Local Video
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| Zweifel to seek Third Ward seat |
By: By SUZANNE ROOK, Senior Reporter
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Posted: Monday, August 4, 2008 2:28 pm
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NORTHFIELD — Erica Zweifel is an organizer; the kind of person who reminds her neighbors to vote or encourages them to mobilize for a cause.
That, along with her affinity for politics, led the 42-year-old biology researcher to announce her candidacy Monday for Northfield’s Third Ward council seat. The spot is currently occupied by Councilor Arnie Nelson, who has said he won’t run for re-election this fall.
ERICA ZWEIFEL
Age — 42
Family — husband, Stephen, a biology professor at Carleton College; one son, Christof, almost 9
Education — bachelors degree in botony, University of Washington, bachelor’s degree in life science, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Occupation — research associate at St. Olaf College’s biology department. |
The Oregon native said she is interested in community-building, but wants to advocate for her ward, on the city’s northwest side.
Zweifel is concerned about getting from one side of town to the other. Hwy. 3, reconstructed just two years ago, is dangerous, she said, for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross. Why, she asked, didn’t the city ensure the state included a safe crossing in its plans?
Though Zweifel’s not sure what can be done at this late date, she hopes Northfield can be proactive when planning for roads, parks and development. She believes the city should dictate where future park land should be located — in both commercial and residential areas.
And, she wants the city to commit to getting the public more involved in its processes. It was a lack of information, she said, that last month led to neighbors to fight a proposed archery range in Lashbrook Park, in the Third Ward.
If residents had been notified up front of the potential changes, she believes the neighbors’ last-minute uprising and about-face by the Park & Recreation Advisory Board could have been avoided.
Zweifel, a member of the city’s Environmental Quality Commission, believes Northfield can be a leader in the green movement. A large number of residents are involved and interested in sustainability, and, she said, the city could easily become a model for other cities and towns across the state and nation.
An appreciation of the planet isn’t reserved for Zweifel’s work. She’s gotten involved in an effort to bring a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) school to the Maltby Nature Preserve, just outside of town.
While visiting the preserve she got wind of plans for the charter school and called Jeff Maltby, who quickly asked her to join the board. True to form, Zweifel agreed.
“I love the idea,” she said. “I think it would be a really amazing school.”
— Suzanne Rook can be reached at srook@northfieldnews.com or 645-1113.
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