[Music] This is local decision 2025. Thanks for joining us. John Burns now in the studio running for Circle Pine City Council. And John, good to see you. And uh let's begin by you telling the viewers who you are and why you're running for this council seat. Well, first of all, I want to thank you for having me here, North Me TV. And uh I'd like to begin by saying I'm a proud resident of Circle Pines for over 35 years. So with longevity comes wisdom. So the reason I'm running is very simple. I believe in servant leadership. So, I care about the community and the future of the community. Now, I've been able throughout these years to serve on the Centennial School Board, uh, Circle Pines Zoning and Planning Committee, and a number of different charitable activities. So what that has done is it it was been a learning experience and I developed a number of skills in terms of the servant leadership how to solve problems how to work with the team and the community to benefit everyone. So that's that and then uh I took a few notes here. So some of the roles that uh that I had strengthened my skills in leadership, teamwork, problem solving while keeping people not politics at the center of uh decision making. So those are some of the things that import that are important to me. Some of it I think comes from my mother. She was very active in charitable groups when I was growing up. And what's interesting is she never drove but she always made the meetings. And what I found is people have served in the past, there's something within them that wants to reach out and help individuals. So I approach my everyday life, okay? Whether it be social, family, community or my work, okay, in terms of how can I add value. So with that type of mindset, I found out there's many positive things that happen and I want to bring that mindset to the Circle Pines City Council so we can all move forward and live in the type of community that we want. >> You've been in Circle Pines now for 35 years. You're from Northeast Minneapolis. Um what's what do you like about Circle Pines? cuz I I get the feeling you're very passionate about the city. >> Right. Right. As I mentioned in our previous discussion, I have many chances to move. But what I like about Circle Pines and being there so long, I've seen a lot of changes like from a small town and, you know, open land to tremendous growth. So throughout that, what I found is a strong sense of community. So though we've grown, it still has a small town sense about it and we talked earlier about uh you know some of the hobbies that I have but when you look at the lakes and the parks and the trail system I have not seen another community that has that. So those are some of the things and plus the other thing is you know as I mentioned I uh was a school board member the schools were very important for me three kids they all went through the skills uh through the schools and I thought that's a one of the motivations that helped me stay in circle pines with an awardwinning type of school district that Centennial has. >> What do you think the city needs to get better at? as you say, adding value to the council. How how can you do that and make Circle Pines an even better place to be? >> Well, I think what we need to do is pay attention to what our residents want. Okay. So, when we took a when we take a look at people, we take we take a look at our residents, our community, our neighbors. Okay. when I walk around and uh you know I'm well known in the community is people ask me well what can we do about taxes and I said well we have to pay them we're not get around that but one of the things I thought is u fiscal responsibility in terms of being transparent and hold the line on taxes but do it in a way that's going to benefit everybody and and be able to use resources that we can to improve areas like that. Also, when I take a look at the parks and the green spaces, I always try to look at what can we do to improve those trails. >> What can we do to expand a park? Okay. And I know there's some initiatives right now that uh that's going looking in that direction. So there's uh those are a few of the areas that I thought that uh I'd like to add value to. >> You know, you look around the Twin Cities and some cities that are close to Circle Pines have these huge tax bumps, these levies that are coming up in, you know, the next year, but only 2% next year in Circle Pines. And and you're also getting uh you're going to join SPM Fire Department. You were with Centennial. So that that's good news that the tax hike isn't that high. And are you thrilled about the the new development and the direction of the fire department? >> Oh, absolutely. you know, in the research I've done and I took a look at uh uh you know, fire, emergency, and police services for the community. And I believe that Circle Pines is headed in the right direction in terms of partnering, integrating what we currently have, partnering with Spring Lake Park, Blaine, Mountain View, okay, which will add resources to help us deliver the type of services that our residents expect. So I look at this and you know as a business guy so I'm always looking at resources. Resources can be people. They can be equipment. And when we combine and integrate with that fire department, that district, it's going to allow us to have the resources we need to provide top tier services that the people and residents of Circle Pines expect. As you said earlier, Circle Pines kind of has that UPN North vibe, but it's in the Twin Cities metro, >> right? >> And you told me before the interview that you get on your bike a lot. You're on the move. You cycle constantly and and you have so many great options in the city, don't you? With the lakes and the trails and Right. Do you want to make those even better now? >> Oh, yeah. Are you asking about the trails in the Circle Pines area or >> Circle Pines? Yeah. >> Yeah. So, what what I really like about uh the trail system is they're all connected. So, I can say I'm going to take a ride out to Centerville, which sometimes I do on a Saturday morning, have lunch at Kelly's, and ride back is there's, you know, three different ways I can take that route. And it's different. So, typically when I'm out and about in terms of our parks and our trails, I try to look at which way the wind's blowing first of all and then try to pick one of the different routes. I have five or six different routes that uh that I ride throughout the area. Sometimes I, you know, I leave Circle Pines and it might go down to Shore and Thumology and come back, but uh I'd say Circle Pines is one of the best cycling areas around the cities. In fact, a lot of people don't know this. Minnesota as a state is ranked number two nationally behind Portland as a a you know, a city where bicycles uh >> um prevail. >> Are you going to get out and door knock? And if so, what's going to be your message to the voters? >> Well, let me just take a take a note. I'm going to get out and door knock. Okay. I'm going to do everything I can to uh position, okay, of how I can add that value to the community. So, one of the things that we talked about is ensuring public safety and strengthen our partnerships with the fire, the emergency, the police to deliver the top tier type of services they need, but do it cost effectively. We talked about the parks and trails. One of the things that I I touched on earlier is fiscal responsibility, transparency. So, when I talk to individuals, it could be in the grocery store, they're always asking me, uh, are we going to lower the taxes? Well, probably not, but we'll do the best we can to be transparent about it in terms of what those increases might be. We want to make it affordable for everybody. And then I want to accumulate the the strong and safe neighborhoods. So what that means is want to support families want want to support children's activities, seniors, sometimes the forgotten generation, schools and community programs. And those are the things that bring us all together. So that's going to be some of the things I want to touch on when I when I knock doors. You have a business background. As you said, you're a substitute teacher in the Centennial District. How will that help you if you're elected to the council? Well, let me um a few notes here. So with my business background and serving in the past, those roles have strengthened my skill set. So it's all about leadership and teamwork and problem solving, but keeping the people. It's not about politics at the center of decision making. So basic you know so when I look at my experience in all these other nonprofit charitable organizations okay they all contributed to who I am in terms of being a servant leader listening to the constituents what are their issues what are their challenges and what can I do collaborative collaborating with other members of the board to follow through and provide the type of services that people want. So, it's all about doing effective listening, understanding what people want. And sometimes people can't get what they want, but we need to come to an agreement somewhere where they're satisfied, they're happy, and we work on where we need to be for our residents. >> All right. Circle Pines just celebrated 75 years as a city and now it's, you know, you're looking into the future. Uh, and it's been a great 75 years. I think most people would say, how can you make the next 75 even better? >> I think we can make it better. Okay. working together, like I said, collaborating as a council individually, reaching out the communities, being transparent so residents understand what we're about and where we're going in terms of the vision. So, I have a passion for what I do, right? Mhm. >> And when I take a look at what's the vision going to be for the next 7 to 5 years is protect what we currently have. Take a look at things we can improve on. And it could be infrastructure, utilities, it could be the parks, the trail system, protect those and look at other type of services we might be able to implement to add the value I'm talking about. So as our community grows, we can provide our residents the services that they need and expect. >> All right. And in closing, tell our viewers why they should vote for you, John Burns. >> Oh, great. Thank you. Okay. So, as I mentioned, I lived in uh Circle Pines for over 35 years, and I've been privileged to, you know, be on the school board, and I was on the the Circle Pines zoning and platting committee, and I'm still part of uh what's called the Edison Community Sports Foundation. We provide scholarships. I'm involved with American Legion and also the lines international in terms of the vision screening and hearing screening. So I take a look at my background and my experience and everything that I learned and what I talked about the mindset of adding value is taking that and implementing as part of a team for the city of Circle Pine. So, as I mentioned, my passion, vision, and servant leadership, that's what's going to set me apart. Now, my commitment to the residents. So, I built my career on effective listening, problem solving, and finding practical solutions. So on the city council, I'm going to use those same skills that are still developing to serve the constituents as residents of Circle Pines. Okay? So together we can keep Circle Pines a thriving community now and into the future. And I'd just like to say vote John Burns for Circle Pine City Council. And as I mentioned before, this isn't about politics. It's about people. It's about families. It's about neighborhoods. It's about communities all coming together, okay, with the same goals. So, thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you for coming by. >> You're welcome. >> All right. He's John Burns running for Circle Pine City Council, and this is Local Decision 2025. [Music] Heat.