The Apple Valley City Council has witnessed and decided myriad changes over the past four decades, but at least one thing remained: Tom Goodwin always had a seat at the table. That will end this year, as the longtime council member decided not to run for re-election, reasoning that a new voice belonged on the council dais. He has served the city since 1984. “I could run for another term, but I thought, after 40 years and 10 months, maybe it’s time to pass the torch to a new person,” Goodwin said. Apple Valley voters have a few familiar faces to choose from this November with a 27-year incumbent, a former police chief, the current head of the parks advisory committee and a newcomer campaigning for two open city council seats. Goodwin moved to Apple Valley in 1978 and previously worked as a financial management consultant for local governmental agencies. He has a master’s of public administration from Northern Illinois University and also worked for city governments in Illinois and Wisconsin. While he brought high-level local government experience to the table when he first filed for city council, one of his main reasons for pursuing office was, he says, a bit simpler issue. His children were soccer players, and he noticed a lack of decent soccer fields in the city. “I didn’t think there were enough soccer fields at the time, and that was the main reason in running for council. I wanted to help the parks,” Goodwin said. He has been with the council as Apple Valley has grown from roughly 17,000 people to more than 56,000 people today. There are plenty of developments and governmental decisions he can point to with pride – he can recall when Cedar Avenue was a gravel road, a barren spot compared to the strip of businesses that now line the avenue — but when asked what he is most proud of, Goodwin goes back to the beginning. At the end of the 1980s, he worked on getting a soccer field set up at Johnny Cake Ridge Park. City workers put up some stands and installed fencing, in addition to organizing the grounds. The teams at Apple Valley High School would have otherwise traveled to a field in Eagan for home games. “That’s a relatively small thing, but it’s always something I have been really proud of,” Goodwin said. As Goodwin departs, Apple Valley voters will choose two city council members from among four candidates: longtime Apple Valley City Council Member Ruth Grendahl, retired Apple Valley police chief Jon Rechtzigel, Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Chair Lisa Hiebert, and Pat Benner, a legislative representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 5. Opening propels newcomers Rechtzigel, who retired as chief of police in 2022, was at an Apple Valley Rotary meeting earlier this year when he heard that Goodwin was not going to file for re-election. He decided to put his name on the ballot. Jon Rechtzigel (Courtesy of the candidate) “I’ve worked very closely with the council, as a captain and as a chief, and the city was always very well run. The councils have always been solid,” Rechtzigel said. “They will disagree on some things, but they are able to hash things out. It’s effective government.” Rechtzigel, 60, served as Apple Valley’s police chief for a decade. He started with the city as a patrol officer in 1987. Hearing of an open council seat also interested Hiebert, who has been on the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for five years. She has served as chair this year. This committee advises the city council on issues regarding planning and development of the park system. Last November, Apple Valley residents passed two levies that allow for an increase of $73 million dedicated to parks. Hiebert, 50, enjoyed getting to engage with residents and having a dialogue at a city council level, she said. That work ultimately led her to file for election. She would like to see that engagement happen more at the city council level, too. Lisa Hiebert (Courtesy of the candidate) “In that work I got that sense of making a meaningful difference for everyone,” Hiebert said. “Our work is important and it’s making a difference, and I want to do more of that.” Benner, 32, said the current council makeup is missing the perspective of young families like his. He also was inspired to run by his full-time work as a labor rights legislative representative; AFSCME Council 5 includes local No. 479, which represents city of Apple Valley maintenance and public works employees. City employees should have more affordable health insurance options, Benner said. Nearly three decades in, with more work to do Grendahl, 69, has served on the city council since 1997 and says she has been known as a person who “spends a lot of time with our budget.” Ruth Grendahl (Courtesy of the candidate) With a long career in public service, she has recently been picked to serve in two national advocacy roles for elected officials: she is on the National League of Cities Leadership Nominating Committee, and she also serves as the chair for the National League of Cities Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. This committee of elected officials is responsible for leading the National League of Cities’ advocacy efforts related to infrastructure and sustainability-related issues. She points to that work as allowing Apple Valley to be proactive in sustainability-related measures. In terms of issues impacting Apple Valley, Grendahl would like to see the state change how local government aid is doled out to cities. According to state figures, Apple Valley has not received local government aid funding since 2002, when the city received $403,875. Apple Valley officials wrapped up final touches on a new fire station and will now look at needs related to a police station and a central maintenance facility, Grendahl said, reasoning that receiving help in the form of local government aid would help the city pay for those measures. Another issue that concerns Grendahl is water contamination concerning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS. Apple Valley shut down two wells in 2021 due to contamination that was higher than the state’s allowable levels. Grendahl wants to ensure that cities have limited liability protection when it comes time to clean up those chemicals, commonly referred to as forever chemicals. “This is going to be huge for cities,” she said. “And in Apple Valley, we don’t even know where our contamination came from.” Affordable housing, streets, parks All four candidates mentioned the need for affordable housing, saying the city could work with county, state and federal governments to find solutions forward. Pat Benner (Courtesy of the candidate) The city could explore more mixed-use zoning, combining commercial with residential, both Hiebert and Benner said in separate remarks. Rechtzigel and Hiebert mentioned supporting funding for public works and the city parks department as two of their main concerns. “It’s about keeping our priorities straight,” Rechtzigel said. “Let’s be fiscally responsible and take care of our streets, parks, and fund public safety.” Hiebert said maintaining the current level of services while finding ways to meet the needs of a growing community will be a challenge, but a worthy one for future councils. Benner also suggested a review of city ordinances to see if Apple Valley is an outlier compared to surrounding cities. Related Articles Elections | Election guide: Dakota, Ramsey and Washington county candidates, races, ballot questions Elections | The RNC is rebuilding its legal operation after Trump allies’ failed effort to undo the 2020 race Elections | Mayoral hopefuls spar over development issues in Grant Elections | Where Harris and Trump each stand on key issues Elections | School Board races: Forest Lake Schools, District 831 For example, he said, other cities in Dakota County allow residents to receive a residential chickens permit, but Apple Valley does not. Or does the city need to prohibit overnight parking, year round? Changing that could alleviate time spent on enforcement, he said. In-person absentee voting is available at the Apple Valley Municipal Center at 7100 147th St. W. in Apple Valley. Election Day is Nov. 5. For more Dakota County candidate profiles, visit twincities.com/tag/dakota-county-races. Here’s a rundown of city elections: Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz is running for re-election against newcomer Will Johnson. Kautz was first elected in 1995. The Burnsville City Council has two spots up for election, with incumbents Dan Gustafson and Cara Schulz facing off against Chris John. Eagan The Eagan City Council has two seats on the ballot, with two candidates: incumbents Cyndee Fields and Mike Supina. Empire Current city council member Melanie Lee is running unopposed for mayor, while the city council races are also unopposed. City council member Danny Rubio is running for re-election and is joined by newcomer Mark Page. Farmington Mayor Joshua Hoyt faces off against Paul Larsen for a four-year term. Hoyt was first elected in 2020, after serving on the Farmington City Council for two years. The City Council has two seats up for grabs with incumbent Steve Wilson facing off with three newcomers: Jake Cordes, Joshua Gore and Justin Wiles. Inver Grove Heights Mayor Brenda Dietrich is running for reelection against challenger Greg Grover. Dietrich, who served on the city council before running for mayor, was first elected to a two-year mayoral term in 2022. Two city council seats are up for grabs, with incumbents Sue Gilva and John Murphy running for re-election against a challenge from Inver Grove Heights Planning Commission member Jason Teiken. Lakeville The city council has two spots up for election this cycle, with incumbents John Bermel and Dan Wolter and challenger Drew Boxrud on the ballot. Bermel was first elected in 2020, and Wolter was appointed to the council in 2023. Lilydale Current city council member Lyle Hanzal is running unopposed for mayor, while voters will select two council members from three candidates: incumbent Bill Kleinman and newcomers Jay Budge and Bart Schneider. Mendota Mayor Brian Mielke faces two challengers in his bid for re-election, as Amy Anderson and James R. Frank have also filed to run. On the city council side, two seats are up for grabs among incumbent Steve Golias and challengers Arica Bjornberg, James R. Lee, Nicholas Michael Perron and Daniel Schumacher. Mendota Heights The Mendota Heights city ballot is straightforward. Mayor Stephanie Levine is running unopposed for re-election, while newcomer John Maczko and incumbent Joel Paper are running unopposed for two city council spots. Rosemount Rosemount voters have two city council spots to fill this November, with incumbents Heidi Freske and Paul Theisen running for re-election against newcomer Al Viall Jr. Freske was first elected in 2016, and Theisen was appointed to the council in 2023. South St. Paul Voters in South St. Paul have a three-person race for mayor, as incumbent Jimmy Francis contends with challenger Mark J. Westpfahl. On the city council front, there are three seats up for grabs with four candidates: incumbents Pam Bakken, Lori Hansen and Todd Podgorski and newcomer Tyler C. Fehrman. Related Articles Elections | Election guide: Dakota, Ramsey and Washington county candidates, races, ballot questions Elections | 3M health care spin-off Solventum requests $13 million from state to move to Eagan Elections | Our 2024 guide to the best burgers in the Twin Cities Elections | Apple Valley man found guilty in sexual assault of girlfriend; he hid naked in St. Paul dumpster and was shot by officer Elections | Man shot by officer after emerging naked from dumpster on trial in sex assault case Sunfish Lake The mayoral race and two city council positions in Sunfish Lake are unopposed this fall, as Mayor Dan O’Leary and City Council member Steven Bulach are running for reelection and are joined by newcomer Tom Hendrickson. West St. Paul There are two uncontested races in West St. Paul: Mayor Dave Napier and City Council Ward 2 council member Robyn Gulley are running unopposed for re-election. In City Council Ward 1, Doug Fromm and Andrew Rydlund are facing off for an open seat. In Ward 3, Lisa Eng-Sarne and Anthony Smith are competing for the open council spot.