehensive Plan in the process of being developed.

What is your goal if elected mayor?

I have several goals.

My first goal is to help explore, develop and implement creative solutions to the most pressing issues New Ulm is facing. I would work with community leaders and city staff to achieve this goal.

My second goal is to support development of the new Comprehensive Plan and implementation of the plan during my tenor as mayor. This plan will be the roadmap for the development, expansion and sustainability of New Ulm’s economy, infrastructure, recreation, services and overall quality of life the citizens of New Ulm.

My third goal is to establish a sustainable leadership pool by engaging younger community residents in leadership positions to work alongside the status quo. I would achieve this goal by promoting and fostering engagement of younger residents and by appointing them to serve on city commissions and committees.

How would you address the shortages in housing, workforce and day care in the city?

New Ulm is fortunate to have dedicated staff and several entities that support issues like housing, workforce and day care. I would work with city staff and the Economic Development Authority (EDA), NUBRIC and the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce to support their efforts. I envision a collaborative effort with these entities and city staff to develop and implement solutions.

I have years of experience in leadership and decision-making roles serving on community committees and boards of directors like the New Ulm Medical Center Foundation, Oak Hills Living Center, Brown County Fair Board, City of New Ulm RENU Committee and the ISD #88 School Board. I would dedicate my time, energy and expertise to work in whatever capacity necessary to best resolve issues New Ulm is facing.

I would support actions in process and future efforts to address these issues. The EDA is taking action to address the daycare shortage with the purchase of a building to house a pod model for day care. The city is working with the Hope House Foundation (HHF) to build workforce housing. In order for the workforce to grow, both of these issues need to be addressed.

The issues are dependent on one another. Housing is needed for people who work in New Ulm or want to enter the workforce. Day care is needed so that those who want to work will have day care available to them so they are able go to work.

What else would you like to address regarding this election and the position?

I would support investing in the restoration of the Hermann Monument. This is a long-term project that will require major investment of time and funding.

I have been approached by several New Ulm residents about blight issues. I would work to resolve the gap between identifying blight and taking action to clean up the problem. It may include re-aligning guidelines with realistic enforcement.

I would use my experience serving on the Junior Pioneers and Turner Hall board of directors and my professional experience as the director of the Brown County Historical Society to preserve and promote the rich heritage of New Ulm. Furthermore, I will use my experience serving on the New Ulm Tourism Committee and the New Ulm Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote New Ulm as a destination for weddings, festivals, events, recreation, shopping and special services.

New Ulm has long-time relationship with Ulm, Neu Ulm and other German cities. I will work to enrich those relationships using my experience making arrangements for and facilitating visits by German bands, vocal groups and dancers that traveled to New Ulm to perform at Heritagefest and other events. As a host family for guests from Germany and Norway, I am familiar with their cultures and interests. In addition, my son was a Rotary exchange student in Ulm Germany for one year and I hosted a German exchange student while he attended college in the US; through their experiences, I have an appreciation for the German Culture.

I’m impressed with what has been achieved by past community leaders. I want to build on past successes and help shape the city’s future growth, The ideal would be for every citizen of New Ulm to acknowledge with pride, “New Ulm is where I live, work and play”.