I'm Scott Brodeen and I'm Running for St Cloud City Council

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I’m running for City Council and humbly asking for your vote.  I’ve lived in St Cloud for nearly 10 years.  I have an amazing wife and a wonderful daughter.  I didn’t always aspire to run for City Council, I’m just a normal guy who loves the outdoors.  However, I can’t stomach the thought of waking up in the future, possibly not recognizing the city, knowing I hadn’t tried to help.  I will bring Godly wisdom to the Council, as well as logic and common sense.  I love serving others, whether on missions trips, mowing a neighbor’s yard, helping people move, etc. I would much rather serve than be served, it’s just how I’m wired.  I embrace the opportunity to SERVE YOU as a member of the City Council, and am grateful for your support and vote on August 13th AND November 5th.  TOGETHER we can succeed and help our city WIN!

Strength, wisdom and integrity are critical qualities within Council as we seek to improve our city. As a dedicated City Councilman, I’d be committed to making our community a thriving, safe and economically sound place to live. I’ll push for transparency within the city and will fight to serve and support OUR LEGAL residents. Our veterans will ALWAYS come before people who are in our city/country illegally. I will oppose any proposals to make St. Cloud a “Sanctuary City” for those who have not legally entered our country.   most passionate about.

 Freedom isn’t free, a steep price has been paid in blood by true heroes over the years.  This is why we need to take a stand and say NOT TODAY if we ever see government attempting to take, or even dilute, our freedoms. I will always support every individuals’ freedom to worship, or not worship, however they choose, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15). I stand behind freedom of speech, regardless if I agree or disagree with what is being said. The Constitution is as true today as when it was drafted!  One of its key purposes was to limit government. I believe in a smaller government and staying out of the way of businesses. Government was never supposed to have so much power as to put our fundamental rights at risk.  People should NOT fear the government, but the government should fear THE PEOPLE.  Government is supposed to serve US, and this hasn’t been happening!  I’ve always wondered how many of the people who take the oath to uphold the US and State Constitution have actually read them. These preserve the rights of the people! Be assured, I have read them carefully and would NEVER take an oath without knowing what I am taking an oath to. We were given two swords to wield in battle and we better know how to use them! The first is the Word of God, the second is the Constitution!   

The safety of our families and community is my top priority.  A safe community is a strong community, and I am committed to enhancing public safety measures across our city.  We have an excellent police force and other emergency services. I’ll support sound and results oriented funding for these departments, including additional hiring as needed to keep us safe.  I would also support initiatives that foster strong relationships between law enforcement and residents, creating an environment where everyone feels heard, secure and supported. I support the 2nd Amendment and believe that responsible gun ownership can go a long way to deter crime as well. A safe community is the necessary first step in a great community!  

Life is difficult and a vast number of conditions can threaten our desired stability. We need to seek the most stable & secure housing that is available and suitable within one’s life circumstances.  Homeownership can be a cornerstone of a stable, invested community.  We can build people up to that point.  Our HOME is something we work for and take pride in.  The stability of one’s home directly relates to the stability of people living there. Exploring ideas like the Utah Solution could be beneficial down the road as well. Simply having more available housing and throwing more money at a problem does NOT automatically solve the issue. We need to seek transformation at the core. We do not need more apartment buildings, and certainly do not need any “Build it first and we’ll fill it after” scenarios.  We need to help our own residents establish stability first, certainly before looking to draw more people in. I believe by having a community with strong roots, we’ll be eager to plant our flag and call this city our HOME for years to come.

Everybody is hurting right now!  Record inflation is impacting us all. I get it! We’ve all been forced to make sacrifices, and I’ll make sure the city follows suit. I’ll work to limit government spending, and spend what we do in a wiser way. I am committed to practical budgeting, transparent financial practices and responsible allocation of resources.  If we spend better, we can lower taxes for our hard-working, tax-paying base. I’ve worked in Finance over 20 years and want to bring some sensible principles to the Council. By focusing on efficient government operations, reducing unnecessary expenditures and prioritizing investments that yield long-term benefits, we can ensure that taxpayer dollars are used wisely.  My aim is to maintain a balanced budget that supports essential services while minimizing the tax burden on our hard-working citizens. Bottom line, this is YOUR money and I will steward it wisely for you!

My approach to leadership is grounded in listening to your concerns, understanding your needs, and working tirelessly to address them. I believe in open communication, active community involvement, and collaborative problem-solving. Together, we can create a city where every individual has the opportunity to thrive, where families feel safe, and where fiscal responsibility paves the way for a brighter future.

Thank you for your trust and support. Let's continue to work together to make our city a place we are all proud to call home.