by Sue Orsen
When it comes to the candidates for the Victoria City Council this fall, one might be tempted to call it the Return of the Jedi Knights.  Mary Hershberger Thun, who first filed for a four-year seat on the Victoria City Council in 2002, returns to the ballot in 2006 as a candidate for mayor.  Tim Amundsen, appointed to fill a vacancy on the Victoria City Council in 1994 and who won election to that seat in 1996, now returns to the ballot in 2006 as a candidate for the same seat.  Jim Paulsen, a successful write-in candidate in the fall of 1994 for a Victoria City Council seat that had no filers but other write-ins, returns to the scene in 2006.  Each of the three is running unopposed for the three seats.

The Jedi Knights of Star Wars fame came to take a direct and active role in governing galactic affairs.  As conceived by writer George Lucas, the life of a Jedi was one of sacrifice.  To a 25-year veteran of attending and reporting Victoria City Council meetings in the Gazette, it sounds like the life of a Victoria City Councilmember.
In another corner of the galaxy, two candidates filed for Carver County Commission-er in District 3, a district that includes all of Victoria, all of Carver, and part of Chaska.  Gary Delaney, a resident of Victoria, is the incumbent.  Randy Maluchnik, a resident of Chaska, is the challenger.  Vote for one.
The Victoria Gazette posed a series of questions to the above city and county candi-dates.  1) What attracted you to Victoria/Carver County?  2a) What compels you to step forward to commit countless hours to local government?  2b) What is the payback?  3) Why are you a good candidate to serve our best interests?  4) Being as specific as possible, what do you see as functions or authorities of city/county government?  5) Likewise, in which areas might government be overstepping its bounds?  6) What do you think about the direction in which Victoria/Carver County is moving today?  7) During the next two to four years, what might you consider to improve or support that direction?  8) Without using the words "small town charm," what is your long-term vision for the City/County?  9a) What would you like to accomplish or for what would you like to be known at the end of your term of service on the city council/county board?  9b) Speaking generally, what are some of your personal goals?  10) What are your favorite reads?
And now, may the Force be with all of you, candidates and citizens and critters alike.

MARY L. HERSHBERGER THUN
mlhthun@mchsi.com
6490 Bayview Place
Excelsior, MN 55331 (Victoria)

*Victoria resident since 1997.
*Husband David.  Stepson and daughter  in law Brandon and Kellie.  Sophie,  one-year old Golden Retriever.
*Occupation/Job:  Owner/Partner-RCG  Consulting, LLC.
*Degrees earned from MN State Universi- ty, Mankato (BA in PoliticalScience)  and Drake University, Des Moines,  IA (MS in Personnel Services).
*Business owner.  Former Chief Operat- ing Officer and Sr VP of companies  that service and guarantee student  loans.  Former Financial Aid Officer  at University of MN and Drake.
*Current or past member or liaison to all  major City of Victoria committees;  a number of Carver County Commit- tees; currently Water, Environmental  and Natural Resource Committee.   MN Higher Education Services  Council.  District 112 Community  Education Advisory Council. 
  Volunteer Carver Scott Humane  Society and the MN Orchestra Volun- teer Board as an Education Director.

1a) Why attracted to this community?  My husband and I wanted to move closer to Waconia (where we both grew up) and Chanhassen (where David works).  We feel fortunate in having found a home we both liked in Victoria.  We enjoy all of the outdoor activities this community affords us, including biking, walking, and, of course, fishing for the walleye!
1b) Roots.  My very young years were spent in a small town, Ruthton (pop-ulation:  500), in southwestern MN.  My family moved to Waconia in 1963.
2a) Reason for running.  I believe in giving back to the community.  Local government is service making a difference in citizens' lives on a daily basis.
2b) Payback.  I've never thought about this before.  To me, it's the joy of working with a wide variety of people, planning for and implementing services, opportunities, and infrastructure for Vic-toria's future, and being a contributing member to building a vibrant community.
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