Three Rivers Park District, Commissioner District 5
TLDR: John F Gibbs is running for another term against Dan Rasmussen. The winner serves a 4-year term, and every Bloomington voter has it on their ballot.
John F GibbsNonpartisan, incumbent- Now
- Three Rivers Park District commissioner, District 5 (on the board since 2011; board chair since 2023)
- Work
- Retired attorney and business executive
- Lives in
- Bloomington
- Background
- Three Rivers Park District board since 2011; board chair since 2023; re-elected in 2022 threeriversparks.org
- Retired senior vice president, Comcast; former partner, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi threeriversparks.org
- Former member and president, Hennepin County Library Board threeriversparks.org
- Chair, Bloomington Charter Commission; B.A., University of Minnesota; J.D., William Mitchell College of Law hometownsource.com
- In office
- Re-elected unopposed in 2022 (98.7%, write-ins the rest) electionresultsfiles.sos.mn.gov
- Board chair since 2023 threeriversparks.org
- His campaign lists Hyland Hills ski chalet replacement, snowmaking at Hyland Nordic, and reopening Hyland Greens Golf Course among the projects he championed commissionerjohngibbs.org
- Raised
- $0 in 2026, $0 on hand www16.co.hennepin.mn.us
Dan RasmussenNonpartisan- Work
- Senior marketing manager, Xcel Energy
- Lives in
- Bloomington
- Background
- Senior marketing manager, Xcel Energy; B.A., University of St. Thomas hometownsource.com
- Three Rivers Park District volunteer; Bloomington Athletic Association multisport youth coach; Bloomington resident for 13 years hometownsource.com
Q: Where do they stand on taxes and spending?
Gibbs: "Respect for taxpayers. Since first being elected to the board in 2010, we have increased the property tax levy by an average of less than 2% per year." hometownsource.com
Gibbs: Puts maintenance of existing facilities first, noting the system's more than 16 million visits a year, while staying responsive to new visitor interests. hometownsource.com
Rasmussen: Would maintain current infrastructure first to avoid bigger costs later, and back new investments only where need is shown, looking at partnerships to share costs. hometownsource.com
Rasmussen: "I want Three Rivers to deliver an exceptional park system while being careful with taxpayer dollars." eplocalnews.org
Q: Where do they stand on trails and facilities?
Gibbs: Wants to keep up more than 550 miles of trails to avoid a maintenance backlog, and invest in mountain biking trails and accessible facilities for an aging population. eplocalnews.org
Rasmussen: "Maintaining trails, facilities and natural areas may not be as exciting as announcing something new," but says that is where he would start. eplocalnews.org
Q: Where do they stand on natural resources?
Gibbs: Says Three Rivers should respond to climate and invasive-species pressure "with purpose and a plan," citing prairie restoration and water-quality monitoring at more than 70 sites. eplocalnews.org
Rasmussen: "Protecting natural resources is a core responsibility of the park district. I want those decisions driven by good science." eplocalnews.org
Q: Where do they stand on partnerships?
Gibbs: "Partnerships are essential to a great regional park system," including work with cities, schools, nonprofits and watershed districts. eplocalnews.org
Rasmussen: "When I'm riding a trail, I don't really care whether a particular section is maintained by Eden Prairie, Three Rivers or another agency." eplocalnews.org
Q: Where do they stand on access?
Gibbs: Cites the district's "You Belong Here" principle and wants to welcome immigrants to the parks and make better use of technology. eplocalnews.org
Rasmussen: Wants regional trails and links to local trail systems that make Three Rivers "part of people's everyday lives," and varied facilities so people can "find their own way to enjoy Three Rivers." eplocalnews.org
