What are the top two lessons you’ve learned during your time as mayor?  SEAN VANGORDON: The importance of listening and seeking to understand people’s perspective are critical skills to being a successful mayor. After 2020, trust in all parts of society is at an all-time low, our problems are complex,[Read More…]

Grovers got some decisions to make at the poll in November.  There are three open positions on Cottage Grove City Council, including Ward 1, Ward 3 and the at-large positions.  Incumbents Chalace Savage (Ward 1) and Mike Fleck (at Large) face competition at the polls, including Donald Morris (Ward 1), [Read More…]

Integrity at center of core values as councilor Humans are made up of a unique patchwork of differences. Politics, religion, race, gender, finances, priorities and even how we like our coffee but what I want to spend my time focusing on is what unites us together.  You can see unity[Read More…]

Working hard, hands-on, for Cottage Grove I grew up on a farm, doing construction or fixing anything that needed to be fixed. There were 13 of us, and I was the middle child. I learned a lot about the world just by living it. I believe you get the most[Read More…]

Taking the oath to serve seriously  When you take a local office you take an oath to uphold that position. I take it very seriously and follow the guidelines put in place by higher elected officials. If you feel they are not good guidelines you should be taking your position to[Read More…]

Invested in Cottage Grove  I grew up as a Harrison Bobcat, a Lincoln Tiger and a Cottage Grove Lion. We shopped at the Little Red store and ate Pizza at Pinocchio’s after football games. I am passionate about this City. I want to keep Cottage Grove safe for our kids[Read More…]

Bringing experience, knowledge to city council Hello, my name is Mike Fleck and I am running for a fifth term on the Cottage Grove City Council. I have been a planning commissioner or city councilor for over 20 years of combined service and it is my hope to use that[Read More…]

Making common sense common again My name is Darrel Wilson, a 27-year resident of Cottage Grove, and candidate for councilor at large this November.  I am 61 and have been married to my wonderful wife for 34 years. We raised our son whom we adopted at 11 days old and is[Read More…]

Grow’ve together for the greater good My wife and I, after years of searching and due diligence, selected Cottage Grove as the place we wanted to become a part of a community and to spend the rest of our lives as useful, productive citizens.  Besides the beautiful surroundings and historic[Read More…]