Q&A

My biggest asset is my business experience, which I reinforce with my engineering training. I managed a municipal electric and water utility in Marshfield, WI, which is similar to Austin’s. I was involved in numerous negotiations and regular operational and financial issues. I can look at the big picture and differentiate between the significant and insignificant factors. My Utility Manager’s job’s primary responsibility was to make decisions. A decision maker gets the best information and analysis available and then acts. Perfect information usually is not available.

Minnesota has many assets, including a robust education and research base, a thriving economy, and abundant natural resources. I believe the biggest issue facing the state is improving the business climate. Having a healthy business climate will help address other challenges. Keeping existing and attracting new, good-paying jobs will make housing more affordable and make paying for other services such as childcare possible.

I realize that everyone has something to contribute. I am a good listener, and I know that all points of view need to be considered to reach the best outcome. I have discovered that in any negotiation, some compromise is necessary.

The whole business model of childcare needs to be evaluated. Everyone agrees that children must be in a safe and healthy environment. The Department of Health is proposing new childcare facility rules, which will close more facilities, adding to the childcare shortage. The system rules need to be reevaluated to provide safe and healthy facilities without unduly burdensome and costly regulations that do not protect our children.

First, the housing shortage must be addressed. Without adequate housing, existing workers will not stay, and new workers will not come. Zoning and codes must be revised to allow for denser housing and to reduce the cost of infrastructure such as streets and utilities. At the local level, sources of funding assistance, such as the USDA, need to be considered.

All of the neighboring districts have essential projects, and state bonding assistance would keep their local property taxes and utility rates down in the case of wastewater plants. We need to partner with neighboring legislative districts on this issue to have more clout at the state level and get our projects funded.

Each legislator must impress on their party leaders that chaos is unacceptable. I would keep communications open with individual legislators of the opposite party and call out instances of uncivil behavior.

I am willing to support legalizing sports betting if the State seriously addresses the gambling addiction problem. Providing an 800 number is not adequate. The State profits from the lottery and other gambling, so it is responsible for correcting and treating the consequences of that profit. The economic impacts of gambling on the State need to be evaluated, including the total revenue and costs, including, for instance, considering the price of a child going hungry because a parent has lost the grocery money gambling.

The State should increase state aid to local schools so they have resources to hire and keep the most qualified teachers while keeping local property taxes under control. Curriculum requirements should be reviewed so that the basics are given the priority they deserve.

The State of Minnesota is awash in rules and regulations. I would propose a Commission with the power to remove outdated and duplicative regulations. The Commission would also evaluate regulations’ economic impacts and remove those that are not worthwhile. I would also repeal the package delivery tax. It is utterly ridiculous.