Eden Prairie City Council Election 2020: Candidate Questionnaire – Lisa Toomey

What experience and qualifications do you bring to your candidacy for Eden Prairie City Council? 

Before moving into the nonprofit sector, I worked in both finance and marketing. I was an Accounting Manager at William Wigglesworth, EA in Connecticut, a Specialist at Nicholas Applegate Capital Management, and a Marketing Manager at ADC Telecommunications Mobile Systems, both located in San Diego.

I entered the nonprofit world with several years of business experience. This experience has given me the knowledge needed to help run successful nonprofits that I have been privileged to work with in Eden Prairie. Through that work I have become familiar with the needs of our community and how to address them. I have worked with several nonprofits from the Crime Prevention Fund to the PROP Shop. I am aware of the issues in our community from basic needs to safety concerns.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Business from Eastern Connecticut University, a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard University.

What personal values and qualities do you believe are especially important for a City Council candidate?

There are several qualities that are important for a city council candidate, but the top three that come to mind are dedication, adaptability, and empathy.

To be an effective council member one must have the dedication and commitment needed to be effective. This is a job that must be taken seriously and will be a major time commitment.

It is important to be adaptable to new ideas and situations. The world is changing everyday and it is impossible to resist change and expect to move forward. Covid-19 is a great example of how important it is to be able to adapt to new situations.

The most important quality for me is empathy. It allows you to predict the effects your decisions and actions will have on people. Any person in a position of leadership must be able to imagine the different circumstances and trials of the people they serve.

Why should Eden Prairie voters choose you for the City Council rather than other candidates who are running for the Eden Prairie City Council? 

Voters should choose me because I care about our city and would like to make more of a difference by becoming involved with the decision-making process. I am committed to making the lives of the residents of Eden Prairie better.

I have close to 20 years of experience as both a volunteer and leader in the nonprofit community in our city. I have worked with many types of organizations in the city. I am knowledgeable about various needs and concerns that the residents may have.

I will be a dedicated, hardworking council member, as I have been in my service to the community. I believe I have the knowledge, skills, and experience to be an effective member of the Council. I will bring fresh ideas and positive solutions to the City Council and will work hard to help guide the city and maintain our great quality of life.

How do you believe the Eden Prairie City Council should be involved in addressing COVID-19, and why? 

The Council can support the nonprofits in the city that help people affected by COVID-19. They can help them secure CDBG, HUD, and other grant money as well as providing some city money. They can help get the word out about these organizations, the work they are doing in the community, and how to support them.

The Council can help local businesses by providing some financial relief. Low interest or no interest loans, deferred repayment loans, property tax deferments are all ways that the Council can help businesses effected by COVID-19.

The City Council, lead by the Mayor have done a great job getting the word out about closures and mandates related to COVID-19.The city itself, through the Housing and Community Services Department is already coordinating meal deliveries to seniors, making sure our Somali community has masks, helping property managers manage COVID-19 on their properties, and helping people with unemployment applications.

What are your top three priorities for Eden Prairie City Council, and why? 

My top 3 priorities are safety, affordable housing, and the health of local businesses. Safety is important to me because of recent events of unrest in neighboring cities and some trepidation people have expressed to me about the light rail coming to Eden Prairie. The Eden Prairie Police Department does an outstanding job in our city and it is necessary that they have our continued support.

Affordable housing is an issue in Eden Prairie. We need more affordable housing for all generations. Redevelopment and new construction will offer opportunities for affordable housing. It will promote diversity and encourage younger people to move into our community.

The health of local businesses is important because when businesses are thriving, the community thrives as well. The local economy will benefit, more people will come to Eden Prairie to work and live and the city can encourage businesses to become involved with the community.

Is your candidacy informed by a political perspective? How does that perspective inform your priorities? (Alternatively: If your candidacy is not informed by a political perspective, why not?) 

I do not believe that my candidacy is informed by a political perspective. This is a nonpartisan race and if elected, I will serve all residents of Eden Prairie.

I will work hard to keep taxes low with high quality services. Keeping our budget reasonable while maintaining our AAA bond rating, encouraging new businesses to locate in Eden Prairie, and supporting redevelopment and rezoning (where appropriate) to bring in new residents are just some of the things that I will support. Keeping our parks, trails and lakes in great condition, supporting our nonprofit communities, continuing in our sustainability efforts, helping guide the community with the arrival of light rail, and ensuring the safety of everyone are also issues that are important to me.

I believe I have a fair and balanced perspective. A city council candidate must be nonpartisan in order to be effective for everyone.

What will it mean to you, personally, if you are elected to the Eden Prairie City Council? 

I expect to commit a majority of my time to the City Council. This is a job that requires dedication and must not be taken lightly.

For the past 8 months, I have been meeting or virtually meeting with the heads of each department in the city, the city manager, and each City Council Member. I am familiar with what is important in our city and am well prepared to serve.

I recognize that I still have a lot to learn. I will spend a lot of time studying and meeting with people so I can make informed decisions. I look forward to meeting new people, sharing new ideas and coming up with sensible solutions that benefit the whole community.

I have the drive and desire to serve as a Councilmember. If elected, I will be available and committed to the welfare of all the residents of Eden Prairie.

How can interested voters learn more about your candidacy (website, public phone/email etc…)? 

www.lisatoomey4ep.com