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Mayor Candidate
Jeff Thompson
Jeff Thompson, 51, was first elected mayor in 1996 and has served for four terms. He has served on the city council since 1989. A 1970 graduate of PHS, he is the finance manager at Valley Industries in Paynesville. He also serves as the president of the Minnesota Mayors' Association.

Why are you interested in serving on the city council?
Even though I've been doing it since 1989 I don't really know. I've always enjoyed being involved. In those years, I think I've brought common sense, steady leadership, and a listening ear to the council.

What will you do, as a council member, to make Paynesville a better place to live?
Listen, look at the big picture, and make myself available. I've always been out, about, and active in the community, be it city, church, school, chamber, American Legion, or other functions, or just out and about shopping or dining. I'm listening to what's being said and seeing what's going on.
I'm also out and about a lot in other communities. I'm not afraid to steal ideas that may be of benefit to Paynesville and bring them back for discussion.

Council Candidate Jeff Bertram Jeff Bertram, 44, is currently the chair of the Paynesville Planning Commission and serves on the Stearns County Planning Commis-sion. He is a past president of the Paynesville Area Chamber of Commerce and is a past chair of the Paynesville Waste Commission. He served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1986 to 1996 and now is sales manager for West Central Sanitation. Why are you interested in serving on the city council? With two veteran council members choosing not to seek re-election, I felt the city needed experience and leadership to continue the progress the city is making. I believe my public and business experience will be an asset to the city of Paynesville and is a continuation of my lifetime commitment to the community. What will you do, as a council member, to make Paynesville a better place to live? I will use the relationships I have developed, in the public and private sector, to position the city to continue to prosper. Our comprehensive plan, which I was a part of, will be an important plan to follow to meet the needs of our residents for today and tomorrow. I will continue to advocate for our residents and be an active part of this community.

Council Candidate Tom Lindquist Tom Lindquist, 68, served on the Paynesville Area School Board for six years in the 1980s, including a stint as board chairman. He is retired from various government positions at the county, regional, and state level. Why are you interested in serving on the city council? Because it affects our daily lives in an immediate way! What will you do, as a council member, to make Paynesville a better place to live? What is better? The questions that come before the council are two-fold. A) Immediate problems confronted by the citizens and staff. 2) Long-term planning. How the council responds is not an individual thing. It takes a majority of voting members.