PAUL KNIER

I know what being a citizen of Big Lake means. Grateful for 30 years spent in town, I see the importance of maintaining the small town feel as the city continues to develop and grow. I will work hard to “Keep Big Lake, Big Lake” while at the same time encouraging solid businesses to locate here and families to settle here.

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I know what it means to work hard. While growing up in Clear Lake, my nine siblings and I spent many long days working on our family farm. During my college years, I worked as a door-to-door book salesman in order to pay my way through the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. The work was hard, with some work-weeks stretching to 90 hours, but it allowed me to graduate debt-free and meet my wife Julie. We moved to Big Lake shortly after getting married, started our family, and have always thought of Big Lake as “an exceptional place to live and work.”

         

Nowadays, I love to spend time with and support my wife and five children. A family of faith, we are active members of Riverside Church in Big Lake. As a self-employed financial advisor, I currently manage over $210 million for my clients. My job is to listen to people’s needs and propose solutions in a way that they can understand and implement. These are skills that have also served me well in my role as mayor.

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As your Big Lake Mayor, I have devoted myself to: Delivering for You, Being the People's Mayor, and Keeping Big Lake a Great City!

 

1. Delivering for You - Four years ago, I promised to fund our essential government functions and reduce our debt. The city council and I have delivered. In my first term we funded and supported the police and fire departments, repaired our roads, and reduced Big Lake's debt by 33%. My goal for a second term is to reduce our current debt another 50% and eliminate those pesky franchise fees by the year 2029. We are also working hard with state and federal leaders to construct a new wastewater treatment plant to serve you.

2. Being the People's Mayor – During my term I worked hard to protect your freedoms. I opposed forcing you to wear a mask or take an experimental vaccine. We also revised our codes and ordinances to protect liberty and attract new businesses. When we had vacancies on the council, I insisted on having elections to fill them and opposed appointments, thus ensuring you chose your representation. I've regularly communicated with residents through my "Coffee With the Mayor" series and my Mayoral addresses on my social media page. I will continue to do these things in my second term, and I won't compromise my principles on protecting your freedom.

3. Keeping Big Lake a Great City – It takes the right group of people to make local government work, and I am committed to keeping up the team atmosphere we've created. I'm proud to have been involved in hiring a new police chief and city administrator. They are top notch professionals here to serve you. In addition, we are planning some great new amenities for this city in the future including an archery course, pickle ball court, and a splash pad. I want to continue to grow the city while retaining our small town feel.

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I believe in protecting the rights and liberties of those who I represent.  I am committed to working diligently and passionately for all Big Lake citizens.