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Four people are running in the primary on Tuesday for the Ward 1 seat when it is left vacant by current council member Geoff Baker, who was appointed to fill the seat after Oballa Oballa stepped down to run in a different ward.

Those running include those familiar with the council as well as those running for the first time.

Rebecca Waller

Rebecca Waller will run for another opportunity to serve on the council after serving one term from 2019 to 2022 in Ward 1. Waller was defeated in the last election by Laura Helle currently serving as Ward 1’s other representative.

For Waller, the heart of running again is being able to be an active member of the community.

“For me, I’m running just to get back involved in the community,” she said. “I enjoyed the previous four years on the council and I just want to continue working on making Austin a better community.”

It’s also about continuation. During her previous stint on the council, Waller was heavily involved in Parks, Recreation and Forestry and was keenly interested in making Austin a place for all people, whether they are citizens or visitors.

“Making sure we have enough things for visitors to do in our city,” Waller said. “We really want to grow our community. Show people how wonderful we are here.”

Waller also said she wants to continue work on increasing housing options in Austin, recognizing that it’s a big topic for many communities. While also recognizing the wins of recent housing additions, Waller stressed that more can always be added.

She’s hoping to be able, if elected, to work on spreading housing needs across the base.

“We really need affordable housing and market rate housing,” she said. “We need to get more housing; single family and multiple family homes.”

Along the way, Waller said she will always work to make Austin a better place and will work with the people to make it so.

“We’re here for the people. The people of Austin,” Waller said. “The people of Austin are amazing. I can’t stress that enough.”

“Let’s keep building that community,” she added.

She also believes that her experience in city work can help forward the progress of Austin whether that includes supporting business or ensuring Austin is welcoming.

“I’m the person who’s going to make us better,” Waller said. “We’re already great, but we can continue to be better.”

Varinh Van Vugt

Varinh Van Vugt was one of the three that had vied for the open seat when Baker was appointed two years ago.

Since that first attempt to get on the board, Van Vugt said she has begun to become more interested in how city government works and her place in it.

“Where does change happen? It’s in local office,” she said, adding that working on city boards and within the community has helped bolster her own desire to give back. “I do have a voice and I have this opportunity to do it.”

Van Vugt said she’s been driven by looking at current polices and how tax dollars are put toward those policies along with how well those policies are working. Like many she’s also interested in making sure there are plenty of housing opportunities for people coming into Austin across a broad and fair plain.

She wants to grow that housing foundation and expand Austin’s tax base while not putting any more strain on existing residents.

Along that thinking, Van Vugt, who works as program coordinator at the Welcome Center, said she wants to help simplify the move to Austin for immigrants new to the community.

“Understanding the different landscapes,” she said. “Where do you go, where do learn about banking … it can be a really hard think to navigate when you’re new to the country.”

Through that effort, Van Vugt wants to create a transparency for equitable success and how the city thinks about reaching that point.

To get there, Van Vugt believes it needs to be a group effort.

“What sets me apart is that I’m open to listening to everyone,” Van Vugt said. “I respect everyone’s opinions and we all have valid opinions and perspectives. Essentially, I am a solutions based person. I like to see things happen and I’ll do the best of my ability (to work) with others to make those things happen.”

Pushing all of this, she said, is just wanting to improve life in Austin.

“I’m just passionate about the community and everything I do is a part of building foundation so my children are able to have the same opportunities or better than me to fulfill their dreams,” she added.

Miguel Garate

A member of Austin’s community now for 27 years, Miguel Garate has been heavily involved within the diverse populations of Austin as well as its education as an admissions specialists for Riverland Community College.

While a newcomer to politics, Garate recently held a stint as honorary council member on the Austin City Council. He said that his reason for running is to create opportunity for the voice of diversity in Austin.

“I also want to ensure diverse voices are heard because representation matters in Austin,” Garate said. “I feel it’s important to contribute to the democracy process and I’m honored to exercise civic responsibility in our community.”

Garate went on to explain that his time as honorary chair provided valuable insight into his reasons for running.

“I was learning and gained some experience to be at the public center and to serve the public,” he said. “I’m just very motivated to contribute to my community.”

Garate has served on a number of committees and volunteered in a variety ways in Austin and from that he said that the core of getting things done is by working together.

That work, he said, could provide a base for serving the community in a meaningful way.

“I’m a big believer in accountability and I’m committed to promoting government partnerships,” Garate said.

He hopes that if elected, he can serve as a role model and be put in  position to promote the idea of becoming more involved and making sure the youth have a part in that by promoting the importance of voting and contributing.

He also explained that he would like to focus on creating more green areas in Austin and forming winter programs for kids and adults.

But a large part of his desire to serve has to do with ensuring that Austin is a place for everybody.

“Sometimes there are a lot of needs in our community and it’s hard to please everyone,” Garate said. “I want to focus on the most important areas in our community. Being a welcoming community and focusing on our community needs.”

“I am Austin, Minnesota and I’m your person,” he added.

Patrick Lange

Another newcomer, Patrick Lange has no background in politics, but believes he’s got the background from other areas to make him a worthy representative of Austin.

He’s an Air Force veteran of four years, serving three of those in England, and is retired after putting in 38 years for International Paper. He’s also worked with the Bruins organization for many years providing a place for players as well as working as a cameraman for the organization.

Alongside that, he’s also served as an election judge.

With that background, Lange said its time to put a focus toward Austin.

“I’m retired and I want to give back to my community,” he said.

First and foremost, Lange said he wants to concentrate on the neighborhoods that make up Austin. A strong supporter of police and first responders, Lange is hoping a new voice can lend to that betterment.

“I want to work on safe and clean neighborhoods,” Lange said. “Create a neighborhood watch, neighborhood assistance. Help them out with no cost. I want to have a different voice. I want to make change for the better.”

With such time spent in Austin and his military service, Lange feels he has a better understanding of what Austin wants and needs than most. One of those needs are some street issues in Austin.

“One of the things, and I get this complaint all the time is that in the northwest area there are a lot of uncontrolled intersections people want fixed,” Lange said. “There are a lot of children in that area.”

For a more community-based item he wants to tackle, Lange wants to see some more recreation brought back to Austin, including camping, which he thinks will join well with other opportunities.

“With the bicycle trail coming through there’s a connection opportunity to bring camping back in Austin,” he said, adding: “I want to make sure our money is being spent right and being accounted for and put towards the people in Austin.”

“I’m a team player,” he continued. “I served the military, served my country, served my employer. I want to serve and give back to the people.”