Ramsey City Council candidates debate growth, transit, and civility
Two candidates for Ramsey City Council—Deborah Musgrove and Kelly Mahusky—outlined competing visions for the city's future at a July 14 forum, disagreeing on infrastructure priorities, affordable housing, and how aggressively to pursue development.
Musgrove, a former council member and planning commissioner, emphasized fiscal conservatism and specific infrastructure projects, including a Mississippi River bridge crossing and Highway 47 safety improvements. Mahusky, who works in finance and process improvement, advocated for "growing smart, spending wisely, and living well"—prioritizing community input before major decisions.
The candidates diverged sharply on several key issues. On a proposed bridge between Dayton and Ramsey to ease congestion in the northwest suburbs, Musgrove said yes directly, while Mahusky said "maybe," wanting more information first. On affordable housing, Musgrove argued that state and federal policy drives most change, limiting the city council's role. Mahusky countered that affordable housing is essential for maintaining neighborhood diversity and helping residents on fixed incomes, expressing concern about investors driving up rents.
Both candidates addressed how they would handle the discontinued Northstar commuter rail station. Musgrove proposed either ending the station or transforming it into a bridge connection across Highway 10, calling for a cost-benefit analysis. Mahusky stressed the need to understand community needs and budget constraints before deciding, wanting to avoid burdening residents with additional taxes. Neither candidate reported hearing widespread complaints about the train's discontinuation, though Mahusky noted some concerns about event access.
On emergency services, Musgrove supported adding a fire inspector to handle rising medical and alarm calls, citing her past work with the joint fire council. Mahusky questioned immediately adding staff, suggesting the city explore alternatives like partnering with county resources for mental health calls to manage costs.
Both candidates emphasized civility and bipartisanship. Mahusky proposed strong ground rules and ethics policies to keep partisan topics off the council agenda. Musgrove advocated for open debate with mutual respect and honesty, arguing that different perspectives help reach solutions benefiting residents. On development priorities, Mahusky urged caution about rapid growth in the city core, while Musgrove expressed satisfaction with current retail growth and amenities.
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Other Topics from This Document
Goals for the future of the City of Ramsey
Ensuring fair and unbiased representation in a partisan climate
Future of the Northstar station in Ramsey
Improving transit access for Ramsey residents after Northstar commuter rail discontinuation
Support for building a bridge between Dayton and Ramsey to address congestion
Modeling civility and nonpartisanship on City Council
Addressing strained emergency services and rising call volumes
Approaches to address affordable housing
Priorities for redevelopment and revitalization in the city
Process for deciding on city code changes
Working productively with those who do not share your opinions
Attracting more businesses to the core while limiting additional townhomes and apartments
Preference for state flag (new, old, or none)
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