LEXINGTON, Minn. – (Oct. 27, 2016) – Diane Harris is running an unusual campaign for Lexington City Council.
“On my flier I have the pencil, you actually have to write my name in, there are no names there,” said Harris.
There will be no names on the ballot for Lexington City Council because no one filed for the office during the filing period in August.
“It’s sad to me that their are no names on it, that their won’t be anything to keep people from bypassing that area,” said Harris.
Harris heard that there was an opening and decided to contact Mayor Mark Kurth.
“I emailed the Mayor and said I was going to be doing a write-in campaign and I heard Jack Plasch had stepped down and he needed to fill the seat temporarily so I offered to fill that seat and would be honored to do that. He called me a couple days later and talked to me on the phone and two days later I was appointed,” said Harris.
By the time Harris was appointed to the council it was to late to file to keep the seat after the November election. So that is when Harris launched her write in campaign.
“It’s been really fun actually. Obviously I’ve met new people but I’m finding out just how the city works. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m a business owner and I’ve been in corporate America but I’ve never worked for the government,” said Harris.
As she starts to dig into city politics Harris comes in with some questions, concerns and goals.
“Snowplowing, when we first moved here 13 years ago I could see my curb both sides almost all winter long and that’s changed and I don’t know why. I want curb to curb when they come and plow and I want it earlier, and why has it changed. That’s why I’m running, I want to learn about city government and how it ticks and accountability. I just want people to be happy living here and I want people to be a part of this city,” said Harris.
For now Harris is ready to listen and learn and hopes her neighbors will take the time to do a little writing in their ballots on Election Day.
