Four city council candidates shared thoughts on budget, housing, economic development and more at Monday evening’s Babbitt Weekly News candidate forum.
The event occurs every election cycle in the Babbitt Municipal Center and is intended to offer candidates the opportunity to share their background, visions for Babbitt and approaches to city governance.
Jacob Myers has coached hockey for Ely and Babbitt students for over a decade and also served as head coach of the Minnesota North - Vermilion trap shooting team. He works at Range LP Gas and sits on Babbitt’s recreation committee.
“I never thought I’d see myself in politics, but here I am,” Myers said. “I always like an adventure and a challenge.”
Glenn Anderson formerly served as Babbitt’s mayor. His career has included 20-plus years of National Guard Service and roles as a mining employee and registered nurse. Anderson was also vice president of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS).
“I still have a lot of the senators and representatives as friends,” Anderson said.
Claire High said she is a fourth-generation Iron Ranger “raising our fifth generation” withherhusband,aNorthshore Mining employee. She moved from Ely to Babbitt last year.
High became interested in politics after a run-in with a local zoning ordinance due to her small bakery stand.
“It made me want to be a part of that process because I want to make sure people feel like they’re being heard, and maybe bring a fresh perspective to our city government,” High said.
Terry Switajewski entered the US Navy after high school. He took a job in the Babbitt Police Department in 1981 and later served for 20 years as police chief. He was the ambulance supervisor for four years and on city council for eight years.
“I was a public servant my entire adult life,” Switajewski said. “I still want to do it.”
Council candidates outlined their approaches for economic development.
Switajewski said the halted Twin Metals project would have brought a large number of jobs to the area.
“Now that that’s in standby status, we have to scrape and do whatever we can to entice people to move here,” Switajewski said. “We have to create jobs.”
“If we don’t have jobs, we don’t have people,” Anderson said. “If we don’t have people, we don’t have a school.”
The school brings in young families, Anderson said, so city leadership must be proactive in bringing new economic opportunities to town.
“You have to get out there and actually look for (businesses), not just sit on your laurels and let them come to you,” Anderson said.
High said the city should heed resident requests for local services like a coffee shop or pharmacy.
“We need clear zoning, good infrastructure and fair processes. That’s how you become more business- friendly,” High said. “We want mining and we want all of the jobs we can get.”
Switajewski said economic development should be a joint effort between residents and the council.
Myers suggested Babbitt’s large land base could help draw in new industries. The city should market its many local offerings, Myers said, in order to attract new residents.
“We have assets like crazy in this town,” Myers said.
High touted Babbitt’s family- friendly amenities, such as library services.
“The (West Babbitt) developer is going to be incentivized to sell their houses,” High said. “What we can do is continue to make sure Babbitt is a nice place to live.”
Anderson said the recent 20% levy increase came because previous councils had not increased the levy as high as they should have, rather than a root cause of unnecessary spending.
“We have equipment, we have things, but we’re a well-oiled machine,” Anderson said.
Anderson said 20% is “outrageous,” however, and the budget would be his first focus if elected.
When asked about AirBNBs and VRBOs as a point of regional controversy, Myers suggested a good mix of both short-term rentals and resident-reserved housing could boost Babbitt’s economy.
“In winter, with hockey tournaments in town, those VRBOs filled up like crazy and it brought a ton of money to the town when typically there was not much activity going on,” Myers said.
All candidates indicated hopes for a thriving community ten years in the future and beyond.
Myers said he’d like to see more families in town and build upon Babbitt’s recreational opportunities, while Anderson is optimistic about helium and copper-nickel mining.
High said she would like to modernize Babbitt’s ordinances, many of which are decades old, with the input of other residents.
Switajewski said his goal is to “serve the people of Babbitt to the best of my ability.”
“When I was on council, if I was against something personally and the majority of the public was for it, I voted for it,” Switajewski said.
The forum for mayoral candidates will take place Monday, Sept. 28 in Babbitt’s city council chambers.
Incumbent Joe White outlines goals for Babbitt
by Harmony Fisher
Incumbent council member Joe White, running for re-election, provided a candidate statement via email.
White missed the recent forum for a work requirement. The other absent candidate, Shyann Cersine, dropped out of the race but will appear on the ballot per state statute.
White is a retired military veteran, former EMT for the Babbitt Ambulance Department and Babbitt firefighter.
White said he kept his original campaign promise that Babbitt will improve throughout his four-year council term.
He cited recent city achievements such as the West Babbitt Development, $1.5 million in grant funding for arena updates and $250,000 secured for the park, with only $30,000 of that amount from the city’s pockets.
White is happy to report a $90,000 surplus in 2027’s police budget, which may ultimately lower the final levy.
“I know how to debate and fight hard for our city,” he stated.
If re-elected, White aims to secure grants for school sports, the street department, recreation and more. He said he would be open to a local data center development.
White hopes to assist Alder Inn with renovations and potentially develop a third hotel to increase Babbitt’s ability to host mining contractors and more.
White sees a bright future for Babbitt, especially with Pulsar Helium, NewRange and Twin Metals on the horizon.
“I will always vote for what I believe is best for Babbitt,” White said.
