ST. CLOUD — John W. Palmer, an outspoken critic of refugee resettlement, filed this week to run for the St. Cloud City Council Ward 1 seat held by Dave Masters.
Palmer is a former St. Cloud State University professor who has been presenting a series of talks in recent months about the cost of refugee resettlement to state and local governments. He's also leading a group of St. Cloud residents who are gathering signatures for a petition to put a resolution regarding refugee resettlement on the ballot this fall.
"I've chosen consciously to talk about 'we the people' because I really think the current council and the person I'm running against has forgotten that they are servants to the people," he said. "In our republican form of government, it's the people who are in charge."
Palmer earned a bachelor's degree in education from Illinois State University, a master's degree in educational administration and social science from College of Racine, a specialist degree in educational administration from St. Cloud State University and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Minnesota.
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He worked at St. Cloud State for 39 years where he taught health education and traffic safety for 19 years. He was director of applied research in the College of Education for six years. He owns MG Exhaust Service Inc. in St. Cloud with his son.
Palmer was a professor of health physical education recreation and sport science and director of Minnesota Highway Safety Center for 13 years. He is also a registered lobbyist who worked to promote traffic safety issues for more than 30 years.
Palmer said his goals, if elected, are to grow the economy of St. Cloud and ensure citizens' voices are heard.
"We can no longer rely on simply increasing fees and sales taxes, increasing hotel and motel taxes and increasing property taxes. What we need to do is grow the economy in able to have sufficient revenue," he said. "What you want more of, you certainly don't tax."
Palmer said the council needs to be open to differing opinions.
"My main goal is to reform the council in such a way that the primary orientation is to listen to the people and to conduct the affairs of the council in such a way so that the people's voice is not stifled," he said.
"Let me give a concrete example — by having a public hearing two weeks before they are going to have a vote, and by excluding the public from participating in the debate at the time they are going to vote, you stifle public input. You stifle the quality of the debate."
This is Palmer's first time running for City Council. He ran unsuccessfully for St. Cloud school board in 2016.
In St. Cloud, all four ward seats are up for election. Masters, Steve Laraway (Ward 2) and John Libert (Ward 3) filed to run for re-election. Jeff Johnson, who represents Ward 4, did not file to run for re-election.
Other candidates who have filed for council include Liz Baklaich and Ric Studer for Ward 2, Paul Brandmire for Ward 3, and George Rindelaub, Adam Schnettler and Mike Conway for Ward 4.
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