Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

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Plymouth City Council Member Ward 3

As local legislators who sometimes have executive power, council members can propose ordinances, set administrative policy, and authorize the budget proposed by the mayor. They oversee all city activities, including city services, programs, licensing, and public safety. Mayoral appointments to city government typically require council approval. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-city-councilUse the MN Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing page (https://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/) to find specific candidate contact information.A candidate forum for this race is available at https://youtu.be/np29j00YWak?si=lRBKqwA8_dVOkvp2. More MN forums are available at https://www.lwvmn.org/2024-candidate-forums.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Scott Aldrich
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Catherine M. Cesnik
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Declan McCrory
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Julie Ritz-Schlaifer
    (NP)

Biographical Information

Why are you the best candidate for this position? (750 characters)

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (500 characters)

How do you plan to engage with and represent all members of our diverse community?(500 characters)

What steps will you take to ensure transparency and accountability in city government? (500 characters)

Contact Phone 6122509392
I appreciate all the support I have received while knocking on doors throughout Ward 3. This aspect of my platform has resonated most:

I am non-partisan and have no political affiliation. Our city is well-run, and to maintain that, the City Council should remain unbiased. Most Plymouth residents simply want their roads paved, police and fire services funded, parks and trails maintained, and other basic city services upheld. I will manage the city from a neutral standpoint and keep politics out of it.

I bring years of leadership experience as an IT professional, a coach, and a small business owner.

I am personally endorsed by Jeff Wosje, who believes that my experience and leadership will ensure Plymouth remains a great place to live.
We should amend the ordinances to prevent appointed City Council members from running for office in the next election cycle. Recently, the Council appointed individuals to vacant seats in Wards 1 and 3. These individuals committed to serving the city temporarily and agreed not to run for office. However, contrary to their commitments, they are now running for office. That is not ok.

Adhere to Plymouth's 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Public Safety is important to make our city desirable.
I have knocked many doors and spoken to many people in Ward 3. I will keep my channels of communications open and branch out.
Always disclose and call out things that are not ok when they come up.
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I would bring a background in mental health to the Council which I believe would be the first time. My work has always required being observant, fostering and facilitating communication between multiple parties, and coming up with solutions to problems. I am able to quickly adapt to situations and help handle emergencies whatever they may be. My life experiences have taught me how to listen to others, be patient, an ability to consider multiple solutions, and have empathy. I would bring all this to the Plymouth City Council with your votes.
My top priority would be making sure that Plymouth does everything in its power to be carbon neutral by 2040 as our climate is changing and the time to act is now. Second would be housing as the 2020 census put us only 1000 people away from the city’s 2040 population prediction. As we continue to attract people and business it is vital they have somewhere to live. Third would be making sure that Plymouth remains a welcoming place for everyone to live through community programs and events.
I would attend events throughout the city when I have the chance. I would advertise walks that anyone could join me on to discuss issues in the city. I would respond in a timely manner to emails and phone calls. I would make sure that the city has the ability to respond in any language it might encounter on a daily basis.
I would make sure that Plymouth continues in broadcasting its council meetings and updates in local media. I would also respond when possible to questions from whoever has them.
Contact Phone 6125084167
Campaign Email jritzlaw@gmail.com
My decades of experience as a licensed attorney, training as a mediator and passion for public service make me an ideal candidate. I have lived in Plymouth, W3 for 31 years, having 2 kids who attended Plymouth schools within RAS. I earned a BA in Speech Communications, summa cum laude, and a JD from the University of MN. I am a PastPresident of MN Women Lawyers and a Director of 7Dreams Ed Foundation, raising $s for RAS. Over the years, my passion and efforts to make a difference in the communities I live and work in have been extensive, volunteering in the legal, education and philanthropic spaces. My leadership skills have given me a strong voice for those who might not feel they are being heard, advocating for matters important to them.
Be assured, my decisions will be driven by what is best for the people living in Ward 3 and across Plymouth. As we Build Community Engagement, I will work to: Enhance Safety measures in and around our schools to secure our children and community; Improve Accessibility of our green spaces and trails all year-round for better health and quality of life; Support Smart Decisions re development and use of limited open land, like the 4SeasonsMall site, while ensuring quality standards & inclusivity.
For someone who grew up poor, I spent my entire life being a voice for those who don't seem to have one, as a lawyer and community advocate. Using my extensive advocacy and communication skills, I hope to engage all members of our community with concern and compassion. To welcome their input, listen, and do my best to help, regardless of where they live or how they look. My recent RaceEquity training has given me a better understanding of my neighbors of color and ways we can be more inclusive.
As a parent of kids in the RASs, I have seen how the lack of transparency can contribute to distrust. A well informed community is more engaged & feels more included. As a lawyer, I am a person of my word. It is an aspect of my character that I will not compromise. I will work to ensure accountability by better access to work done by the City/Council & more opportunities for members to observe and comment, i.e. more public hearings, outreach, notification of actions impacting their neighborhood.

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

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