To the Editor:

In the 15 years I’ve lived in Brooklyn Park, I’ve seen this city go through many changes, and face many challenges. Never in my time here has our city been in better hands than it has under the strong leadership of Mayor Hollies Winston.

One of Hollies’ most impressive traits is his gift for seeing the world, first and foremost, through the lens of what’s possible, rather than simply what is. He saw potential for our city in terms of economic growth and the expansion of the city’s job opportunities, and under his leadership, the city was able to open the door for a new biotech district that is projected to create 5,000 to 10,000 jobs right here in the city, while also creating opportunities for housing growth.

As a dedicated father, Hollies understands that one of the most fundamental pillars of a community’s strength is its commitment to its youth. As a result, he explored funding options and found more than $6 million in resources from outside the city to help build the Zanewood Teen Center.

He was able to achieve both job growth and new opportunities for our youth, while at the same time keeping the city’s most recent tax levy at a reasonable level of 4.54%, versus the state average of over 8%.

Finally, Hollies knew that public safety was important to the citizens of Brooklyn Park. Through a collaborative effort with community members and the leadership of our police force, Hollies brought the community together in a commitment to ensure that our police department was properly funded with the proper resources. Today, the crime rate in Brooklyn Park has fallen to a 36 year low.

There are many more positive changes that Hollies Winston has brought to Brooklyn Park during his time as mayor. But maybe the most important thing is true leadership.

Let’s continue on this path, and help Hollies continue to make Brooklyn Park one of the truly great cities in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Please vote on or before Aug. 11 for Hollies Winston in the upcoming primary election, and in the Nov. 3 general election.

Ross Bennett

Brooklyn Park