NDDC Downtown Forum to Feature City's Two New Counciliors

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) will host the newest members of the Northfield City Council, Patrick Ganey and Suzie Nakasian, at its January Downtown Forum on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, beginning 8 a.m., in the Riverview Conference Room (lower level) of the historic Archer House River Inn, located at 212 Division Street.

Ganey is employed as a development officer at Carleton College. He previously served as director of the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and as a public affairs specialist for the Peace Corps, after serving as a volunteer in Thailand. Ganey is also a former member of the Northfield Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo. Ganey, his wife Meaghan, and their three children live in Northfield, and enjoy spending time gardening and cooking together.

Nakasian has served the Northfield community as a member of the Environmental Quality Commission, the Planning Commission, and, most recently, as facilitator of the Northfield Grass Roots Transit Initiative. Before moving to Northfield in 2002, Nakasian worked in the design and administration of national political and non-profit campaigns including the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Centennial Celebration and the presidential campaign of U. S. Senator Bob Dole. Nakasian is a graduate of Columbia University and is currently on leave from a doctoral program while raising two "above average" Minnesota kids with her husband, Peter Balaam, a professor of English at Carleton College.

Both Ganey and Nakasian spoke often during their campaigns of the significant challenges facing the City Council, while at the same time recognizing the unique opportunities available to the community of Northfield. Both of these new councilors welcome direct, unfiltered discussion with the citizens of Northfield

The NDDC is a non-partisan, non-profit community organization dedicated to the vitality and vibrancy of downtown Northfield. The event is free and open to the public. As always, coffee and cookies will be served.

For more information, contact Executive Director Ross Currier at (507) 663-0319 or rcurrier@nddc.org.