Rick Duncan
Common Sense for County Sheriff
Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel
Common Sense for County Sheriff
Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel
Rick Duncan, a Minneapolis Police Lieutenant, is the most widely respected Peace Officer in Chisago County. A lifelong resident, Rick graduated from Chisago Lakes High School and served on the Chisago City Police Department for several years before joining the Minneapolis Police.
Rick’s career has been upwardly mobile ever since, rising through the ranks from Patrol Officer to Lieutenant, currently serving as Patrol Sector Commander, taking direct responsibility for nearly 40 Officers, Sergeants and Crime Prevention Specialists.
Rick’s phone started ringing when Todd Rivard announced his retirement.
When Karl Schreck, aka “The Garbage Cop” announced his Karl Schreck for Chisago County Sheriff Campaign, Duncan’s phone rang “off the hook.”
Indeed, the specter of Karl Schreck (Shrek) as Chisago County Sheriff alarmed many in the community.
Chisago County is changing. “Good Old Boy” Politics is dying and a new breed of Public Servant is emerging. Political common sense is making a comeback in Chisago County, a place where its citizens take pride in their “country wisdom.” People move to Chisago County just to be near folks with common sense. With all our common sense, in the past, we have made some horrific choices by electing way too many “Good Old Boy” politicians to powerful positions in local government.
However, when we elected George McMahon and Lora Walker to the County Board, they joined sitting Commissioners Rick Greene and Ben Montzka to give “Common Sense” a “Super Majority” on the County Board, something thought to be impossible.
For the first time in memorable history, Chisago County has four commissioners that are “in it for the people,” not for their own personal gain. Commissioners who are willing to “bust butt” for the people of Chisago County rather than the pursuit of their own selfish, “Good Old Boy” interests.
Chisago County has two main sources of revenue. The property taxes paid to the County and LGA or Local Government Aid from the State. Basically, LGA is a rebate from income and sales taxes collected by the State, paid to the County to cover the cost of “unfunded mandates.”
Whenever Governor Pawlenty needs to balance the budget, he simply cuts LGA, without changing any of laws to relieve the County of the financial burden of these “unfunded mandates,” leaving the “Common Sense Super Majority” scrambling to cover the shortfall.
The County takes advantage of federal reimbursements for staff mostly in health and human services department and applies for every grant available from both the State and Federal Government.
However, it is their independence from the “Good Old Boy” network and the creativity of Commissioners Montzka, Greene, Walker and McMahon that has allowed this board to navigate in these “troubled waters.”
As Sheriff, Rick Duncan will maintain an independent department, free of “Good Old Boy” politics. All of Rick’s energy, integrity, intelligence, skill and experience will be needed to tackle the challenges that face us all, right here in Chisago County.
Rick is a “great fit” with the “Common Sense Super Majority” of Greene, Montzka, McMahon and Walker. All value their independence and respect the independence of the others. We’re not out of the economic woods, yet. It’s gonna take a lot of brain power and creativity to get us through the next several years.
Rick Duncan is the right man, at the right place, at the right time to provide public safety without bankrupting Chisago County.
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