James Llanas

In anticipation of taking office January 4, 2010, I have been reading city documents and meeting with our quality staff.  These experiences have given me the necessary preparation to be part of an effective and highly functioning city government beginning next month.  I have been very impressed with city hall’s committed and highly talented staff.  I am preparing a list of priorities to share with our city manager and other council members that includes my 2010 goals.

In January, our city council will take a reatreat to set our shared vision of priorities for the City of Maplewood.  IF you have input, feedback or suggestions as to what those priorities should be, I welcome you to call or email me anytime. I am fired up and ready to go!

I want to express my deepest and sincerest gratitude for your votes and support in this election! I am honored that residents trust me to help restore Maplewood to a community we can all be proud of.  If I didn’t earn your vote in this election, I hope over the next four years to earn your respect. I will officially take office On January 4th, 2010 and I have already begun the orientation and to dig deeper into the issues.  It is time to get to work!

I welcome your questions, concerns for feedback.   -  jim@jamesllanas.com

Precinct Map – click HERE

Precinct Finder – click HERE

Voting will take place at the following polling places.

Precinct
1 Maplewood Fire Station #3 2001 McMenemy Road
2 St. Jeromes School 380 E. Roselawn Avenue
3 Edgerton School 1929 Edgerton Street
4 Maplewood Fire Station #2 1955 Clarence Street
5 Gladstone Community Center Frost Avenue at Manton Street
6 Maplewood Fire Station #7 1530 County Road C
7 First Evangelical Free Church 2696 Hazelwood Street
8 Ramsey County Library 3025 Southlawn Drive
9 Community Center 2100 White Bear Avenue
10 Ramsey County Home 2000 White Bear Avenue
11 Maplewood Middle School 1896 Lakewood Drive N.
12 Former Beaver Lake School 1060 Sterling Street N.
13 Maplewood Fire Station #1 1177 N. Century
14 Carver School 2680 Upper Afton Road
15 Lutheran Church of Peace 47 Century Avenue
16 Maplewood Fire Station #4 2501 Londin Lane

Questions; “Maplewood is very large and and also a very diverse city.  What can the city council do to improve inclusiveness and improve a sense of community?”

Using a strategy right from the Karl Rove playbook, supporters of my opponents are using fear and hate to get votes.  They blanket neighborhoods in the dark of night, afraid to show their faces.  These slimy tactics make incorrect assumptions about Maplewood residents. They assume Maplewood residents are uninformed, comfortable with people who divide our community and tolerant of bigots.  The fact is residents are deeply engaged with the affairs of our city and are fed up with this type of political nonsense!

These people who seek to divide us are too cowardly to put “paid and prepared by” on the anonymous attack literature.  This small, handful of people want to focus on everything but the real issues and they attempt to change the conversation.   How do these cheap attacks put more funding toward police officers or clean up our parks?

If I am fortunate enough to win this election, I can look back and honestly say that I ran an fair/legal campaign free of any negativity.  I actively and respectfully engage residents in meaningful dialogue about issues, community, quality of life and priorities for Maplewood…even with those who disagree with me.  I remain balanced, fair, open, sane and respectful…qualities that you want in a candidate and certainly in a city council member.

From my opponent web site:
Peter says:
October 19, 2009 at 6:27 pm
This weekend, I received a flyer from your campaign and a hate piece attacking candidate Llanas. Are you associated with this type of negative campaign? Do you condone this behavior?

Ken Smart says:
October 20, 2009 at 12:20 am
…Peter – I have not seen any hate piece attacking candidate Llanas so I cannot say whether it is a hate piece or if I condone it. I strongely endorse everyone’s First Ammendment right to free speech. If it has untruths in it, then I do not condone it.

The negative attack material is taped right above my opponent’s campaign literature using the same blue tape.

Coincidence?

On Sunday, October 4th, I successfully completed my 5th Twin Cities Marathon.  I did a majority of my training running the streets and trails in Maplewood.   I gained  a very unique view of Maplewood’s diverse neighborhoods, homes and residents as I logged nearly 300 miles during the past several months. My training began in January at almost the same time I officially started my campaign for city council.  As you can imagine, it takes a lot of work and dedication to do either.  The key to a successful “run” is working hard, keeping a steady pace and finishing strong.  The primary election results showed us we have a lot of support in the community but we have a large portion of the race left to finish.  Let me assure you, we are working hard and have plenty left in the “tank” for a strong finish.  (check our events tab for ways you can help!)  The finish line is in our sights and we intend to cross with a strong victory!

On Thursday, September 17, our local DFL Senate District 55 held an endorsement convention according to DFL bylaws and requirements. During that process, nominations were accepted from the convention floor and my name was entered for consideration for endorsement as a candidate for Maplewood city council. I am deeply honored and pleased to have recieved overwhelming endorsement!

The DFL represents a set of ideas and principles that are relevant and critical at all levels of government including municipal government. I am honored that the dedicated volunteers at SD55 think I can be a standardbearer for those principles. Along with other endorsed candidates, my campaign will contribute to the ongoing definition of those progressive values and people the DFL represents.  A special thank you to Sen. Chuck Wiger for his nomination speech.  See video below.

“If there is dissatisfaction with the status quo, good. If there is
ferment, so much the better. If there is restlessness, I am pleased. Then
let there be ideas, and hard thought, and hard work. If man feels small,
let man make himself bigger.” -Hubert H. Humphrey .