Commissioner Statement:
I am honored to be a part of this great park system. In 1896 Park Commissioners led the procession of hundreds of school children moving the historic Stevens House to Minnehaha Park. They held a banner that said,” Let’s Make Our Whole City a Work of Art.” I would like to continue that effort and work towards the realization of the Mission of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

First Elected (MPRB):
November 2005

Term of Office:
Jan. 1, 2006-Dec. 31, 2009

Offices & Committees:
Chair: Administration & Finance Committee
Member: Operations & Environment Committee, Committee on Standards & Conduct

Other Park Related Appointments/Committees:
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Minneapolis Tree Advisory Commission
Minneapolis Riverfront Corporation
NPR Policy Board

About the District:
District III includes the West Bank, Seward, Northern Longfellow, Corcoran, northern Powderhorn Park, Central and Phillips Neighborhoods. In the District are Powderhorn Lake and a large portion of the Mississippi River Gorge. Murphy Square, the oldest park in the system, is in the Augsburg College area of the West Bank Neighborhood.

Recreation Centers with Full-Time Staff:
Brackett, Central, Corcoran, Longfellow, Matthews, Peavey, Phillips Community Center, Stewart and Powderhorn

Other Parks and Open Spaces:
Cedar Field, Currie, East Phillips, Murphy, Riverside, Seven Oaks, West River Parkway, Mississippi River Gorge.

District III Boundaries:
• Precincts 5-8 of Ward 6
• Precincts 1, 2 and 7-10 of Ward 2
• Precincts 1-6 and 9-11 of Ward 9
• Precincts 1 of Ward 12
• Precincts 1-3 of Ward 8
• Precinct 11 of Ward 7

Background:
I have been a teacher of kindergarten kids and college students, an actor, a community organizer and neighborhood leader. Joined the In the Heart of The Beast- Circle of Water Circus- for tours down the Mississippi River and to Sweden and Denmark.

Work:
I was a construction foreman and lead carpenter and have built the holiday and flower show exhibits at what is now Macy's 8th Floor Auditorium.

Education:
Graduated from the University of New York at Plattsburg with degrees in Theater and Education. Three years of graduate work in Anthropology and Higher Education at the University of Minnesota.

Achievements:
Played a dog in a locally produced film called HEROES. Old enough to have planted seeds of now towering trees. Won first prize at my high school district science fair for research on whether hamsters are colorblind. Past President of the Seward and Cedar Riverside neighborhood organizations.

Special Interests:
Taking my solar/battery powered canoe on the Mississippi River and promoting alternative transportation, stormwater water quality education, local history and native plant restoration.

Personal/Family:
Married with two grown children, very proud grandfather and baby-sitter.