TCS sat down with Matt Dougwillow who is running to represent Minneapolis Ward 6 that includes Uptown.  The Thrifty Hipster founder and Wisconsin transplant spent the past decade becoming a professed Minneapolitan.

Currently employed as: Founder and Head Boss of ThriftyHipster.com, the popular bar specials site receiving about 10,000 visitors a month.

Originally from: Watertown, Wisconsin midway between Madison and Milwaukee.

Looks to:  Consolidate services, cost-cutting, reduce waste and excessive spending at the city.  Look at long-term investments and full cost of benefit analysis.  Invest in services and ideas that will improve finances.

Guided by:  Small business owner that is heavily invested in the local culture, scene, and community amenities.

What is intelligent investment?  Art fountains add to the overall brand of Minneapolis and retain companies like Target who rely on a hip local culture.  Target can easily move out of the city limits, so investments like art is actually beneficial in the long-run for the tax base.

What’s the plan for Ward 6/Uptown?  We need to upholster the culture of Uptown.  I bought a house in Lowry Hill back in 2005 that cost much more than a suburban lot.  I wanted to live in the city and I see Uptown as artsy, social, and healthy.  But businesses like jP’s American Bistro cannot afford to pay high rent that is passed down from high property taxes.  The city wants revenue but there’s no restaurant there now.  Encourage small local businesses in key shopping districts.

Any comment on that sticky Uptown Small Area Plan:  If developers and the city are not following the plans so what is the point of a plan in the first place?  The Lakes are for recreation.

What about the city? More cops doesn’t always mean less crime.  We need to build community relationships.  Programs like the Sailing Club get young and old people together.  MPD needs to be invested in the community and raise incentives to have officers live in the city.  If our very own officers live in Lakeville, they are not going to perceive Minneapolis as a great place.

Will there be any conflict with Thrifty Hipster? I respect my clients’ views but it doesn’t necessarily sway me if the issue is important.  I wasn’t happy with the smoking ban for example but I would have voted for it.   I encourage transparency of issues.