BRAINERD — Jeff Czeczok is one of two candidates running for an at-large seat on the Brainerd City Council.
“The main reasons I am running for the At-Large seat on the Brainerd City Council is because I am confident I can do a great job for the people of Brainerd and I have been tremendously pleased with the actions of the Brainerd City Council over these past several years,” Czeczok wrote in a news release. “I have already effectively been a partner to the council for a long time, essentially based on my cooperative work for the city through the citizen committee appointment process.
“As I listen to city council meetings, I hear a group of elected officials who work well together while seeming to be enjoying themselves through spirited debate. Obviously they don’t always agree, but they have a tendency to agree to disagree and move on without holding grudges.
This is an excellent way for a group of individual decision makers to progress and accomplish a lot of good things for our city that I know I can work very well with.”
Czeczok applauded the council’s work to provide open government to the residents of Brainerd through virtual committee and commission meetings on the internet, along with public access TV. That move is a measure for which he said he has advocated for many years, and continues to advocate for the same at the county level.
Other positive City Council initiatives Czeczok noted are low levy increases, reduced debt, improved housing, good park maintenance, excellent police and fire protection, and effective work with businesses to improve areas such as the Northern Pacific Center and the downtown business district.
“This is all good, but there is still much work to be done and I have the knowledge, the understanding and the qualifications to be an instrumental part of that work,” he wrote in his release. “Everyone expects their water faucets to work, their streets to be plowed and kept in good shape, their lights to turn on and to have qualified and fully staffed police and fire departments. I will do my best to continue these essential services with a serious consideration to the cost to taxpayers.”
Czeczok has been active in Brainerd’s government since 1995 and was first appointed to the Transportation Advisory Committee in 1996 and currently serves as chair. He is also chair of the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission, on which he has served for many years. He has served as chair of the Charter Commission for the last several years as well. He said he is very appreciative of every person who is currently serving or has served on the city’s various committees and commissions.
He said he is passionate about transportation opportunities in the Brainerd area and will continue to advocate for the city bus and the Brainerd airport.
Beyond Brainerd’s local government, Czeczok has also been active in Crow Wing County government and Brainerd Public Schools issues.
“Over many years of activity in area government issues, I’ve received numerous emails and phone calls from a wide spectrum of people who either want to know something behind how a particular public body voted on a specific item, or to learn whom they should speak with at the various local units of government, such as administrators, engineers or superintendents, etc.,” Czeczok stated. “If I don’t know the answer to their question, I do my best to find out and let them know.
“My focus in local government has been, and will always be, asking tough questions, insisting on accountability, advocating for openness and fairness, and trying to help people navigate through the array of local government agencies. I will always do my best to be a voice for the people.”
Czeczok has lived in Brainerd since 1971, first attending third grade at Lincoln School. He graduated from Brainerd High School in 1981 and has lived at the same location in northeast Brainerd since 1993.
“I promise to always try to do what is in the best interest of the City of Brainerd and I eagerly look forward to becoming a new member of the Brainerd City Council,” he said. “I humbly request your vote for the Brainerd City Council At-Large seat this November 8, 2022.”
