Duluth HRA applicant cites 24 years in banking, says he would recuse if conflict arises

An applicant for a seat on the Duluth Housing and Redevelopment Authority told the City Council on Monday night that his 24‑year career in banking gives him experience underwriting housing projects and that he would recuse himself if a future conflict of interest arose.

The applicant, identified in the interview only as an applicant and described himself as the market president at Bell Bank, said he had “never done business with the HRA” in two decades in Duluth banking but acknowledged a theoretical possibility of a future conflict. “If there was a situation like that arose, obviously, I would abstain and recuse myself,” he said.

The interview was part of the council’s appointment process. Council President Randolph conducted the interview and council members asked questions about the candidate’s background, time availability and experience with redevelopment.

The candidate outlined his education and career history: he grew up in Duluth East High School, attended the University of Minnesota Duluth and completed graduate coursework at the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania. He said he started his career as a business credit analyst at U.S. Bank in 2001, became a lender in 2004, worked at Republic Bank from 2004 to 2019 and has been at Bell Bank since 2019.

He told the council he has direct experience underwriting single‑family and multifamily housing across the region and in several states, and that nine years of board service at Center City Housing and nine years on the Duluth Economic Development Authority had exposed him to non‑traditional financing and subsidy structures. “I have direct experience underwriting both single and multifamily housing developments… which enables me to bring a realistic perspective when assessing housing projects and a pragmatic approach in decision making,” he said.

Councilors asked about the applicant’s interest in affordable housing and his capacity to attend meetings. He said he was “passionate about trying to improve our community” and that the HRA’s work was “greatly beneficial.” He told the council the publicly posted meeting schedule did not show conflicts that would prevent regular attendance but acknowledged occasional absences could occur.

On personal experience with financial insecurity, the applicant told Councilor Derwachter that he had been fortunate and had not experienced prolonged financial insecurity but said he had friends from a local boxing gym who had experienced addiction and homelessness.

The applicant said his personal strengths for the HRA would include asking hard questions, performing due diligence, collaborating and compromising. He also disclosed that his spouse owns several single‑family rental properties in Duluth.

The council noted that the HRA is a mayoral appointment; the applicant was told the mayor will decide when to place the nomination on a future council agenda for a vote. “This is one of the steps in the process, and the next will be to be on our agenda and for the council to vote,” Council President Randolph said.

No formal appointment or council vote was recorded in the transcript of the interview.