Mark Doree has been a fixture at Woodbury City Council meetings over the past few months.

Now he hopes to sit behind the dais instead of in the audience come next year.

The 43-year-old is among the slate of three challengers to incumbents Paul Rebholz and Amy Scoggins for two seats on the city council. The election is Nov. 6.

Doree has lived in Woodbury since 2006, and said he has ideas for a few “small tweaks” that could make the city run more efficiently and better serve residents.

“I can bring a different voice to the city,” he told Patch Wednesday.

One of the issues he has was the council’s during a down economy.

“That made me question their motives, to be honest,” Doree said, adding that the city should return council pay to previous levels.

He also said Woodbury should examine going to a ward system rather than having at-large council seats, as it would offer a better distribution of representation for the city.

Other issues for Doree include the (he would like to see more public input), and what he views as a lack of action on the council’s part regarding .

As for big challenges facing the city in the coming years, Doree said will be key, and the city has done a “fair” job to this point. He also would rather see the city work to fill vacant businesses before allowing new commercial development, citing store as an example.

“I think it would make for a stronger and better-looking community,” Doree said.

He works as a senior principal mechanical technician with Medtronic. He is married.

In a release to Patch, Doree listed his public service record:

• 10 years on the District 2 community council in St. Paul, five of which he was secretary of the board;
• six years as committee member for the Capital Improvements Budget Streets division of St. Paul for the Phalen Corridor Planning Commission; and
• a school board member for Achieve Language Academy in St. Paul, four of which he severed as board chair.

Doree is also a graduate of the Wilder Leadership program and while living in Woodbury has volunteered to remove buckthorn from area lakes’ shores, spent nearly 70 hours working with the and volunteered at .

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The fifth candidate, Joe Grinols, did not return phone calls seeking comment. Candidates have until the end of the business day today, Aug. 16, to withdraw.

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