'Honored to serve'
To the editor:
Thank you to all the residents of North St. Paul and Maplewood for the privilege of representing you again at the State Capitol. I am honored to serve you for another two years.
I will continue to work hard to justify your trust in me. The 2007 legislative session begins Jan. 3; this year we will be setting the next two-year state budget. I look forward to working in a bi-partisan way to make progress on critical issues: health care, education, transportation, and property taxes. We have a real opportunity this year to build a common-ground agenda that moves Minnesota forward.
I hope that the residents of the area will continue to remain involved. To be an effective state representative, I need to know what's on your minds. Please contact me with your feedback and ideas at 651-296-1188, rep.leon.lillie@house.mn or 353 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155.

Leon Lillie
State Representative, District 55A

'Controversial and polarizing'
To the editor:
On Tuesday morning, past 2 a.m., I was the only citizen left in the
audience in the Maplewood City Council Chambers. That was the time Erik Hjelle chose to put forward a motion to make Greg Copeland permanent as city manager.
Whatever the merits of Copeland, his tenure at City Hall has been controversial and polarizing. An open, deliberative process for hiring a new city manager offered a chance for the factions on the city council to build consensus among themselves, and in the community at large. The council majority still had the power to choose who they like, but effective governance is more than just winning by a narrow margin and then dictating terms, or enacting controversial measures when most of the city is long asleep for the night.
I am disappointed that our City Council threw away this opportunity to practice genuine leadership.

John Nephew
Maplewood

'Residents care'
To the editor:
Thanks to all those who worked on my campaign, put up yard signs and voted for me. We came close. We also learned that North St. Paul residents care about their city, like its small town feel and want it to remain much the same. They are concerned, however, that change is occurring and is not being managed. For example, they want more than just bars and antique stores downtown. Hopefully, my campaign will encourage a more proactive approach to change.

Bob Bruton
North St. Paul