NEW ULM – Ward 4 Councilman Larry Mack is seeking a third term on council to support businesses and complete the comprehensive plan.
Born and raised in New Ulm, Mack is a sixth-generation New Ulm native and graduate of MSU/South Central Technical College Mankato. He has been with 3M for over 23 years as a tool and die maker. He was elected alderman for Ward 4 in 2014.
Mack serves on the city’s planning commission, the burn watch committee, and the sister cities commission.
He is the former vice-chairman of the RENU Oversight Committee and a former board member of the Heritage Preservation Commission. He was president of the Junior Pioneers and is now a member of the park’s project committee.
Mack is a board member of the Brown County Historical Society and a member of the building committee for the Grand Center for Art and Culture. He volunteers for local events like Bockfest, Hermannfest, Oktoberfest and Bavarian Blast.
If re-elected, Mack said his top priorities are supporting businesses of all kinds, expanding workforce housing and revitalizing downtown New Ulm.
“I think it is important that we keep our current activities before we go in search of new activities”, he said. “We need to continue to reinvest in what we have and seek out what else the community needs.”
Mack believed downtown reconstruction was important, and he supported private developers renovating downtown, including work at Inspire, the former Herberger Building, and Kaiserhoff.
Mack cited the need for housing as a major concern. It’s a problem he sees through his work at 3M. He said that many young talents working in New Ulm could not find accommodation. After a few years, these employees get tired of commuting and get hired elsewhere.
“It would be an asset if we could make those people residents and keep those taxes in our community,” he said.
Mack believes more housing options are needed for all ages to meet labor demands.
Planning for the city’s future is a major part of business support and housing expansion. It is for this reason that Mack is focusing its attention on the new comprehensive plan for the city. Work has already begun on the new compensation plan and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
“It’s one of the reasons I run,” he said. “I have been on the zoning commission for 10 years now and I would like to finish this work.
The overall plan will serve as the framework for New Ulm’s growth over the next 10 years. The plan will help determine where housing will expand in the city over the next few decades. One of Mack’s priorities is to get community input on the compensation plan.
“I think with this compensation plan, we have to include the younger generation,” he said. “They are now in high school, they are going to college, and if they want to come back to our community, it is important to have their opinion.”
Another issue Mack has heard from voters is the need to invest in the Hermann Monument. He said many people are passionate about Hermann and the city will need to look at options to fund the restoration.
Mack thinks the city’s overall budget will be a major issue this year due to the impacts of inflation. He said the city will have a lot to maintain and keep sustainable.
When asked why he was the top candidate for Ward 4 City Council, Mack cited his experience.
“I already have eight years of experience, 10 years of experience in zoning”, he said. “I like to market myself as an accessible and reliable resource for all New Ulm residents,” he said. “I’m ready to continue planning for the city’s best future.”
