Interview with Edison Vizuete for Washington County Commissioner

 This interview is with Edison Vizuete. He's running for County Commissioner in district 2 in Washington County MN. Cities in the district include: Birchwood, Landfall, Oakdale, Pine Springs, and Willernie. He is challenging Stan Karwoski who is known for voting for Gold line subsidies and tax and spending increases. Here are unedited responses from Edison Vizuete:

1.) Tell us about yourself, your background, and why are you running for County commissioner please.

I am a graduate of NDSU with a degree in Economics. I started my profession as a State Agency Auditor for the North Dakota State Auditor Office, an Accountant for the ND Dept of Human Services, a Management Analyst for the ND Governor's Budget Office, as a Deputy Director for the Workers Compensation Bureau, as a Finance Director for Washington County, as a Senior Consultant for Deloitte and Touche, and finally as Section Chief for USDA/APHIS Finanial Management Division; a total of 42 years in Government Finance.

I served Washington County for ten years as a Budget Analyst and Finance Director with passion and dedication implementing a new financial system,  issuing and refinancing municipal bonds, formulating the County' Budget and doing the background work to attain the AAA rating and distinguished Budget Award. I would like to serve with equal passion and my substantial knowledge in government finances to ensure the County does no deviate into becoming an organization with goals that lack transparency and efficiency and only protect the interest of a few. I AM WORRIED THE CURRENT BOARD IS ENGAGED IN NEGLECTING THE NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS  AN INCREASES TAXES  FOR WASTEFUL PURPOSES.

2.) Washington County has great roads thanks to the county crews. There's no controversy on that. However, there's worry about the return on investment with the $500 million dollar Gold Line. Our Woodbury stop is one of 16 on the corridor. In its best month it had 2,500 monthly rides from our station since it opened over a year ago. We spent over $100 million from Washington County alone and we spend $13.1 million a year on it now for our one Woodbury stop. We need yearly rides, so multiply 2,500 by 12 months a year and you get 30,000 rides a year. Divide that by two because each rider takes two rides a day. Take that and divide it by the $13.1 million and you get $86 per rider a day. Multiply that by 20 working days in a month, that's $1,700 a month per rider. That's $20,640 a year per rider from the Woodbury station. The average car loan is 5 years, with a $1700 a month payment (7% interest) we could buy each rider a $87,000 car every 5 years for cheaper.  Do you support building on that and expanding the service deeper into Woodbury as they propose? 

THE GOLD LINE IS A MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TAXPAYERS RESOURCES. The current Boards lacks knowledge in economic analysis and follows initiatives that are nothing but a waste of resources, there still are many alternative public transportation modes such as direct subsidies rather than building big "white elephants"  Mr. Karwoski misled the County in this absurd initiative.

3.) The current county commissioners are about to approve a 7.9% tax increase. That's the highest tax increase in recent years. We have over $100 million in debt and from that over $14 million in interest charges total over the debt. Dakota County, just to the south of us, used to be debt free in the not so distant past. What if Washington County was debt free? What would you do with the savings in interest? 

This  demonstrates that the Board is out of touch with  its citizens. There is no justification for increasing property taxes at a time when the economy is tight. Funds from elapsing bond issues should revert to fund balance with an equal reduction in expenditures. It is incredible that the current Board proposes budget increases financing wasteful and unjustified projects such purchasing park land and easements when WACO already has so many state, county and city parks and trails.

4.) The County is about to spend over $20 million dollars to update the library in Woodbury that was built about 20 years ago. In St. Paul they built an entire library for $11 million. Do you think it is excessive to spend so much on just a revamp of a relatively new library? Especially with the invention of computers and smartphones and the internet that basically make the need for libraries a rare encounter. 

I noticed that all big expenditure proposals lack economic analysis, usage statistics and alternative options. This Board and the County Administration seem absolutely disinterested in this type of evaluations. The example of the library is so telling at a time when digital technologies and remote access are so common.

5.) Do you support the additional $40 million in debt for added parks and wetlands? 

I propose that there should be legal action to stop this proposal as it is in the 2026 Ballot lacking due process. There were no public hearings, media announcements of bond issue hearings, and the County Ballot itself in this matter lacks transparency, in fact as written circumvents  the MN Statute 475 that manages  Municipal Bond Issuances.

6.) What are the top issues for you to address in Washington County?

Lack of transparency and ignorance by the Board in legal and technical issues. Lack of community engagement. And to be realistic and respect the opinion that 50%  of the residents think that they are not getting what they are paying in taxes. The  Board needs to accept this reality and become open and transparent.

7.) Where can people find out more about you?

Edisonvizuete.com

Repeat Sex Offender Convicted on Sexual Assault of Autistic Child in Woodbury

In July of 2024 Woodbury police investigated an allegation of a sexual assault on a 16 year old child. The suspect was Lawson Tolentine Waples Ward, DOB 1/3/1980, of St. Paul. 

Police arrived to the extended stay in Woodbury to where the mother of the child explained her autistic child with a mental capacity of a six or seven year old was sexually assaulted by Ward. In the police report she stated she had been in a relationship for ten years with him

and had recently broke up. Ward would still hang out with the child because he was seen as a father figure to the child. The day of the incident the child reported to police that Ward made him do "weird things" and Ward "showed his dick" and had the child touch it according to the police report. The victim also said that Ward kissed on the lips and their chest and gave alcohol to drink. Also in the police report, it said Ward was a convicted sex offender in New Jersey. 

Police wrote it up as sexual assault on a victim mentally impaired and giving alcohol to a minor. In 2026 Ward was convicted of Criminal sexual conduct 3rd and 4rth degree. His sentence was 15 years in prison, life registration as a sex offender, and $140 fine, plus additional requirements. 

If you hope to see any law change, continue to contact law makers.

Find your legislator here: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder

See our 8 bill ideas to ask legislators to write

Tell legislators to also make the sex offender list public like 47 other states. All but MN, DC, and Maine have public lists. Maine only has 2,700 sex offenders in their state though. Compared to over 20,000 in MN. 26 states register sex offenders for life, MN lists most sex offenders to 10 years max.

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's public data anyone can get allows the public to decide from the evidence if they appreciate knowing such data. Such as what these sex offender's last known address is. No representation is made that the individuals listed here are currently on the state's offenders registry. All names presented here were gathered at a past date. Some persons listed might no longer be registered offenders and others might have been added. Some addresses or other data might no longer be current. Owners of Washington County Watchdog assume no responsibility (and expressly disclaim responsibility) for updating this site to keep information current or to ensure the accuracy or completeness of any posted information. All data was only accurate at the time of posting per Government sources provided. Accordingly, you should confirm the accuracy and completeness of all posted information before making any decision related to any data presented on this site. The information on this web site is made available solely to protect the public. Anyone who uses this information to commit a crime or to harass an offender or his or her family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability. Message us if you can verify us of an address or change in data.  Washington County Watchdog is not responsible for the accuracy of the content shared, refer to our linked government sources.     

DEFENDANT: Lawson Tolentine Waples Ward 

DOB: 1/3/1980 

CITY/RESIDENCE: Saint Paul, MN 

AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department 

JUDGE: Juanita C. Freeman 

COURT NUMBER: 82-CR-24-2660 

CONVICTION: Count 1: Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree. Count 2: Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree 

SENTENCE: Count 1: Commit to Commissioner of Corrections for 180 months with 243 days credited; $140 fine with surcharge and fees payable by 06/24/2027; predatory offender registration required, life; supply DNA sample; do not ship/transport/possess or receive firearm or ammo. Count 2: No sentence pronounced.

Woodbury, Level 3 Rapist Moves 3 Blocks Away from School

 A level 3 sex offender named Antonio Edward Gonsor, DOB 12/12/1979 is moving to the street Aberdeen Curve, Woodbury, MN 55125. Roughly 320 convicted predatory offenders live in Washington County. He now lives less than three blocks from Woodbury High School and Ojibway park. Democrats blocked a bill proposing to limit how close sex offenders could live to a school in 2023. Democrats said if we limit the distance they can live from schools that "there would be no where for them to live." 

Gonsor was convicted in Ramsey County in 2012 for the rape of a female with force. The

victim lived in the same complex as him. Only 300 or so, out of the over 20,000 convicted sex offenders in MN are categorized the worst level 3. So the crime maybe had something extremely bad about it. It's unfortunate one rape is categorized more bad than another in the criminal justice system.

This story is exactly why the rape laws need to be stronger with better sentencing guidelines for one. The blame can be placed on the all democrat controlled legislature and Governor.  Our own Ethan Cha of Woodbury says: 

Democrat Ethan Cha Responds Saying Weak Child Rape Laws Are Fine

See some of the many cases in the last several years of those convicted of child sex crimes with weak sentences and plea deals:

Homicidal Rapist in Forest Lake Found With Child Porn Who Self Recorded Rape Now Convicted, Only 4 years  

Only 30 Days in Jail and Probation for Child Molester Who Had Sex with Lake Elmo Child 

Only a Year in Jail for Man who Gang Raped 14 Year Old Child in Woodbury

Man Who Repeatedly Raped a Child in Oakdale, Raped another Child While on Probation and Will be Out in 2 Years 

No Mandated Jail time for Convicted St Paul Park Man who Sexually Assaulted a Child  

Man Who Gang Raped Woodbury Child Only Gets 5 years Probation and 10 Months Prison 

Only 3.5 Years for Man Who Held Down & Raped Bayport Child While Taunting Her 

Just One Year in Jail for Oakdale Man Accused of Raping Under 14 Year Old

In Minnesota, left wing law makers and prosecutors believe child rapists can be "rehabilitated," do not need to be monitored, and can become good members of society. The evidence is the fact only several hundred of the over 20,000 convicted rapists in Minnesota are confined in prison. Most only do a couple years and then are released without further monitoring. More information here:

Watchdog Review of Each of the Fifty States Sex Offender Laws Finds Minnesota Ranked the Most Unsafe  

If you hope to see any law change, continue to contact law makers.

Find your legislator here: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder

See our 8 bill ideas to ask legislators to write

Tell legislators to also make the sex offender list public like 47 other states. All but MN, DC, and Maine have public lists. Maine only has 2,700 sex offenders in their state though. Compared to over 20,000 in MN. 26 states register sex offenders for life, MN lists most sex offenders to 10 years max.

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's public data anyone can get allows the public to decide from the evidence if they appreciate knowing such data. Such as what these sex offender's last known address is. No representation is made that the individuals listed here are currently on the state's offenders registry. All names presented here were gathered at a past date. Some persons listed might no longer be registered offenders and others might have been added. Some addresses or other data might no longer be current. Owners of Washington County Watchdog assume no responsibility (and expressly disclaim responsibility) for updating this site to keep information current or to ensure the accuracy or completeness of any posted information. All data was only accurate at the time of posting per Government sources provided. Accordingly, you should confirm the accuracy and completeness of all posted information before making any decision related to any data presented on this site. The information on this web site is made available solely to protect the public. Anyone who uses this information to commit a crime or to harass an offender or his or her family is subject to criminal prosecution and civil liability. Message us if you can verify us of an address or change in data.  Washington County Watchdog is not responsible for the accuracy of the content shared, refer to our linked government sources.     

Woodbury City Councilor Kim Wilson on Gold Line

 Here's Kim Wilson's, Woodbury MN city council member, and her full unedited response to a question regarding the half billion dollar Gold Line bus rapid transit line from Woodbury to St. Paul. 

We asked:

We wrote the following based on data directly from the deputy project manager for the Gold line Morgan Abbott. If you doubt the facts of the following please contact her. Most of the data can also be found by simply using google.

 

Our Woodbury stop is one of 16 on the $500 million dollar Gold Line. In its best month it had 2,500 monthly rides from our station since it opened over a year ago. We spent over $100 million from Washington County alone on the capital costs and we spend $13.1 million a year on it now for our one Woodbury stop. We need yearly rides, so multiply 2,500 by 12 months a year and you get 30,000 rides a year. Divide that by two because each rider takes two rides a day. Take that and divide it by the $13.1 million and you get $86 per rider a day. Multiply that by 20 working days in a month, that's $1,700 a month per rider. That's $20,640 a year per rider from the Woodbury station. The average car loan is 5 years, with a $1700 a month payment (7% interest) we could buy each rider a $87,000 car every 5 years for cheaper...

 

Did you support this bus line? Are you disappointed with the poor ridership and great cost? Do you support expanding on this route deeper into Woodbury as it has been proposed?

Kim Wilson responded:

Thanks for the opportunity to respond.

The Gold Line has never been a project I supported, even before I was elected to the City Council. My concerns started with the cost. Spending roughly $500 million on a nine-mile bus line was, in my view, an excessive investment for the transportation need it was intended to address.

If additional bus service was needed to connect people to and from Woodbury, we could have expanded bus service without constructing an expensive, dedicated transit corridor. That would have provided something the Gold Line cannot - flexibility. Transportation needs change as communities grow, but a dedicated bus lane locks service into a fixed route. As Woodbury continues to expand south and eastward with new housing, retail, employment, and warehouse development, the transportation cannot simply move with those changing needs.

I also questioned the assumptions used to justify the project. Ridership projections relied on data collected before COVID dramatically changed commuting patterns, and express bus riders were included in those projections. The quarter-mile radius used to identify potential riders also did not always reflect the reality.  A person may live within a quarter mile of a station on a map, but highways and other physical barriers can make reaching that station difficult or impractical.

Supporters will point to the bridge and other infrastructure improvements Woodbury received as benefits of the Gold Line. Those improvements have value, but I don't believe we needed a $500 million transit project in order to make necessary infrastructure investments.

Supporters will also say this did not cost Woodbury taxpayers any money - yet Woodbury taxpayers have spent millions on landscaping, lighting, and other improvements associated with the Gold Line corridor. There is also the hidden costs that are harder to track - the significant amount of city staff time devoted to planning, coordinating, overseeing, and now managing issues related to the Gold Line.

My opposition to the Gold Line has never meant opposition to public transportation. It is about whether we are solving transportation problems in the most practical and fiscally responsible way. I would have preferred a flexible bus system that could respond to actual ridership and changing development patterns without requiring a massive infrastructure investment.

For me, the question has always been simple: Could we have provided effective transportation service for substantially less money while maintaining the flexibility to adapt as Woodbury grows? I believe the answer is yes.

Just a footnote regarding the expansion to Minneapolis:

I am concerned that extending the Gold Line to Minneapolis could come at the expense of the highly utilized express bus service that currently provides Woodbury commuters with a more direct trip to downtown Minneapolis. As the transit system changes, we need to make sure we aren't eliminating or reducing the successful transportation options that residents are already using.

The decision to extend the Gold Line to Minneapolis also reinforces one of my major concerns with the original project. It's my understanding, the Minneapolis extension will largely use existing I-94 bus-only shoulders and existing transit infrastructure rather than constructing another expensive dedicated bus corridor. If that more flexible and cost-effective approach makes sense between St. Paul and Minneapolis, why wasn't a similar approach seriously considered from the beginning for service to and from Woodbury?

Public transportation should be designed around the needs of the people who use it. That means preserving successful express service, providing flexibility as communities grow and travel patterns change, and making sure taxpayers are getting the greatest transportation benefit for the dollars we spend.

Woodbury City Councilor Steve Morris on Gold Line

 Here's Steve Morris, Woodbury MN city council member, and his full unedited response to a question regarding the half billion dollar Gold Line bus rapid transit line from Woodbury to St. Paul. 

We asked:

We wrote the following based on data directly from the deputy project manager for the Gold line Morgan Abbott. If you doubt the facts of the following please contact her. Most of the data can also be found by simply using google.

 

Our Woodbury stop is one of 16 on the $500 million dollar Gold Line. In its best month it had 2,500 monthly rides from our station since it opened over a year ago. We spent over $100 million from Washington County alone on the capital costs and we spend $13.1 million a year on it now for our one Woodbury stop. We need yearly rides, so multiply 2,500 by 12 months a year and you get 30,000 rides a year. Divide that by two because each rider takes two rides a day. Take that and divide it by the $13.1 million and you get $86 per rider a day. Multiply that by 20 working days in a month, that's $1,700 a month per rider. That's $20,640 a year per rider from the Woodbury station. The average car loan is 5 years, with a $1700 a month payment (7% interest) we could buy each rider a $87,000 car every 5 years for cheaper...

 

Did you support this bus line? Are you disappointed with the poor ridership and great cost? Do you support expanding on this route deeper into Woodbury as it has been proposed?

Steve Morris responded:

Always a pleasure to hear from you.  I'm writing to you as an individual councilmember and NOT on behalf of the city of the council as a body.  You agreed to share responses in their entirety, and I trust you will honor your word.  

Yes, I have long been a supporter of the Gold Line.  I supported it as a business representative originally, as a volunteer and co-chair on the Community and Business Advisory Committee to MetCouncil Gold Line Committee.  My primary support surrounds the utter failure and lack of public transportation to the east metro and Woodbury.  I spent significant time talking to businesses and managers of businesses, and their number one problem was and is staffing.  Particularly in the entry-level and lower-wage-earning jobs.  Take it one step further, and as a manager and business owner of convenience stores myself, I knew firsthand that a primary hurdle for employees was transportation.   Putting yourself in the shoes of an employee in those roles, your income primarily goes to housing and food.  Due to housing costs (apartments, house, whatever) taking a considerable percentage of income, and even prior to the inflation post-COVID, grocery costs and the general cost of living have been higher.  That means transportation takes a lower priority, and the reliance on alternative transportation options is even more critical. 

Personally, I never saw the Gold Line as a primary transportation choice for Woodbury residents.  I see it, and support it as a workforce mover.  When I managed the SuperAmerica off Woodlane, and then Cnty Road 19 later, the vast majority of employees were not from Woodbury.   While I don't argue your math in your note, I ask you (and you promised to post my response in its entirety)......What's your answer?  How do you propose to get the workforce to Woodbury?  Is the answer to buy everybody a car, because it's simply not in the cards for every person in the state to own a car.  The wages at the entry levels and lower levels don't support enough to live on, so.... what's the answer?  Raise the wages?  Okay, that then raises the cost of goods sold, which is passed on to the customer (you and me), and then we pay more, which leaves us with less, and the cycle continues. 

This comes down to the role of government.  And in some cases, the role of government is to step in with social programs (like social security) and general welfare (I'm sure your readers don't mind having a fire department paid for by taxes, or paramedics, or police.  I'm confident your readers enjoy driving on paved streets, getting safe water out of their faucets, and are really appreciative when you flush the toilet, that it goes somewhere other than your basement and of course, in Minnesota, when it snows, we all appreciate having the roads plowed despite the end-of-driveway mountains).  Transportation is one of those areas where, at times, public transportation (subsidized) is an element of the greater good.  

I'm all ears at alternatives that address the root cause.  Steve.morris@woodburymn.gov. 

Steve Morris 

Councilmember

8301 Valley Creek Road | Woodbury, MN 55125