Candidate for Minnesota State Senate - District 7 in 2022 Minnesota General Election.
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Get StartedAs a State Senator, I will advocate for increased funding for EMS, particularly rural ambulance services. We must keep these lifesaving services viable in every part of the Iron Range. Learn more
We must fully fund the police. Local agencies are struggling to make ends meet and should not have to make decisions on whether to upgrade equipment or pay fair wages. I hear over and over how local police chiefs make do, settle for less, and rely on one-time grants for funding. Learn more
The $9 billion state surplus should be used to increase student support services and educational service provider wages. The surplus is also an opportunity to increase the special education cross subsidy and the per pupil funding average. Learn more
I will stand against detrimental legislation like the Parents' Bill of Rights, school voucher schemes, and efforts to erode teacher licensure standards, which interfere in our system of strong public education and leaves educators feeling unsupported. Learn more
We have a dire need for interested students to enter trades. The Iron Range is proud to have some of the best technical education training programs, and partnering to expand initiatives like 218TRADES is an opportunity for young people to secure good paying jobs on the Range. Learn more
The oldest schools in the State are on the Iron Range and this needs to be addressed through bonding. Now is the time to invest in these facilities, not only to improve student outcomes but also recruit and retain teachers. Learn more
I will fight against the boom-bust cycle of idling mines, particularly when the corporations who own them continue making record profits. Learn more
Electric arc furnaces produce “green steel,” which is better for our environment with lower carbon emissions. Using modern technology, steel can be produced on the Iron Range at a substantially lower cost. I have pushed for steelmaking on the Range during my time as Mayor and County Commissioner. No other candidate has the experience I do when it comes to mining. Learn more
I will sponsor legislation that fights the spread of chronic wasting disease and keeps deer hunting safe and sustainable. Learn more
The Talon Metals Tamarack project in Aitkin County, which has card check neutrality with the United Steelworkers, will provide nickel concentrate to power the electric cars of tomorrow. I will advocate for this project, and any other project that passes our proven system of permitting, until completion in the legislature. Learn more
I am a proponent of the PolyMet copper-nickel project. Cell phones, wind turbines, and electric cars require precious metals, and we should use the science at our disposal to move these types of precious metal projects forward. It is unethical to push environmental concerns to foreign countries that do not have child labor laws, strict environmental permitting & safety standards, or worker safety protections. Learn more
Keeping the mining industry strong is essential to our local economy. For this industry to continue to drive our local economy, companies must move towards the mining of the future by feeding new electric arc furnaces with a value-added product made here on the Range. Learn more
I will always support the 2nd Amendment and Minnesotan’s rights to defend themselves. Learn more
I oppose any attempts to ban high-capacity magazines or certain firearms merely because of cosmetic features. Learn more
Seeking healthcare should never forfeit constitutional rights. Medical cannabis patients currently lose their rights to possess firearms; I will work with the Department of Health to lobby for an exemption from the federal government so patients can fill prescriptions without losing rights. Learn more
Nearly 80% of firearm deaths in Minnesota are caused by suicide. I will work for greater safe storage education and resources. Access to mental health care is particularly lacking in Greater Minnesota. Every school must have full-time mental health providers. Asking for help is the strongest thing someone can do. Learn more
The next State Senator in SD7 should be on the Capital Investment Committee. We need to make the right investments, like finishing the Highway 169 Cross-Range Expressway, replacing aging wastewater infrastructure, fully building out high-speed internet, and creating good-paying union jobs in the process. Learn more
As a municipal and county level official in Greater Minnesota, I know how important Local Government Aid and County Program Aid is to balance the budget and keep taxes low, and I will fight to increase LGA and CPA funding levels. Learn more
Minnesotans need a paid family and medical leave system, and earned safe and sick time so no one is faced with losing their job when caring for a loved one. Learn more
Collective bargaining improves the lives of working people and consumers alike. We are living in a period of time where Right to Work threatens the continued prosperity under collective bargaining. Learn more
I will fight for paying EMTs and EMRs a fair wage in order to recruit and retain these valuable workers. Learn more
I believe in expanding unions to non-organized sectors and workplaces. I will provide oversight, ensure stiff penalties for employers who interfere in workers' rights, fully fund the Public Employment Relations Board, and fight against misclassifying workers. Learn more
I will always stand in solidarity with labor because being pro-union is pro-job. Learn more
I will walk picket lines and amplify worker actions demanding strong contracts and safe conditions. Learn more
I support card-check and employer neutrality, competitive prevailing wage standards, and Project Labor Agreements for any state-funded projects. Learn more
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