Why are you running for office? 

I care about the people of our community and it is an honor to serve my neighbors. Hearing from citizens is my favorite part of this role and that input has been at the core of every decision I have made. I grew up in Mount Pleasant Township and graduated from Lincoln High in 1995. I feel very fortunate to live here now with my family. I want this town to be all that it can be for all of us who are lucky enough to call Lake City home. 

What experiences have prepared you to serve effectively in this role?

I listen to my neighbors. I make decisions based on their input. I take this responsibility seriously. Growing up on a dairy farm with three brothers, I learned how to cooperate with people you don’t agree with, work hard even when you don’t want to and solve problems with creativity and resourcefulness. Today, I use those skills in my professional, volunteer and personal life. I strive to be honest and respectful, especially when honesty isn’t easy and when respect isn’t reciprocated. Many people in Lake City share those values and traits. As a member of the city council, it is a pleasure to watch our community arrive at compromise and work together. 

What are your top three priorities if elected?

Lake City’s population needs to continue to grow in a manner that encourages working families to live and work here. I love our small-town. I’m proud of the investments the city has made in recent years. We continue to seek both private development and public investments in order to enhance the vitality of our community. We have taken well-reasoned steps to invest in strategies for growth, increasing our tax base, workforce and business community. 

How do plan to address your top priorities?

I am proud of the numerous positive developments in recent years: renovating Ohuta Park, reconstructing TH61, and securing state bond funding. We are building on that momentum in order to continue to grow our future economic prospects. Lake City is in a strong financial position and we should continue with careful management. This strong position has allowed us to maintain existing city services. Meanwhile, we should explore opportunities to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens, including advocating for housing for our existing and new residents, workforce development and growth of local businesses. I invest time listening. I value the input I receive from citizens, staff, key stakeholders and experts on a variety of topics. I approach each of these conversations with respect. I consider all angles to arrive at the best possible outcomes for the good of the whole community. 

What do you believe is the greatest challenge facing the people you hope to represent?

Family budgets are a huge challenge. The same goes for business and commercial budgets. Financial pressures come from every angle and seem to only increase. As a council member, I am keenly aware that every dollar has to be carefully considered and justified. 

Public service requires collaboration. How would you work with individuals who hold different viewpoints?

I believe in the democratic process and listening to a variety of viewpoints. Community input is incredibly important, and decision making requires collaboration. In the process of receiving community input on any issue, you hear different opinions – some like option A, some prefer option B, some don’t like either one or propose option C. I take it all in, ask questions to understand. I learn all I can from the materials provided, talk with staff etc. After gathering all the citizen input and information I can, I make the decision I think is best for Lake City as a whole both now and into the future. 

How will you communicate with and remain accessible to your constituents? 

As a city, we strive to provide transparent communication through a variety of modes. You can always communicate more which makes this an on-going effort. I am always available to listen. 

My contact information is: 

Cell: 651-323-4844 

Email: AAlkire@ci.lake-city.mn.us or amy.alkire@gmail.com 

Home address: 810 N Oak St in Lake City 

At the end of your term, what accomplishments would define success?

The short- and long-term future of our town is important to all of us. In the coming years, we should grow in three populations: working-age adults, families and year-round residents. The Lake City I envision is a safe community where we hold on to the legacy, while boldly building a vibrant future. 

Tell voters something about yourself outside of politics. 

My husband and I have two children who grew up in Lake City, as I did. Ada is college-age and Atticus is a high school freshman. Go Tigers! I work for Augsburg University as an administrator responsible for fundraising and alumni relations. As a volunteer, I am a long-time board member for the Lake City Education Foundation and am active in my church, currently serving on the stewardship committee.