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

In February of 2017 Dan Kevin Zambrano, age 19, last known address 908 Russell Street St Paul, MN 55101, was charged with several rape charges 6 months after violently raping a 14 year old girl with 3 others in a Woodbury townhouse in August of 2016. Why it took 6 months to charge them is not known. Unfortunately all the charges were dropped and he got a ridiculous plea deal it appears. One of the other men was recently convicted for his role in the rape, Parker Cole Running Jarvis, also got a plea deal. He only got 5 years probation and 10 months in prison it appears. see: 

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

Plea deals like this are extremely common in Washington County and across the State and

Dan Zambrano, picture from
his Public Facebook account

only Legislators have the power to fix the broken Minnesota Laws.

Dan Zambrano, or "Dan Zam" as he likes to go by on social media, was initially charged with strong 1st degree rape charges that would have got him over 30 years in prison according to the criminal complaint:

DATE: 2/10/2017 

DEFENDANT: Dan Kevin Zambrano 

DOB: 9/2/1998 

MN AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department 

CHARGE: 

I: Aiding and Abetting Criminal Sex Conduct-1st Degree-Penetration - Accomplice Uses/Force/Coerce; 

II: Aiding and Abetting Criminal Sex Conduct-1st Degree-Penetration -Cause Personal Injury;

III: Aiding and Abetting Criminal Sex Conduct-3rd Degree-Force or Coercion;

IV: Aiding and Abetting Criminal Sex Conduct-3rd Degree-Victim 13-15 Actor >24m older

He also goes by Dan Kevin on facebook.

Zambrano was added to our running list of charged and convicted sex offenders:Washington County Sex Offenders. Names, Photos, Addresses.

Unfortunately it appears the Washington County prosecutors folded and gave him an even worse plea deal than Parker Jarvis. They got him to plead guilty to 5th degree Criminal Sexual Conduct in order to avoid trial it appears.  This conviction fits that of a drunk at a bar who slaps someone's butt... not for someone who gang rapes a 14 year old child.

Something could have gone wrong in the prosecution of the case to explain this injustice of a plea deal. However, it is doubtful because if there was lack of evidence than all the charges would have been dismissed. We don't know because the County does not answer questions like this.

What is known, is all that is important. The fact a 14 year old child was gang raped and one of the guys who did it is walking with a year in Jail, with 279 days credit for time served, a $1,573 fine, and register as a sex offender for the maximum in Minnesota 10 years. 

Citizens must contact their legislators if you expect to see this change. Find your legislator here: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder

The problem is further explained in our related article: Watchdog Review of Each of the Fifty States Sex Offender Laws Finds Minnesota Ranked the Most Unsafe

It's clear that just because a child rapist is charged with heavy 1st degree rape charges, does not mean they will be convicted of it. Therefore, if the punishment for ALL criminal sexual conduct crimes is raised than plea deals will be less weak. 

Aside from this article his name would not have come up on google for his actions. Tell legislators to also make the sex offender list public like nearly every other State in the County does. All but MN and Maine have public lists. Maine only has 2,700 sex offenders in their state though. Compared to nearly 20,000 in MN. see: Rampant Sex Crime on Children, in Just 2yrs, 10 Cases From County Alone, 8 Simple Laws to Update 

For many more examples from Washington County of convicted sex offenders still on our streets see our other posts here:
wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/

For the growing list of the last know location of convicted sex offenders in Washington County see: 

Washington County Sex Offenders. Names, Photos, Addresses.

DATE: 2/21/2018 

DEFENDANT: Dan Kevin Zambrano 

DOB: 9/2/1998 

MN AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department 

JUDGE: Douglas B. Meslow 

CONVICTION: 5th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct 

SENTENCE: Committed to the Commissioner of Corrections for 365 days with credit for 279 days forthwith, credit for time served; fine with surcharge and fees; restitution ordered in the amount of $1,573.09, joint and several; register as a predatory offender for 10 years. 

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's data 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.  

Man Who Tried to Have Sex with 14 and 12 year old at Lake Elmo Park, Only gets a Year in Prison and 5 years Probation

Joe Perkins

In September of 2016 Joseph Thor Perkins, number 29 on our list, began communicating with who he thought was a 14 year old child online, according to the criminal complaint. The child was actually the detectives with the Washington County Sheriff's office conducting a sex sting; but he appeared to have no clue. He spoke to who he thought was a 14 year old and her 12 year old cousin for several weeks continuing to ask over and over to meet to have sex: "he repeatedly stated he knew she was 14 years old and wanted to have sex with her any way" [...] "He also at one time suggested she bring her 12 year old cousin along."

"Child 1" stated that she was 14 years old. The response was, "that's not too young. In my opinion, age is just a number and pussy is just pussy."

It's disturbing how open the child predators are speaking to children like this in every single example with the dozens of men caught in the child sex stings over the last few years in Washington County. Likely this comes because they have become emboldened over the years of meeting and raping children to the point they've lost the fear of being caught. 
This is no different for Joseph Perkins in this case, who admitted in conversation with undercover police acting as the child that he "had sex or done sexual things with quite a few underage pussies."

On October 27, 2016 Perkins made arrangements to meet at Lake Elmo Park Reserve in Washington County in order to have sex with the 14 year old child in his truck the next day at 8am in exchange for $250. When he arrived he was told to drive up to the boat launch and did just that. Then he was arrested and eventually charged with soliciting a child for sexual conduct it appears.

Nearly two years later, in Dakota County District Court, Joseph Perkins was convicted for only possession of Child porn. According the BCA website, it appears he was sent to St. Cloud Prison for just over a year (15 months) with 213 days time served in jail between the crime and conviction. When he gets out he will only have 5 years of probation and therefore only 5 years on the sex offender registry it appears.

According to the MN Department Of Corrections there are “17,400 registered (active) predatory offenders” in MN Like Joe Perkins and worse. That is only 2% of registered and “active” sex offenders who are required to be on the not public registry. 98% of sex offenders are not on the registry because 10 years is the max time in MN.  Plus, 75% of sex offenders have not been assigned to a sex offender level to even make the not public list so you can understand there’s a lot more than 17,400 sex offenders in MN.

The solution is in Minnesota law makers hands to make it so no sex crime against a child goes without mandated prison time and lifetime sex offender registration. Currently most child rapists rarely do more than a year in jail and no more than 10 years on the sex offender registry. See more about the solution here: Rampant Sex Crime on Children, in Just 2yrs, 10 Cases From County Alone, 8 Simple Laws to Update

The problem is further explained in our related article: 

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

Please contact your legislators: www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder

For many more examples from Washington County of convicted sex offenders still on our streets see our other posts here:
wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/

AKA: Joe Perkins
DOB: 9/25/1981
CITY/RESIDENCE:
According to the criminal complaint he lives across the street from an elementary school, a middle school, and a park at his last known address.
5761 143rd Avenue N 

Apple Valley, MN 55124
DATE: 10/31/2016
CHARGE:
I: Solicit Child or Believe to be a Child Through Electronic Communication to Engage in Sexual Conduct;
Maximum Sentence: 3 years and $5,000
Convicted on 03/22/2018
617.247.4(a) | Possess Pornographic Work-Computer Disk/Electronic/Magnetic/Optical Image w/Porn-Felony
Sentence:
MN Correctional Facility - St. Cloud: 15 month(s), 5 years in prison if he violates probation
Dakota County Jail: 213 Days time served
Probation Dakota County Community Corrections: 5Y

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's data 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.   

The Root Cause of Out of Control Spending, Why Convention Of States Would Change Nothing.

Thought it would be appropriate to follow up on previous article regarding HF 2690 for a Convention of States. Representative Matt Dean and now Representative Linda Runbeck from Washington County are co-signers on the bill. Also, Senator Roger Chamberlain authored the companion Bill SF3490. 

We do not need a Convention of States (Response to Rep. Matt Dean co-signing House File 2690) 

There is a continuing enlightenment that we do, in fact, have an out of control tax and spend federal and state governments…no arguments there.

There is also disagreement on how to address this out of control mess.

“Congress has not unlimited powers…but only those specifically

Thomas Jefferson on Enumerated Powers

enumerated”.  ~ Thomas Jefferson.   Those powers are defined in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution

In 1995 Congressman John Shadegg introduced a bill in the House called the Enumerated Powers Act.  This was a simple one page bill that says…"To require Congress to specify the source of authority under the United States Constitution for the enactment of laws, and for other purposes”.  The authority would be found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. 

This bill has been re-introduced and ignored for over 20 years.  Why??  For all intents and purposes this says that a majority of elected representatives who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, have turned their backs on that oath by the time they take a seat for at least a century.

It is simply not rational to think that amending the Constitution with the convention of States will be the magic bullet to all of a sudden inspire unprincipled, unethical, immoral career elected representatives to honor their oaths any more than they do now.

I submit that the Constitution is the not the problem…the Root Cause is the failure to honor the Constitution on EVERY issue, EVERY time.

When is the last time you heard a candidate for office focus their campaign on supporting the Constitution??

Leon Moe

We do not need a Convention of States (Response to Rep. Matt Dean co-signing House File 2690)

Part 2 of this post: The Root Cause of Out of Control Spending, Why Convention Of States Would Change Nothing.
Post by Leon Moe of Cottage Grove. He's a disabled Vietnam Vet and Washington County Watchdog is proud to share:

There is a national movement to establish a "Convention of States" to amendment the Constitution, including right here in Minnesota with HF 2690. One of the State Representatives sponsoring the bill is from Washington County. Representative Matt Dean (R), who is known for his strong fiscal conservative record, as well as championing the reform of MNSure after it killed at least one Minnesotan, Gail Dunker. 38 states are required to assemble the convention according to article 5 of the US Constitution.

(response from Representative Matt Dean to four questions asked at the end of this post)

When they assembled in Philadelphia for the 1st Convention their original intent was to simply amend the Articles of Confederation and they ended up writing a whole new Constitution. Keep that in mind.

A proposed Amendment in HF 2690  is a BBA (Balanced Budget Amendment). Right now we know that Gun Control is a hot topic…could there be a proposal to Amend the 2nd Amendment or a host of other Amendments?  John Malcolm thinks it could happen, he's the Senior Legal Fellow at The Heritage Foundation ( a source many consider the undisputed expert on the Constitution). They published a paper stating the history and risks of opening a convention of States. Stating it could cause a "Runaway Convention." That there's no rule to say the convention is limited to the topics originally stated in a well intended bill like HF 2690. 

The Constitution is not the problem…the problem is the miserable failure of our elected representatives to honor their oaths to support and defend the Constitution…on EVERY issue, EVERY time.

One indication of this failure were the awards for voting on the “basis for a constitutionally limited government established to sustain life, liberty, justice, property rights and free enterprise” presented by the LEA (Legislative Evaluation Assembly) 3, repeat 3, out of 134 in the Mn House received awards (Matt Dean included) and none from the Mn Senate. Another indication of this failure is that 30% or the bills passed in the Minnesota legislature in 2017 were MSBs or (Multi Subject Bills), which is a direct violation of the Minnesota State Constitution Article 4, Section 17.. ”No law shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed in its title”.

If you would be interested in a list of those MSB bills so you can check to see how your rep voted send an email with 2017MSB in the subject line to lmoe47@gmail.com. What kind of an Amendment or alteration to the Constitution could we possibly add that would inspire elected representatives to honor their oaths any more than they do now?

“Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention…I should tremble for the result of a second” –James Madison (11/2/1788)

Leon Moe
Cottage Grove

Questions for Representative Matt Dean: 

1.) What's your response regarding the concerns mentioned by some of the greatest constitutional scholars on the dangers of opening a convention of states? Specifically, the potential for a "runaway convention." 

2.) How can our Republican majority State house and Senate be trusted to set limits on the reckless spending of the Federal Government when our own GOP legislature passed an over a billion dollar bonding bill and 30% of the bills passed were multi subject bills (MSBs) in 2017? These MSBs are a direct violation of the Minnesota State Constitution Article 4, Section 17.. ”No law shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed in its title”.  (One bill, one vote)

3.) Say you get the 38 states to ratify the constitution and the convention goes exactly to plan. Who's to say the changes won't be circumvented just like the other powers of the constitution? (10th amendment to name one) 

4.) What do you say to those who suggest energy would be better spent calling on the feds to honor the current US constitution rather than changing it and having them still ignore it? ie: Sue the federal government for violating the constitution like Texas has. They've won seven law suits against the Obama administration's unconstitutional over reach of federal power.

Answer from Representative Matt Dean:

From: Matt Dean 
Date: Sun, Mar 11, 2018 at 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: Rep Dean. Your Bill on Convention of States

Thanks. I'm glad you emailed me regarding this. I'm also glad you have so seriously thought through the issue and its implications.  I wish more people would. 

Debt will crush our republic through a weakening ability to provide national security. We can not continue to steal from our children and grandchildren especially if that comes at the expense of their liberty.  But that's how much it costs.  I have been convinced that there will come a time when we must push away from the table and sober ourselves. We can do it sooner under our own terms, or later under China's. 

I'm less concerned about a runaway convention than I am with runaway congress. 

The swamp will prevail if we leave it to the congress. You would think that if any congress could cut spending it would be this one. They were put in charge out of frustration of the middle class. They can't even pass a single bill to slow down Obamacare (let alone kill it) All the while congratulating themselves for passing a tax cut that protects corporate loopholes but takes away deductions for average joes. Sheesh.  Anyway that's my rationale. I am always open to new information and an willing to change my position when I learn I am wrong. Your opinion is important to me and I think the issue deserves debate. Thanks again

Matt 

Fugitive Child Predator Who Police Report Says Was Caught With Pants Down and About to Rape Child, Found Living at Woodbury Hotel

This is just one of many posts out of Washington County about child predators just like this roaming in the shadows, getting caught, and being released back into Washington County. See: wcwatchdog.com/local-sex-offender-articles/ 

Registered child predatory offender and convicted kidnapper William Lee Sjerven who is living in Woodbury has been charged with violating predatory offender registration requirements. According to the criminal complaint, Woodbury police pulled the car he was riding in over for speeding, they ran his ID and found he was wanted for failing to do his required check ins. He showed his address was room 139 at the Keys Inn, formerly known as the Red Roof Inn. Currently it's rated as a 2 star hotel according to hotels.com. It's off the 494 freeway and Valley Creek road in Woodbury. 

William Sjerven

According to the State BCA, In 1999 he was convicted of kidnapping and served 10 years. In 2013 he was charged with sexually assaulting a 12 year old girl and got a plea deal down to only child endangerment from the incident. He did only a year in jail and just 3 years probation for essentially getting caught with his pants down about to rape the child. The Mankato Free Press covered the story stating:

"The girl told authorities that Sjerven said to her, "I am going to do weird things to you."

Sjerven touched the girl's buttocks over her pants, the girl told authorities, and then picked her up and carried her outside to the backyard where he pulled down her pants and attempted to engage in intercourse.

Before that could happen, however, an adult came outside and observed the pair lying. The girl then ran to her father, who was inside the house. Her father retrieved a shotgun and pointed it at Sjerven."

Sjerven lived in Florida for a short time where he was a registered sex offender (see picture) and had his full name, address, photo, description, etc posted publicly on their sex offender website like 47 states do (26 of which post exact addresses). MN is not one of these states, the list is not public. The fact he moved back to live in the shadows of Minnesota is another example of how convicted child predators are drawn to live here.

It's horrifying that someone who was seconds away from raping a 12 year old girl, had it not been for the father with his shotgun, would get a plea deal in Minnesota down to child endangerment from the prosecutor. A crime he only did a year in jail and 3 years probation. Unfortunately, terrible plea deals like this are made all the time. In Washington County alone:
Rampant Sex Crime on Children, in Just 2yrs, 10 Cases From County Alone, 8 Simple Laws to Update 

If convicted, he will likely serve little, to no, jail time (typically 30 days) for violating parole and simply get a small fine and time added to probation. The maximum time a sex offender can be registered in MN is 10 years. It's the weakest maximum in the Country. Read more here: 

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

Legislators to contact in Washington County to tell them to make MN sex offender laws stronger see our 8 Simple Laws to Update:

Matt Dean (38B, R)
651-296-3018
Email: rep.matt.dean@house.mn

Bob Dettmer (39A, R)
651-296-4124
Email: rep.bob.dettmer@house.mn

Kelly Fenton (53B, R)
651-296-1147
Email: rep.kelly.fenton@house.mn

Keith Franke (54A, R)
651-296-4342
Email: rep.keith.franke@house.mn

Tony Jurgens (54B, R)
651-296-3135
Email: rep.tony.jurgens@house.mn

Kathy Lohmer (39B, R)
651-296-4244
Email: rep.kathy.lohmer@house.mn

Linda Runbeck (38A, R)
651-296-2907
Email: rep.linda.runbeck@house.mn

JoAnn Ward (53A, DFL)
651-296-7807
Email: rep.joann.ward@house.mn

Roger C. Chamberlain (38, R) 
651-296-1253 
E-mail: sen.roger.chamberlain@senate.mn

Karin Housley (39, R) 

651-296-4351 E-mail: sen.karin.housley@senate.mn

Susan Kent (53, DFL)  
651-296-4166 
E-mail: sen.susan.kent@senate.mn

Karla Bigham (54, DFL)  651-297-8060 sen.karla.bigham@senate.mn

Charles W. Wiger (43, DFL)  651-296-6820  E-mail: sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn

DATE: 2/16/2018 

DEFENDANT: William Lee Sjerven 

DOB: 10/22/1971 

LAST KNOWN ADDRESS:

1806 Wooddale Drive

#139

Woodbury, MN 55125

CHARGE: I: Predatory Offender-Knowingly Violates Registration Req. or Intentionally Provides False Information 

Reported Names
SJERVEN BILLY LEE
LAROCHE BRANDON 
LAROCHE BRANDON ALLEN
SJERVEN WILLIAM LE
SJERVEN WILLIAM LEE
SJERVEN BILL

*In no way do we wish harm to the convicted sex offenders outside the judgement of the law. Posting each criminal's data 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.  

Gubernatorial Hopeful, Mayor Stephens Tries to Defend Tax and Spend Record While Facing Accusations of Trying to Curb Public Data Requests

Mary Giuliani Stephe

The Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani  Stephens hopes to secure the Republican endorsement for the Governor's race. However, to do this she needs the public to be unaware of her tax and spend record as mayor. If there's a single vote from her against a tax, spending, or debt increase in Woodbury we've yet to find it; likewise so was she unable to directly say she has voted against any specific tax and spending measure when I asked. Under Mary Stephens over ten years in elected office for the city, the rate of city spending has increased over four times faster than the population (83% vs 20%). 

Spending increase votes by Mary Stephens

It was difficult information to find because Woodbury only posts 3 years of financial reports for the public. All the cities we looked into in Washington County post their approved budgets and financial reports as far back as 20 years. Others go over 40 years back, like Cottage Grove goes back to 1976 and Stillwater to 1972! 

The Woodbury Bulletin broke the news that the city is lobbying the legislature to narrow free and open access to government data.

Stephens and the city council want to charge residents for data and be able to publicly display their name and what data they requested. Coincidentally this correlates with the timing of the mayor's announcement to run for Governor. Clearly this looks to be a political maneuver to prevent opposition research rather than her claim it's to prevent abuses that we are told are occurring. 

we asked Mayor Mary Stephens if she had a response to this allegation and if she could defend her tax and spend record. 

Stephens response was "There is no attempt to “curb research” into any work product of the city. " Going on to say, "we are taking pro-active steps to ensure those requesting government data can get that information as timely as possible. To that end, I have instructed our city to meet with Mr. Don Gemberling to learn from him how we can make this process even easier while saving taxpayer dollars." She didn't explain how charging citizens to get data on their government and publishing their names was making "this process even easier." or how it saves the tax payers money for this non-issue. 

The questions were led with the fact between the year 2015 and 2017 the city only had 68 requests for data, most of them being from the Woodbury Bulletin. None of the requests appeared to be "fishing expeditions" as she described. The full response from the Mayor can be found at the end of this article. Credit for finding the data on the insignificant number of requests for data goes to the non-partisan Minnesota Coalition on Government Information (MNCOGI).

Charging citizens to look at data is no small fee as citizens are at the mercy of the whatever the Government wants to charge. In 2015 I investigated why the County needed to spend $20 million on a public works building so I requested to review specific parts of the plans. They responded it'd cost me $1,313 for staff time and material despite the fact I didn't want to see every single piece of paper on it. But they wanted to scare me off with a big quote. Or in the least, swamp me with a table full of thousands of pages of data, which they did. They claimed providing the specific parts of the plans to review would cost me more money in staff time looking for the data than if they just brought all of it in. The same thing happened when I investigated how the County lost a law suit of $165,000 for a road construction mistake. They again wanted to charge me hundreds of dollars to see all the court files when I only requested to see the 7 pages on the court ruling. This is why this issue is so important. Not to mention the fact we have other volunteers for our page who request data on sex offender cases and publish articles and posts... if Mary Stephens had her way, these watchdogs would have their names publicly listed.

Mayor Stephens was elected in 2007 to the Woodbury City Council, in 2010 she was elected Mayor. Aside from 2012, city taxes have gone up every year and the

Woodbury yearly tax increases

only no vote on the yearly tax increases has been council member Chris Burns. The mayor has supported the new city lodging tax, the excessive $22 million dollar Bielenberg Sports Center, the nightmare Gateway corridor/Gold line that does not have State support for funding and the Feds have announced their pulling funding for it too. Yet her support for the corridor on the death spiral continues no matter the cost shift to local tax payers in Woodbury. Washington County DOUBLED the transit sales tax in June of 2017 to pay for the added costs.  She even used misinformation to energize support of the corridor after Representative Runbeck (R) proposed oversight to the Met Council who are unelected and yet allocating tens of millions of dollars for these corridors every year. Still today she maintains support of the Gold Line stating that it's $420 million dollar price tag as a bus line was cheaper than the billion dollar light rail option. This is despite the fact Metro Transit has a $9 million dollar express bus upgrade that would outperform the Gold Line for hundreds of millions less:  Gateway Corridor vs Metro Transit: How State's $9 million Route Upgrade Could Replace the Gateway Corridor

So we asked her, do you have a response to those of us who can't find one proposal or vote from you to shrink the taxes and spending in Woodbury? Her response was that she is proud of her record. She dodged the question by going on about how the city is growing and how the city council is cutting some spending in 2018 that we found she supported instituting in the first place. Things like cutting the $88,000 a year assistant to the city administrator who himself makes $160,000 a year and cutting a $93,000 a year community liaison... In the real world, adding dozens of government programs, positions, taxes, and other spending increases for over ten years in office then cutting some for the political spotlight is not an example of a principled fiscal conservative. Besides, the 2018 budget and spending is still higher than 2017.

They even admit the public doesn't want these tax increases even if they get more services! In the 2018 adopted budget (with a 3.8% tax increase) the city reports "the percentage that would support a tax increase to maintain service levels remains below 50 percent." Yet they increased the tax anyway with Councilor Chris Burns as the sole no vote.

Another example of waste supported by Stephens is the golf course. The City has owned the 255 acre, 18 hole, Eagle Valley Golf Course since 1998. Most of it's history it's lost tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. They had the chance to sell it in 2012, but Mayor Stephen and the city council turned the offer down. Instead they spent nearly $900,000 to buy out the golf course debt so it could claim it was making a profit over it's $1.2 million year/ dollar operating cost (p.34). But as any government run business, they operate outside reality. Because if they actually paid for all the expenses of running a golf course they'd still be in debt. Because they don't pay for large expense items like new equipment and machinery. For now, such realities are a future goal according to the 2018 budget p. 201 "Long-term objectives as it relates to the [Golf course] budget will include maintaining reserves for the renewal and replacement of equipment or capital items" Profit or not, should the government be in the Golf Course industry competing against the privately owned golf course in Woodbury? A true republican would say that is not a core function of government.

Other areas of tax and spending with Mayor Stephens supports is:

In 2007, when she was first elected to city council, there were 44 city parks and 112 miles of paved trails (p.212), in a city of 36 square miles that's more than a park every mile! But it wasn't enough, the city is up to 3,400 acres of park space across 55 parks, 140 miles of trails, three fishing piers and a swimming beach (p.36).  When is it enough? They're nice, but cost millions a year to maintain. Just putting in trail map signs in the parks is going to cost $156,000 (p.46).  Parks have 
become 19.6% of the city budget (p.65)! Costing tax payers $6,695,800 a year to maintain (p.68).

There's dozens more examples of waste started or ramped up under her watch with her vote, more than I have time to list in this already long article. So please do not be fooled by Mary Giuliani Stephens on the campaign trail as she claims to be a fiscal conservative claiming that she's against wasteful state spending like in the Met Council as she states on her campaign page:  "For too long the Metropolitan Council has overemphasized light rail transit, spending billions on rail lines that can only move a tiny fraction of people and not goods and services." If she believed her own words she'd shut the Gold Line down while she still can; because it too, even with it's own ridership prediction, will move less than 

5% of traffic off of the I-94 freeway. See more here:  The Gateway Corridor, Big Promises, Little Evidence

2018 Spending: $84,128,680 (p.55)
2017 Spending: $81,495, 686  (p.55) 

2016 Spending: $77,975,717  (p.45)

2015 Spending $63,201,759  (p.187)

2014 Spending $64,699,849 (p.177)

2013 Spending $64,590,398  (p.177)

2012 Spending $48,602,500  (p.177)

2011 Spending $49,363,551  (p.177)

2010 Spending $46,953,044 (p.152)

2009 Spending $46,808,081  (p.152)

2017 tax rate  35.1% (p.233)

2016 tax rate 32.4% (p.200)

2015 tax rate 31.1% (p.200)

2014  tax rate 35.4% (p.200)

2013 tax rate 36.6%  (p.200)

2012 tax rate 33.1%  (p.200)

2011 tax rate 32.2%  (p.200)

2010 tax rate 29.1%  (p.200)

2009 tax rate 27.4%  (p.200)

2008 tax rate 26.8%  (p.200)

2007 tax rate 26.7%  (p.200)

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sent: Monday, February 19, 2018
To: Stephens, Mary
Subject: Mayor Stephens. Comment on your tax and spend record and DPA fees?

Doing a post on your support of having citizens pay to obtain government data and have their names published to discourage requesting data.

You've been a Woodbury City councilor or Mayor for over ten years but only a month after announcing run for Governor you've decided that data requests to the city are costly and abusing staff resources. Yet from 2015 to 2017 the city only had 68 request for data, most of them being from the woodbury bulletin for soft ball news on police reports. None of the requests appeared to be "fishing expeditions" as you describe.

1.) Do you have comment about how this appears to be an attempt to curb research into your tax and spend record?

2.) Do you have a response to those of us who can't find one proposal or vote from you to shrink the taxes and spending in Woodbury?

3.) What tax decrease, spending decrease, or decrease in the size of government can you claim as something you championed for the residents of Woodbury?

Lastly, on your website you say:

"For too long the Metropolitan Council has overemphasized light rail transit, spending billions on rail lines that can only move a tiny fraction of people and not goods and services."

So do you no longer support the the nightmare Gateway corridor/Gold line that has not had State support for funding since 2011 and the Feds have announced their pulling funding for it too. Yet do you still support this corridor on the death spiral?  The cost is shifting more and more to local tax payers. Washington County DOUBLED the transit sales tax in June of 2017 to pay for the added costs.  

4.) Do you still support the Gateway Corridor?

Thanks for responses. They will be unedited full quotes if you decide to respond.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

note: inaccuracy in her response is the Legislature funded the corridor in 2014... they didn't, it was back door funded through the Met Council who received a lump sum to fund corridors like the Gateway Corridor. 

From: Stephens, Mary 
Date: Wed, Feb 21, 2018 
Subject: Re: Mayor Stephens. Comment on your tax and spend record and DPA fees?

Despite the obvious bias, tone and one-sided nature your questions clearly indicate, I am pleased to respond to your inquiries.

  

There is no attempt to “curb research” into any work product of the city. The Minnesota Data Practices Act is very clear that information of this nature is public. Please see Minnesota Statutes 13.01 – 13.90. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=13.  Every action taken by the City of Woodbury is in compliance with this law, and we are taking pro-active steps to ensure those requesting government data can get that information as timely as possible. To that end, I have instructed our city to meet with Mr. Don Gemberling to learn from him how we can make this process even easier while saving taxpayer dollars. Mr.Gemberling is the former Department of Administration official who oversaw state compliance with the Data Practices Act. He is a recognized expert in the field of transparency and governmental accountability.

I am proud of my record governing the city of Woodbury in a fiscally responsible manner. As one of the fastest growing cities in Minnesota, our goal has always been to provide needed services (roads, parks, public safety) while keeping government growth to a rate below the combined  population growth and inflation rate. Staff is provided with target based direction so budget and fund requests are restricted and confined up front in the budget process. There are many cuts from our budget. Here are several examples from 2018:

Community Liaison position - $93,000

Local Government Management Fellowship Program - $54,000

Tuition Reimbursement Program - $15,000

Police and Fire overtime - $24,700

Diesel Fuel Purchases - $33,000

All told, we eliminated over $549,000 in additional spending in 2018. I recently received my proposed tax statement from Washington County and the city portion of my tax is going down by 5%

In addition, we continue to keep our staffing level below our historic averages since I was elected in 2010 and our police staffing continues to be below state averages despite our delivering paramedic services as well. Staffing is the largest share of the city budget, and keeping firm control on the growth of staff is one way to keep our tax rates under control. We have worked with our development community to streamline the permitting process and have reduced our storm water fee charges.

Until it was dissolved, CTIB, (Counties Transit Improvement Board, created during the Pawlenty administration),  was collecting sales tax from Washington County residents for transit, with many hundreds of millions dedicated to light rail transit. Using these dollars for roads and bridges was not an option. I did not support light rail for Gateway but supported the bus rapid transit in this corridor because the cost was significantly less, it was flexible and adaptable to advancing technologies, added roads and bridges, and emergency vehicles could use the lane. Given the options, this was the fiscally responsible choice at that time.  

When CTIB was dissolved (which was the right decision as I never supported CTIB’s formation) the county took over collecting the sales tax as required by the agreement. Also, the state legislature did appropriate dollars to Gateway in 2014. Secondly, Washington County – not the city of Woodbury -- raised the wheelage tax.  

Please feel free to get back to me if you have additional questions.

Mary

Mary Giuliani Stephens

Mayor

City of Woodbury

8301 Valley Creek Road

Woodbury, MN 55125-3330

651.714-3576

mary.stephens@woodburymn.gov

twitter @mayorstephens