Politics & Government

Maxwell Seeks Another Term As Mayor

Gene Maxwell has been mayor since 2000.

Gene Maxwell

Time in Hopkins: 63 years—all his life except for two years he spent in the Army

Education: Some college

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Job: Owner of

Family: Wife, Eileen; two daughters, Tracy and Kelly; five grandchildren

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Government experience

Other relevant experience

  • Knights of Columbus
  • Lions Club
  • Elks
  • American Legion
  • Work with various charities

Issues of interest

  • Budget: The city must continue to balance responsible spending with providing residents quality service.
  • Redevelopment: Maxwell sees more opportunities for redevelopment opening up—especially surrounding the proposed light rail. Completed redevelopment, such as the Cargill corporate campus or , can also spur improvements to neighboring sites.  “It’s kind of like a domino effect,” he said. “If you work on something, it affects what’s around it.”

Biggest challenges facing Hopkins

  • Maintaining housing stock: Hopkins must continue to work at keeping single-family homes.
  • Balanced redevelopment: Hopkins has only about 4½ square miles in which to fit industrial, commercial and residential properties. The way one area is redeveloped affects other areas. The city must continue to be conscious of these effects.

Approach as a Mayor: “I think as a City Council—not just myself as a mayor—we’re willing to listen,” Maxwell said. “We don’t have all the right answers. We have to listen.” That’s especially important because elected officials must consider the entire community when deciding on an issue. “When we make a decision, we have to make sure we’re making it for 17,000 people, not just the group before us.”


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