My family has deep roots in western Hennepin County, with my great grandparents Ephrem and Agnes (Lauman) Pouliot’s farmstead being located on Pioneer Trail just east of Greenfield in Loretto, and one of my other great grandparents being the Dorweilers who moved from Iowa to Hamel in the early 1900’s to take over the failing Farmer’s State Bank of Hamel. I grew up in the southwest corner of Maple Grove on a gravel road, surrounded by farming.
I had a great childhood there, and got the unique experience of being out in the country, living a rural lifestyle where one’s friends were their neighbors, out of necessity. It was there I learned to make friends with, and respect people of very different means and lifestyles. Wayzata school district covered this area, and as such I got to also witness and be part of a much more suburban life as well.
By the time I was 20 years old, the area around my childhood home was under heavy pressure
to be developed into suburban lots, and soon after… it was. I had met a girl that lived in
Plymouth and soon we purchased and moved into the home she grew up in, after both her
parents passed away. Soon after, Noelle Victor and I married. We had 2 children several years
later. We lived in the same house Noelle grew up in until 2021, when we purchased a wonderful house on two and a half acres here in Greenfield.
While we were living in Plymouth, I transitioned from being an automotive technician, to running my small independent automotive shop. I have built that shop into a successful business that not only supports my family and serves many people in the area, but has also been able to support others with good paying jobs. Honest Auto is currently a 2 bay general auto repair shop that employs myself and a former Greenfield city resident who now resides in Rockford.
During my time living and running a business in Plymouth, I was asked to represent my fellow residents on the Plymouth City Council. In 2018 I ran and was elected to represent the southwest corner of Plymouth on their council. In the fall of 2021 the stars aligned, and I was able to support my wife’s strong desire to move out of the house she had lived in for over 40 years. We were and still are so excited to now be living in what we both consider one of the most ideal places to live and raise a family, the rural environment of Greenfield.
Soon after getting the word out about our move to Greenfield, I was approached by several
residents of Greenfield, asking me if I would run for city council here. I was reluctant. Who
would vote for such a new resident of the city? They told me the city of Greenfield could use
someone that had the experience I had. I attended and watched many of the Greenfield
Council meetings, and I came to the conclusion that I would be an asset to Greenfield.
Greenfield faces many challenges in the next 20 years as the population center of Minneapolis continues to spread outward. I have witnessed and experienced these challenges as the same things happened where I grew up. I was able to get 3 and half years of inside view of city business in Plymouth, learning what the city had done wrong in the past, and what they did right, how it is affecting them now, and what they are currently doing right and wrong.
When I ran for Council 2 years ago, I stated, "I want to bring more robust conversation and consideration to the city council, our commissions, and most importantly, from our residents. I want to PLAN for our future more aggressively. To shape what our city looks like in 10 to 20 years, requires a vision to be further developed now."
Today, running for Mayor, I'd like to add 3 more P's to Planning. That is, Policies, Practices, and Procedures. I believe the city's Policies, Practices, Procedures, and Planning are what will have the most effect on resident's level of happiness with the city, and what I plan to make a priority.
Finally, I want to listen to you and hear your ideas and perspectives.
I’m Nick Roehl. These are the background, experiences and vision I offer you. I am asking for you to reach out to me and share what is important to you, and I'm asking for your vote this fall.
I look forward to visiting with you or hearing from you!