By Dylan Thomas
NORTH MANKATO — North Mankato City Councilman Dave Pearson joined the race against incumbent Paul Engel for the District 5 Nicollet County Commissioner’s seat Tuesday.
Pearson, who turns 57 next month, said he is ready to leave the Council, but wants to remain active in local government.
“I enjoy city government, but also believe 12 years on the North Mankato City Council was enough,” he said. “A new set of eyes and ears with fresh ideas keeps the city growing.”
Pearson said he was the “self-designated budget watchdog” on the Council, and plans to keep that role if elected to the County Board.
“I am a conservative,” he said. “People that know me know I turn a dollar over twice before I spend it.”
“I have a great sense of responsibility when I spend other people’s money,” he added.
Pearson said he is troubled that Nicollet County pays 100 percent of health insurance premiums for its employees and their families while, in his view, there is a lack of funding for county roads and bridges.
As a commissioner, Pearson said he also would push hard for the proposed interchange at the intersection of Highway 14 and Nicollet County Road 41, just west of North Mankato. Slow progress on the interchange may have caused the city to miss out on commercial development, like the Wal-Mart distribution center that is being built in Mankato, he said.
Pearson also wanted the county to rejoin the All Season’s Arena board to better represent county youth hockey players.
Pearson has been an Xcel Energy employee for 37 years and is manager of community and government relations. He also serves on the boards for local non-profits Community Assistance for Refugees and the South Central College Foundation.
Pearson and his wife, Jean, have two adult children and live on Eagle Ridge Trail in North Mankato.
New Ulm-area veterinarian Bruce Beatty is also running for the District 5 seat
