Key issues

Key issues for a political campaign in Minnesota’s State House District 31B

1. Safety

Safety is a paramount issue encompassing crime prevention, law enforcement, and emergency services. Critical steps to build trust and enhance public safety include:
  • Promoting community policing
  • Ensuring adequate funding for local police
  • Implementing crime reduction programs
  • Improving emergency response times, providing necessary training and equipment for first responders
  • Addressing traffic and road safety
Additional measures to create a secure and resilient community for everyone:
  • Expanding substance abuse programs and mental health services
  • Enhancing school safety
Citizens should feel safe in their communities; therefore, I support law enforcement and efforts for recruitment and diversity in public safety, as well as funding medical support for mental health, drug, and alcohol crisis calls.

2. Economic Development and Job Creation:

Economic development and job creation are essential to fostering a prosperous community in District 31B. Critical steps to drive economic growth and resilience include:
  • Supporting local businesses, particularly small enterprises
  • Implementing workforce development programs that align local skills with market demands
  • Offering vocational training and partnerships with local industries
  • Providing incentives for businesses to invest in the area
  • Advocating for infrastructure investments to create jobs and stimulate economic growth
I believe that:
  • The minimum wage should be a living wage for a forty-hour work week
  • The rights of workers to organize and bargain should be supported

3. Education:

Ensuring quality education is a cornerstone of a thriving community. Adequate funding for public schools is critical to maintaining and improving education standards, providing students with the resources they need to succeed. Key measures include:
  • Making higher education and vocational training more affordable and accessible
  • Fully funding education in Minnesota so that every child receives a quality, safe, and supported education, regardless of zip code
  • Ensuring fair compensation for our teachers, recognizing their vital role in shaping our children's future
  • Taking the tax burden back from property taxes
  • Supporting K-Community College, Technical College, and Trade School programming

4. Healthcare and Women's Reproductive Freedom:

Access to quality healthcare remains a pressing concern for residents of District 31B. Ensuring that healthcare services are available and affordable, particularly in rural areas, is crucial. Key measures include:
  • Expanding mental health services to address the growing need for support
  • Implementing price controls on the inflationary costs of healthcare and prescription drug prices to prevent financial hardship
  • Trusting in the guidance of scientists and physicians for public health administrative decisions, emphasizing evidence-based approaches
Protecting women’s reproductive rights is also vital for ensuring the health and autonomy of women in District 31B. Critical steps include:
  • Providing access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including contraception and family planning services
  • Ensuring a woman's reproductive healthcare decisions are made between her and her doctor
  • Supporting policies that uphold these rights and providing education and resources to empower women
  • Advocating for policies that address maternal health and support family planning education

5. Infrastructure and Environment:

Investing in infrastructure and protecting the environment are key to sustaining a vibrant community. Essential measures include:
  • Maintenance and improvement of roads, bridges, and public transportation systems for connectivity and economic development
  • Protecting water quality and promoting sustainable practices to preserve natural resources for future generations
By prioritizing infrastructure development and environmental protection, we can ensure that District 31B remains a healthy and attractive place to live, work, and raise a family. Infrastructure projects create jobs and help build better avenues of commerce for the state.

6. Integrity, Truth, and Civility:

Integrity, truth, and civility are fundamental to effective governance and public service. Key principles include:
  • Ensuring open communication and active listening
  • Being transparent about decisions and actions
  • Holding ourselves accountable to the highest ethical standards
  • Fostering respectful and civil discourse in all public interactions
By promoting a culture of integrity, truth, and civility, we can strengthen the relationship between the government and the community, ensuring that the needs and concerns of the people are heard and addressed effectively.

7. Immigration:

Immigration is a cornerstone of our nation’s identity, rooted in the vision of our Founding Fathers who welcomed diversity and the pursuit of better opportunities. As George Washington once said, “The bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions.” Key measures include:
  • Creating a fair and compassionate system that recognizes immigrants as the backbone of a strong economy
  • Advocating for keeping families together and protecting the rights of all workers
  • Embracing diversity to enrich our culture and drive economic growth
  • Focusing policies on preventing family separations, ensuring workplace protections, and supporting community integration
  • Building a just and equitable society by treating all immigrants with dignity and respect
  • Keeping small cities alive and rural hospitals and services open
  • Implementing legal and comprehensive immigration reform