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Christopher Frederick bio

Name: Christopher Frederick
Education: Bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Minnesota State University, currently seeking a master’s in electrical engineering from the university
Work experience: Avery Weightronics, 2008-09, City of Mankato streets department (three summers)
Community involvement: Washington Park Neighborhood Association, volunteering through MSU including Special Olympics and Old Town Christmas decorations
Previous offices held or sought: President, Mankato State Student Association (2007-’08), Mankato City Council President, 2008 (lost to Mike Laven, 48 percent to 51 percent), Board of Trustees, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System

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  • Christopher Frederick

    Christopher Frederick

July 31, 2010

Mankato mayoral primary: Frederick wants to engage community

By Dan Linehan Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — When he talks about why he’s running for mayor of Mankato, Christopher Frederick doesn’t focus on controversy, or services, or the budget.

For Frederick, family and Minnesota State University — where he presided over the Student Senate — made him feel part of the community. The city should do the same for its residents, he said.

As mayor, he said he’d be more proactive and engaging, a word he uses often to describe how he would improve the relationship between the public and the city.

That means knocking on doors, town hall meetings, especially any 1-on-1 interaction. As mayor, Frederick said he’d provide visible leadership and “be the most active person in the community.”

In Mankato, the mayor is a voting member of the City Council, but that title doesn’t convey much added power or responsibility other than presiding over council meetings. The mayor is also “head of the City government for all ceremonial purposes,” according to the city’s charter.

Frederick will be challenging Mayor John Brady, who came out on top after an eight-way special election in 2006. He is joined in the race by Eric Anderson. The primary is Aug. 10.

Frederick said he’s been knocking on doors and “people are ready for something different.”

He said the city has been expanding while neglecting basic services. As an example, he cited the creation of Riverfront Park, which cost about $3.2 million.

Another change would be relying less on tax increases and more on administrative consolidations and creative partnerships.

“We all know LGA (local government aid) is looking like it’s going to become a thing of the past,” he said.

On the recently enacted trial period for backyard chickens, Frederick said he’ll be curious to see what happens during the two-year test.

For the next few years at least, the budget will probably continue to be the biggest single issue for future councils. The one-two punch of declining LGA and lower market values will force the council to balance spending and levy increases.

Frederick said he would put the emphasis on maintaining infrastructure like streets and mass transit, which he is an advocate of.

He said many people were bothered about the more frequent closing of hills last winter. He said those cutbacks, paired with expansions elsewhere, are “a little disheartening.”

As for the election itself, Frederick said it will hinge on voter turnout. The biggest race on the ballot is a three-way gubernatorial contest in the DFL, though it’s hard to know how many voters will turn their ballot around to find the local races.

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