Owen’s 3rd Ward has two write-in candidates in the April 2 election, incumbent Matthew Riihinen and newcomer Ray Kilty.
Ray Kilty
1. Briefly tell us about yourself (e.g. marital status, children, education, etc.)
Married 23 years to Judy, lived in Owen for 25 years, we have five girls together, graduated from Spencer High School, received a two year tech degree. I own and operate StraightLine Service and Maintenance and StraightLine Investments.
2. Why have you decided to run for Owen City Council?
To help guide the city to move forward and help it grow.
3. What qualities about yourself do you feel would make you a good Council member?
By applying the same skills used to run a small business, customer support, financial decisions, oversight of big projects.
4. What will you do to insure that the City of Owen is fiscally responsible in spending the tax dollars it collects?
Take a close look at budgets. Plan for growth. Keep up on maintenance.
5. What do you believe is the best way(s) to keep citizens informed of what city government is doing?
By encouraging them to go to meetings and get involved.
6. If elected, is there anything you would like to see changed about how the City of Owen is run?
To make more decisions on behalf of the people we represent.
7. What do you feel is the first priority for the coming year in the City of Owen?
Find a way to make the City of Owen a place where people want to live and businesses want to invest.
Matthew Riihinen
1. Briefly tell us about yourself (e.g. marital status, children, education, etc.)
I have lived in Owen my whole life, I have four children that live with my wife and me. My wife and I were recently married as of January 2024. I am ambitious and have sought leadership/managing technical certifications and diplomas over the years to not only better myself but to have a better understanding of how great leadership is used to make lives of others around me better quality and more fulfilled.
2. Why have you decided to run for re-election for Owen City Council?
I ran and was elected for city council two years ago. The mission I aim for is to make the city of Owen, the city I have always lived in a better place to be. Those who know me closest know that I was very near to moving out of the city of Owen about two and a half years ago due to a situation that could have ended with great harm to my family. With great sadness these issues arouse from people in the block proximity of my home using drugs. I made a choice to run for city council as a stand against these issues rather then run from the problem to see what could be done on the elected side. I aimed to try and make a better relationship with law enforcement and to see if we as city elected officials can help in any way.
That mission stands true today, make Owen a better and safer place for its residents.
3. What qualities about yourself do you feel make you a good Council member?
The qualities I bring to the table are my strong belief that we can make a difference, even if it takes some time we can change for the better. The ability to listen to the citizens, I know some don't feel like they do not get heard appropriately, but concerns that are brought to my attention, I do my best to get them to the appropriate person for response or action needed. I have mentioned that I do have leadership diplomas, but more importantly I have leadership experience, throughout my life I have managed and taken on leadership roles through many diverse problems and scenarios. However most importantly I believe a trait every candidate should have is to genuinely care about the community they live in, I may not always see the best solution or bring up the most efficient idea to the council, but everything I do is out of the fact that I genuinely care and want my community to thrive.
4. What will you do to insure that the City of Owen is fiscally responsible in spending the tax dollars it collects?
To hold the line on spending, we have a budget, we need to use it. Avoid funding projects using debt, this goes back to budgeting, if we can wait to budget for a major project we need to hold to that, that doesn't necessarily work a 100 percent of the time but being mindful, respectful, and responsible are key ingredients for doing what is right and ethical with the precious tax dollars that are being used.
5. What do you believe is the best way(s) to keep citizens informed of what city government is doing?
The best way in my opinion, curiosity. A curious citizen will fund the answers they're looking for. Unfortunately the main reasons caused for curious inquiries are the results of an unhappy altercation of some sort. The city of Owen is a good place to live and can be an amazing place to live. However we are ALL responsible to help bring it to that point and that is to take care in knowing what is going on. We post agendas where needed and have meetings that every citizen is welcome to come to, and I encourage people to see what happens and what good has been done for the well-being of the city.
6. If re-elected, is there anything you would like to see changed about how the City of Owen is run?
That question has some weight in it for me as I am currently running for re-election so I would be included with the change I am seeking. I do want our city run differently. I want it run with better leaders, better budgeting, better equipment, better employees and better sense of the future. However that doesn’t mean I’m looking to wipe the canvas clean. What I want and crave are the qualities that are being instilled and put in motion right now. We as a city council need to and are furthering our understanding in leadership. we need to open our minds that learning never ends, technology never stops or waits, new ideas are always on the horizon. We need to strive to be better today then we were yesterday.
7. What do you feel is the first priority for the coming year in the City of Owen?
I believe the first priority this coming year for Owen is to nurture the businesses we have. Budgets to keep and run are of many other very close seconds on hand, of course, which need immediate attention. However if I have to give one slightly more oversee, I believe our businesses have been neglected from the city’s point of view. We have many new small businesses that have opened in the last several years which is very exciting. Also our industrial park has sparked a bit of life in it which is huge for the city, with all the new business that's going to contribute to the well being of Owen. I would like to see more energy put into the care of facilitating these great endeavors being realized.
