Legendary Duluth businessman Nick Patronas on why he's supporting heavy-favorite Roger Reinert for mayor: "I am supporting Roger because he has a genuine heart for many things, and mostly for people. He's smart, kind, hardworking and is a proven builder of relationships. He is the person who can – and will – elevate our hometown to new heights in growth, housing and safety. I know he will work hard for these goals, and that’s why I am proud to be supporting him."
"Melissa and John are both personal friends. Melissa was the mentor for my freshman class when I was elected to the House. John and I served in the Senate together and quickly became friends." -- Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert
"I think we have some real playmakers this year who are excited for the challenge ahead. We graduated only eight seniors, although several were major contributors. For the first time in a long time, I like our depth." -- Hermantown Hawks football coach Mike Zagelmeyer
"I’m loving my time in Duluth and getting to work with this fantastic group of young men. We’ve improved tremendously as a team (tactically, technically, physically, and mentally), and we have a lot of room for growth, which is super exciting for the staff and I." -- Thomas Pazo
The question is no longer whether newspapers are dying. The real question now is which institutions survive the transition from industrial-age newspapers into modern digital civic platforms. And whether Minnesota’s largest news organization fully understands what it must become next.
Whether residents ultimately agree with every proposal or not, the broader framework behind One Park One Vote deserves to be taken seriously because it attempts to connect housing, sustainability, environmental protection and economic development into one larger civic conversation.
In many ways, Minnesota Power became one of the hidden structural pillars underneath modern Duluth’s entire existence. Because in northern Minnesota, power literally meant power. Industrial power. Political power. Economic leverage. Regional influence. Stability. Survival.
Ness convinced Duluth to stop speaking about itself like a city waiting for the next economic funeral and start speaking about itself like a place with a future worth competing for nationally. Not perfectly. Not without backlash. Not without legitimate criticism. But undeniably.
