Name: Ruslan Gunko
Year of birth: 1988
Municipality: Raseborg
Town: Tenala
Title: Researcher
Email: rusl.gunko@gmail.com

Ruslan
Gunko

Raseborg

"People brighten a place, nature makes it healthier."

I am a researcher in environmental science and a lecturer at Novia University of Applied Sciences in Raseborg. Ten years ago, I moved to Raseborg from Ukraine, and over the years, I’ve come to lovingly call this place my home.
When I first arrived in Finland, I embarked on my journey of adaptation by learning Swedish, and today I proudly define myself as a Swedish-speaking resident of Raseborg. This personal experience has given me a deep understanding of the challenges the Swedish-speaking community in Finland has faced in recent years, particularly with the ongoing limitations in access to services in Swedish. At the same time, as someone who originally comes from abroad, I also empathize with the challenges faced by newcomers to our community. I truly believe that my background allows me to contribute positively to the future of our beloved Raseborg.
I live with my family in Tenala, and I speak Swedish, English, and Ukrainian.

Important political topics

Forerunners in climate and the environment

The role of nature is vital for people’s well-being, and therefore, special attention must be given to the protection of the environment within the community. We must ensure that we build a society that maintains a balance between human activities, community development and environmental protection. It is our responsibility to future generations in Raseborg.

Read more about our election platform ›

Municipal and urban vitality

The residents of Raseborg deserve full access to vital services such as 24-hour medical care, well-developed and efficient public transport, and access to quality education. It is important and crucial that these services are available in Swedish, alongside Finnish and English. The role of local characteristics must be acknowledged and respected!

Read more about our election platform ›

Thriving citizens

Citizens need access to opportunities for development and equal access to opportunities for self-realization. Our municipality should be a place where people, regardless of their age, want to move to and feel they have equal rights to consider Raseborg as their home. This requires a comprehensive approach to building a long-term strategy for stimulating human and financial capital being interested in Raseborg. People make a place brighter, and we must value every resident and investor in our municipality.

Read more about our election platform ›

Candidate's answers in election machine

1 / 11

Early childhood education should be free for everyone.

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Education is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right for every resident in the municipality to ensure their children have access to high-quality, free early childhood education. To build a healthier, stronger, and more competitive municipality, it is our duty to support and empower young families.

2 / 11

Schools should prioritize traditional textbooks over digital learning materials.

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A hybrid model, combining access to books and new technologies, is essential in modern education. It\'s crucial that educational programs evolve with the changing world, ensuring they stay relevant and adaptive. At the same time, it\'s important that children learn the valuable lessons of the past, alongside contemporary methods and approaches. We must offer children opportunities, not limit them by trends.

3 / 11

One of the municipality’s most important tasks is to invest in sports facilities and opportunities for exercise and recreation.

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The municipality’s goal should be to invest in commonly accessible sports facilities and spaces for exercise and recreation. The well-being of residents is closely tied to their access to these infrastructures, and continuous development in this area must be a top priority.

4 / 11

It is important to provide all residents with equal opportunities for cultural activities.

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Access to cultural activities is vital in smaller municipalities. If we want to foster community development by attracting new families or at least retaining our current residents, we must ensure that people have access to cultural events. Moreover, culture is a key part of the local identity for community members, and supporting it creates stronger bonds between residents.

5 / 11

The municipality should introduce or improve opportunities for residents to influence how municipal funds are used through participatory budgeting.

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It is important to ensure that residents feel included in the municipality’s agenda, and participatory budgeting is an excellent tool for involving citizens in decision-making. There are numerous good examples in the Nordics and worldwide that demonstrate the positive impact on communities after giving people the right to influence decisions. However, it should be well moderated, and the approach should be handled with care to ensure it remains representative.

6 / 11

The municipality should invest in public transportation.

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The municipality should encourage residents to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprint, all while maintaining accessibility within the community. This is not an area where financial profitability should be the primary focus, as well-functioning and accessible public transport is a crucial element of the municipality\'s long-term development strategy.

7 / 11

It should be possible to be a resident in more than one municipality, for example, through digital municipal citizenship.

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This could be a solution for maintaining quality access to municipal services for students. This way, they will remain continuously involved in the life of their hometown, even if they study in another municipality.

8 / 11

The municipality should better facilitate the expansion of renewable energy, such as solar and wind power.

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The transition to renewable energy sources is a key component of the municipality\'s long-term development strategy. It is no longer a question of whether it should be on the agenda, but rather how quickly we can adapt and create new opportunities within the municipality to build renewable energy infrastructure. The energy crisis has clearly demonstrated the importance of energy self-sufficiency at all levels in Finland.

9 / 11

The municipality should mix more housing types in planning than is currently the case.

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New housing opportunities and a mix of housing types can encourage diversity among residents and their lifestyles. However, the municipality must approach these decisions with great care, taking into account the opinions of citizens in areas where such strategies may be applied. It is crucial to avoid potential conflicts and remember that this is not a universal solution.

10 / 11

The municipality should introduce anonymous recruitment.

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Openness and transparency in the municipality’s recruitment process are essential. Society has the right to access information about the stages of recruitment. However, considering the current security situation in Europe and Finland, certain exceptions may be necessary when security concerns are involved.

11 / 11

If you could give a superpower to your future political leader, what would it be?

The ability to instantly purify the environment and stop climate change.
Invisibility to reveal and combat corruption at all levels.
Time travel to correct historical mistakes and improve the future.
Infinite wisdom to make perfect decisions on all political matters.

Despite the various security challenges, differing political views, and debates around new technologies, we all face a common threat that is already having a profound impact on our society at multiple levels. It is our responsibility to future generations to do everything we can to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the environment on all fronts. Nature is our greatest treasure, and I believe that, together, we can learn how to safeguard it and enhance our environmental wealth.

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