Frequently Asked Questions

I made the decision to run for mayor two and a half years ago, following the City Council's decision to move forward with hiring a new city manager without an open and competitive hiring process.

As someone who believes deeply in fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity, I struggled with that decision. The city manager is one of the most important positions in our city, and I believed we owed our residents a process that allowed qualified candidates to apply and be considered.

My concern was never about any one individual. It was about ensuring we followed a fair and transparent process, especially when making decisions of such importance to our community.

Despite raising those concerns, I didn't have the votes on the council to change the direction we were taking. That experience was difficult, not because the decision itself was complicated, but because I believed we could and should have done better.

It was a defining moment for me. I realized that if I wanted to help change how we conduct business at City Hall, I needed to step forward and take on a greater leadership role.

That's when I decided to run for mayor.

I believe Maplewood deserves leadership that practices the values we talk about: fairness, transparency, accountability, and putting people before politics. Those principles guided my decision to run, and they will continue to guide how I serve.

Read the December 4, 2023 Pioneer Press article about the city manager hiring process →

I believe one of the most important qualities a person seeking public office can have is a sincere desire to help others. For me, leadership is about serving people, building a city for the next generation, and preserving what makes Maplewood special.

As a current City Council member, I've had the privilege of representing my friends and neighbors in a community I've called home for the past 10 years. I take great pride in that responsibility and the relationships I've built with residents throughout Maplewood.

I hold a bachelor's degree in Communication from Hamline University and dual master's degrees in Management Information Systems and Business Administration from Metropolitan State University.

Professionally, I've worked in economic development, supporting small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs. Since 2020, I've helped support and distribute more than $1.5 million in grants and loans to small businesses across Minnesota. My experience also includes working with nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies, and a local information technology company.

I bring a combination of public service, education, professional experience, and a genuine commitment to helping people. These experiences have prepared me to make thoughtful decisions, build strong partnerships, and help move Maplewood forward.

My campaign focuses on four priorities: economic development, public safety, community engagement, and infrastructure and quality of life.

These priorities are connected. A strong local economy helps support city services, safe neighborhoods strengthen our community, and responsible investments in parks and infrastructure make Maplewood a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

I believe Maplewood has tremendous opportunities ahead, but we need to be thoughtful about how we plan for the future. My focus is on building a city that meets the needs of today's residents while preparing for the next generation.

It means making decisions based on what's best for our residents rather than political convenience or personal interests.

Not every issue is black and white, and reasonable people can disagree. I believe good leadership requires listening to different perspectives, finding common ground where possible, and being willing to make difficult decisions.

At the end of the day, my responsibility is to the people of Maplewood. Whether someone agrees with me or not, they deserve to be treated with respect and have their concerns taken seriously.

I understand that rising property taxes put pressure on families, seniors, and homeowners.

As mayor, I'll focus on sound fiscal management, carefully reviewing spending, prioritizing needs over wants, and making long-term investments that deliver value.

We also need to strengthen our commercial tax base through economic development. A healthy local economy can help support the services residents depend on.

Residents deserve to understand where their tax dollars go, why spending decisions are made, and how those decisions affect the city's long-term financial health.

A strong local economy is essential to Maplewood's future. As someone with a professional background in economic development, I understand the challenges small businesses face and the importance of connecting them with the right resources and opportunities to succeed.

One of my priorities as mayor will be strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations, business associations, and community development organizations that are already doing great work across Minnesota.

We don't always need to create new city programs or services when we already have an incredible network of organizations offering business assistance, technical support, financing opportunities, and other resources. What we need is to do a better job connecting our local businesses to those opportunities.

I believe the city's role should be to serve as a bridge, helping businesses navigate available resources, build relationships, and access the support they need to grow.

I'll also work to attract new investment, support redevelopment opportunities, and strengthen relationships with our existing businesses. Economic development isn't just about bringing new businesses to Maplewood. It's also about making sure the businesses already here have every opportunity to succeed.

My goal is to make Maplewood a city where businesses feel supported, partnerships are strong, and economic opportunity continues to grow.

I'm a huge supporter of our police officers, firefighters, and emergency responders. I believe Maplewood has one of the best public safety departments in Minnesota, and that's something our community should be proud of.

What makes Maplewood special isn't just the resources we provide our public safety professionals. It's the culture we've built around supporting one another, working together, and serving our residents.

I believe that if more cities approached public safety with the same level of support and commitment that Maplewood does, public safety would look very different across Minnesota.

Our culture is the key to our success. Strong leadership, collaboration, community relationships, and a shared commitment to serving residents all contribute to making our public safety departments effective.

As mayor, I'll continue supporting our police and fire departments, ensuring they have the resources they need while strengthening the trust and relationships that help keep our community safe.

Public safety is about more than responding to emergencies. It's about building a culture where our first responders feel supported and our residents feel safe.

Residents deserve to know how decisions are made and have opportunities to be heard before those decisions are finalized.

I've advocated for fairness and transparency in city leadership, including the city manager hiring process.

I'm also interested in bringing public comment back to City Council meetings, with an emphasis on civility and mutual respect. Residents should have an opportunity to share their perspectives, even when we disagree.

As mayor, I'll work to improve communication, make city information easier to understand, and ensure residents have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their neighborhoods.

Our parks, trails, and green spaces are some of Maplewood's greatest assets, and I'm committed to protecting them for future generations.

But protecting our parks is only part of the equation. We also need to bring recreational programming and opportunities back to Maplewood, especially for our youth and seniors.

I want to see more activities that bring families together, keep our young people engaged, and give older residents opportunities to stay active and connected.

As mayor, I'll prioritize reinvesting in our parks and recreational facilities while working to make programming and recreational opportunities accessible throughout Maplewood.

Minnesota is facing a housing shortage, and Maplewood has an important role to play in addressing it.

I've supported both affordable and market-rate housing projects in our city because I believe residents deserve quality housing options at different stages of their lives.

Many residents have called Maplewood home for decades and want to stay here. Whether they're young adults looking for their first home, growing families needing more space, or seniors looking to downsize, they should have options that allow them to remain part of our community.

No one should have to leave Maplewood simply because their housing needs have changed.

I support thoughtful development that expands housing choices while respecting our neighborhoods, infrastructure, and the long-term interests of our city.

I do not support data centers being built in Maplewood.

Like any development proposal, a data center project may come before the City Council for consideration, particularly when redevelopment opportunities arise. However, my position on data centers remains clear.

Data centers raise serious questions about environmental sustainability, energy and water consumption, infrastructure demands, and long-term impacts on surrounding communities. Until credible data demonstrates that these facilities can operate in an environmentally responsible manner, I will not support bringing them into Maplewood.

Equally important, I do not believe City Council members should sign nondisclosure agreements with data center developers or any other businesses. While I recognize that certain business information may be protected by law, residents deserve transparency about projects that could significantly affect their community.

Transparency must be at the forefront of everything we do at City Hall. Residents should know what is being proposed, understand the potential impacts, and have an opportunity to make their voices heard before decisions are made.

Economic development should never come at the expense of our environment or the public's trust.

Maplewood's mayoral and city council elections are nonpartisan, meaning candidates' political party affiliations do not appear on the official ballot.

While party affiliation isn't listed, I believe it's important for residents to know where I stand and what values guide my leadership.

I'm proud to be the DFL-endorsed candidate for Mayor of Maplewood. For me, that endorsement reflects values I care deeply about, including fairness, opportunity, inclusion, and ensuring that everyone has a voice in their community.

But I'm not running for mayor to serve just one political party or only those who support my campaign. I'm running to serve everyone in Maplewood. Whether you voted for me or not, your voice matters, your concerns are important, and I am committed to listening, working together, and making decisions that are right for Maplewood.

I believe strong communities are built by bringing people together, listening to different perspectives, and finding common ground. We may not always agree, but we can still work together toward a better future for Maplewood.

That's what putting people before politics means to me.

I believe local leaders need to be present and accessible to truly understand the communities they serve.

My commitment to connecting with residents didn't stop after I was elected to the City Council. I continued knocking on doors, including in neighborhoods where new projects were being proposed, because I wanted to hear directly from the people who would be affected.

Those conversations help me better understand residents' concerns, ask better questions, and make more informed decisions.

As mayor, I'll continue showing up, listening, and making myself accessible throughout Maplewood.

You can reach me through the Let's Connect page on my website or email me at hello@chonburilee.com.