2024 Victoria City Council Candidate

Name: Chad Roberts

Website: Facebook:ChadJRobertsforVictoria

Email address: cjr690@gmail.com

Home community and how long have you lived in your community:

Victoria, Minnesota, 9 years.

Previous leadership experience: 

I have served on the Victoria City Council for the last four years.

In what community, state, or national organizations have you been involved?

ALAMN

How have you prepared to serve well in this office:

I try to be a well-rounded individual who is active in the community, visiting many local businesses, and also spending time coaching youth sports. I believe we are always learning and growing. I went to school to be a teacher and coach before deciding on going to paralegal school. My background in education and profession working in the Risk Management department of law firm has given me a unique ability to understand complex issues.

What do you view as the three top priorities for the City and how would you address these?

1. Fiscal responsibility. Improving Highway 5 to ease congestion and building a new firs station are crucial investments. To balance this, we must keep operating costs low through efficiency, partnerships, innovation and smart uses of our resources. We will continue to work hard to keep our AAA rating.

2. Smart Growth. As a growing community, I want Victoria to maintain its small-town charm. I will continue to listen to the needs of our residents and advocate for development that aligns with our communities’ priorities. My goal is to be strategic about new homes and businesses to maintain our character. We should also not be afraid to use every tool in our toolbox for the right project, including using TIF.

3. Community-centric space. As a current councilmember, one thing I hear a lot is we need more places to gather, whether it’s destination parks or more indoor gather spaces for the winter. I support seeking opportunities like public/private partnerships to achieve this.

What differentiates you from the other candidate(s)?

As a current councilmember, I work hard to earn your trust and respect. I listen and do my best to respond and share where I stand on issues and why. We’ve attracted new businesses, including Kwik Trip, which will start building in late 2025. We’ve also enhanced public safety, increased community events like winter lighting, and invested in road improvements to boost safety and reduce congestion. I’ll keep listening and working for all Victoria residents.

How would you plan to balance growth and development while maintaining the character of the city? 

Many of our residents want to see our community grow and add more commercial spaces, such as a grocery store, pharmacy, retail, etc. However, those businesses continue to tell us we need more people before they will come. To attract those businesses, we must continue to build more houses and apartments. However, we must be strategic on how and where we do this. I want Victoria to keep its small-town charm while also attracting the type of development our community wants.

What is your approach to managing the city’s budget and fiscal priorities?

We have an amazing staff that helps us through this process. The dedication and hard work by our staff are exemplified in the cities “AAA” bond rating. This is no small feat and very few cities receive this honor. As a councilmember, I work hard to ensure your property taxes are well managed and the services you receive for this investment are a good value. I support funding for key community needs like public safety, clean water, safe roads and parks. Maintaining our “AAA” bond rating helps us secure low-interest loans, while keeping your property taxes lower.

What measures, if any, should the city pursue to create more affordable housing for the workforce (including young teachers, police officers, health-care workers) and for seniors on limited incomes?

Victoria is a very desirable community which means land and home prices are often higher. We don’t have to accept every development proposal, and don’t, but we need a mix of housing options to attract desired amenities like grocery stores and medical facilities. This year, the city has heard from two developers regarding affordable housing. We will continue to work with those developers and our local, state and federal agencies to help bring more affordable housing to Victoria. It is a complex issue, but I am committed to finding solutions.

What, if anything, should the city do to provide additional or improved activities, shopping, dining, recreation, and parks?

Whatever we can! The council has already been working hard to add more amenities for our city. Listening to our residents and working to attract the type of amenities our community wants is very important to me. I will continue to look for creative ways to add the amenities our residents want. We also have opportunities now to shape how our Downtown West and southern growth areas will develop.

If a competitive business climate is important to you, what should the city do to remove barriers so that businesses can move into the city and current businesses can grow?

We can attract desired businesses and support current ones with effective communication. I have built strong relationships with businesses to understand and meet their needs. We all want what’s best for the city, we might just have different ideas on how to get there. As a councilmember, I work to align the city’s and our business’s goals, while considering our residents’ interests as well.

What, if anything, should the city do to increase transparency?

Transparency builds trust. Regular communication through various channels is essential. However, there is always room for improvement. We have lost our local newspapers and many people, especially our seniors, don’t follow social media or use/have the internet. I am committed to exploring different ways to reach those not online. As a councilmember, I pride myself on replying as much as I can to every email or call I receive. We may not always agree, and people may not always like what my opinion is, however, they can count on me to listen and return their email or call, so at least they know where I stand on the issue.

Where do you envision the city in the next five to 10 years?

I envision our western development thriving with new restaurants and businesses; a walkable downtown/downtown west for community gatherings; a vibrant southern area with larger businesses like Kwik Trip and affordable housing. I envision safer roads and reduced congestion. Mostly, I see Victoria retaining its small-town charm and continuing to be a place where people want to come to enjoy the city, play and raise a family.

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