About

From James A. Sagerholm VADM, ret.:

Although I am not a resident of Stillwater, I have had the pleasure of visiting your charming town, and enjoyed its typical American Midwest friendliness, a town where I was made to feel welcome by its good citizens.

It is because of my admiration for Stillwater and what it stands for, that I feel the need to write this letter, with the hope that my letter will also be welcome.

When I learned that my good friend and former shipmate, Doug Menikheim, is running for city council in Stillwater, my first reaction was disbelief:  Menikheim is not a politician, why would he want to get into that arena?  I started thinking of our two years together in the destroyer Sproston; Doug was the Operations Officer , in charge of the department that handles the brains of the ship, its sensors, its communications, and its navigation. .Just two years out of the Naval Academy, he supervised three other officers and 39 enlisted men.  As the executive officer, I remember watching Doug rapidly grow into the top-performing junior officer on the ship, with a sure grasp of his responsibilities and how to get the best from his men.  And I also recall being impressed with Doug’s dedication to the ship and to his men, all in the name of service to our Navy and our country.

Our paths crossed again when I was Chief of Naval Education and Training and Doug was head of the department of naval science at the University of Minnesota, and was therefore a member of my command.  I saw Doug Menikheim transform young men and women into first-rate naval officers because he was dedicated to the task of doing so, and he made the NROTC unit at Minnesota one of the top units in our NROTC organization.

Dedicated service, that is Doug Menikheim, I recalled, and then I knew why Doug had chosen to enter local politics. He is answering the same call to serve that I saw in the Navy, only this time, he is seeking to serve the good citizens of Stillwater.

Citizens of Stillwater, if you elect Menikheim to the city council, you will have chosen a man who will render the same excellent and dedicated service to your community that he gave to the Navy.  Integrity, honesty, service, that is Doug Menikheim.

A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, my life has been one of duty, honor, and country.  After a naval career, I was happy to locate in the Midwest.  I love living in Stillwater, and want to actively SERVE my city and community as I served my country.   I will be an active advocate for the city on issues of economic development, the bridge, preservation of historic buildings, fire department location, the armory, and building a long range vision.  I will be an active council member, helping to lead Stillwater in being truly Minnesota’s 1st City.

I have lived in Stillwater over 17 years.  My wife, Mary Louise, is my business partner, teaches with me at Argosy University, and is active in Restorative Justice, including the Stillwater Community Peace Circle.

3 Daughters & 5 Grandchildren

Three of our six children are Stillwater High graduates.  Our only son, Jeff, is in the Air Force Reserve squadron and is an active volunteer on the Stillwater Fire Dept.

 

I will LEAD, bringing together the City’s many diverse perspectives in Serving Stillwater’s Best Interests.

Doug Menikheim, Capt. (USN ret.)

In the US Navy, I was successful in building some of the highest performing ships in the Pacific fleet.

I ranked among the top performing captains in developing officers and men to take significant leadership positions.

My style of leadership is leading through influence, not command, building relationships with people throughout the ward and city to work for mutually decided purpose and long range vision.

I have continued in my career to develop leaders, after retirement from the Navy, at Honeywell, as Director of Executive Development.

As an adjunct professor, I have developed premier leadership development programs and classes at the graduate schools of the University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, and Argosy University.

I have brought leadership development to the local level, working with District 834 Community Ed, to design and implement the Leadership Development Academy at Stillwater High School.  This fall, I have become a mentor in the Hennepin County Veteran’s Court.

I will ENGAGE 1st Ward constituents, as I have my students – Serving Stillwater’s Best Interests.

Experienced in drawing out the best efforts of people, whether students or clients, I will listen to my constituents and the people of Stillwater to discern the actions needed for the long term interests of the city.

I will seek out and listen to neighborhood advocates to gain an “on the ground” understanding of the concerns that need to be address at the city level.