Politics & Government

Minnetonka City Council Candidate: Patty Acomb

Patch Voters' Guide: Who will be the newest council member in Minnetonka?

Editor's note: This week we feature candidates running for the Minnetonka City Council in the  Four days this week, we will feature two of the eight candidates, according to alphabetical order of their last names.

The election will fill the vacant City Council Member, At Large Seat B, left vacant when former Council Member Amber Greves resigned the position in December.

PATTY ACOMB

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Minnetonka Patch: What qualifications do you have that will make you an effective Minnetonka City Council member?

Patty Acomb: I am a 35 year resident of Minnetonka, giving me a strong sense of the history of the city and perspective on the changing needs of our community.  

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I have demonstrated my commitment to addressing city issues by serving on the Minnetonka Park Board for the last 3 years as its vice-chair and current chair-elect. I have also served on city planning efforts, such as the Minnetonka Mills Corridor Development Initiative advisory group appointed by the City Council. These years of service to our city have given me strong knowledge and experience in Minnetonka municipal government and earned me the proud endorsement of the city’s current mayor Terry Schneider and past three mayors Jan Callison, Karen J. Anderson and Tim Bergstedt. 

In addition, I have been an active community volunteer serving on other locally important civic efforts, including the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Citizens Advisory Committee and the Hopkins School District Strategic Planning Committee. I feel my strong roots in the community, proven commitment to being an involved citizen and experience working on behalf of all of our city’s residents would make me an effective at-large Minnetonka City Council member.

Patch: What is the biggest issue for the city of Minnetonka? Why?

Acomb: One of the issues that I believe is important is balancing community development needs with maintaining our city’s natural environment. In the annual Minnetonka community survey, one of the areas of highest value to residents is always the city’s natural features, mature trees and park-like character.  

As we address the ongoing redevelopment needs identified in the city’s 2030 Comprehensive Guide Plan, it will be important to balance Minnetonka’s efforts to continue growing and staying a vibrant with ensuring that we do not lose the natural charm and character that makes our city unique.

Patch: What is current Minnetonka leadership doing well? What could be better?

Acomb: The city is highly regarded as well run, having taken a long-term view in its planning and maintaining strong fiscal responsibility. This approach has minimized any negative impact to services in Minnetonka that many other cities have faced during these challenging economic times.  

With the pending retirement of the city’s long-time manager John Gunyou, the City Council and staff will be tasked with ensuring the excellent services that residents have come to expect. I would continue to emphasize managing our limited resources responsibly while maintaining our tradition of excellent city government. Minnetonka has also done well providing high-quality parks and recreational opportunities that benefit all of our residents. Memberships at the recently remodeled Williston Fitness Center have increased dramatically in response to the new improvements. The city has also continued to develop its excellent parks, such as the recent improvements near the Burwell House as part of the ongoing implementation of the Upper Minnehaha Creek Corridor initiative.  

As a concerned resident who has been personally involved in providing input to city issues, I appreciate the importance of good communication and citizen engagement. I would work hard to make sure that Minnetonka residents were aware of issues facing our city and were given the opportunity for their opinions to be heard on issues that were important to them.

Patch: How will you get input from your constituents?

Acomb: This upcoming City Council election is for an at-large seat representing the entire city. In my current citywide role on the Minnetonka Park Board, I know that successful decision-making relies on well-informed citizens to bring forward ideas and concerns.  

I believe it is important to effectively communicate to residents what the city is doing both overall and how it may affect our local neighborhoods. I would continue to emphasize multiple mediums for providing timely and quality information, including the city’s award-winning website, the Minnetonka Memo, news releases and direct communication. 

I also believe that the city has a responsibility to invite public feedback and citizen involvement in the governance process. I would continue to communicate and solicit input from city residents directly, through public forums, and invite residents into the planning and recommendation process. As an At-Large City Council member, I will ensure that all residents are able to have a place to bring their ideas and concerns where they will be heard.

Patch: Give us a brief background of yourself.

Acomb: I was born and raised in Minnetonka, and have been a resident of the city for most of my life. I am a former graduate of Hopkins High School and went on to earn a B.S. degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Minnesota. 

After college, I worked for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in northwestern Minnesota in a variety of capacities and currently work as a Hopkins School naturalist and a Hennepin County wetland evaluator. 

My husband, Craig, and I have two school-aged boys and actively support opportunities for children in our community. My mother Marge Wright, who is a 50-year resident of Minnetonka, also lives with our family and has given me a deep understanding of the issues facing our senior community and the important services our city offers to them. As I have stated previously, I am an active community supporter in Minnetonka involved in many local efforts including:

• Minnetonka Park Board vice-chair

• Minnetonka Mills Corridor Development Initiative Committee

• Minnetonka Wetland Health Evaluation Team Leader

• Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Citizens Advisory Committee              

• Hopkins school naturalist            

• Hopkins School District Strategic Planning Committee

• Hopkins Superintendent-Parent Learning Academy charter member

• Minnetonka Mills Giblet Jog 5K organizer and sponsor

• Minnetonka/Hopkins Free Bikes 4 Kidz 

I appreciate all of the support I have received and hope that residents will contact me directly or visit my website at www.pattyacomb.com to learn more about my campaign. Please remember to vote on Feb. 14!


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