PLATFORM

Since 1994, I have been a paying member of the National Democratic Party and therefore my core values align with the issues the party faces across the country, in the state of Minnesota and within our community:

1. Strong Democracy

Strong democracy begins with integrity and trust amongst diverse groups and classes of people to empower citizenry to be informed and engage the democratic process. If we advocate and expect integrity within our democracy at the national level, we must first be an example of that at the local level, and I believe a fair process is when we equally respect the rights of all citizens to cast a vote of their conscience.  This is precisely why I regularly volunteer as an election judge to protect that right and ensure all votes are cast fairly.

2. Ice Out

Minnesota stepped up to the plate to show what we are made of and that WE WILL protect one another, and I am proud to be a part of our community. The fatal shootings of Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti that stemmed from Operation Metro Surge was a sobering example that showed our nation why it is critically important not to look the other way when marginalized communities fall victim of unfair laws, systemic abuse and over-reach from our government or any other authority that has oversight of our right to live freely. We must ALWAYS call out unfair and unjust laws to protect every citizen.

3. Affordable Housing

I believe families deserve access to safe and affordable housing because it is an essential need for the prevention of homelessness and poverty housing security provides a healthier existence for all. Our commission, the Burnsville Economic Commission alongside the Burnsville Economic Authority recommended the investment of more than $400k in annual Local Affordable Housing Aide to boost home rehabilitation loans ranging from $5k to $50k to residents with low-to-moderate income which, also included 30-year loans for homeowners over the age of 65 yrs.

4. Labor Unions

I believe in protecting the rights of unions by closely tracking laws that ensure workers have competitive wages, access to benefits; a safe and respectful work environment; and job security. Unions should have the right to free and fair collective bargaining to align policies with member priorities. This security helps members to secure competitive wages; protect pensions and labor rights; maintain healthcare benefits and telework opportunities that strengthen and protect the power of union workers.

5. Gun Reform

Since 2024, Burnsville still mourns the tragic deaths of Firefighter-Paramedic Adam Finseth, and Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge to gun violence and, after losing a loved-one to gun violence, it is personal to me that I support comprehensive legislation that bans the sale of high-capacity magazines and assault style weapons. In addition, stronger gun restrictions to reduce untraceable ghost sales that lead to preventable suicides and avoidable gun violence is critical for the safety of our community. While gun violence is down in the state of Minnesota, we must continue our efforts to ensure our children remain safe while attending school and do not experience trauma from indiscriminate gun violence.

6. Livable Wages

I will support legislation to increase livable wages that enable families to afford basic needs such as housing, healthcare and transportation to reduce poverty. The Minnesota’s statewide minimum wage increased to $11.41 per hour on Jan 1, 2026. While statute set the true minimum wage at $23 per hour, there are current legislative efforts to increase wages to $25 per hour which better aligns with the current cost of living.

While local governments can adopt a higher and localized standard that accounts for the current cost of living in their area this often will also increase the statewide average for living wages.

7. Honoring individuals living with Disabilities

Minnesota is home for more than 670,000 people who live with disabilities and who deserve equal access to housing, education, healthcare, jobs and transportation. I vow to support legislation that is free from discrimination, violence and harassment and I will continue to create legislation that protects our disabled community to ensure equal access.

8. Healthcare

I support the Minnesota Healthcare plan (MHP) because it provides universal healthcare coverage for all residents. Supporting this single-payer plan will provide coverage for more than 250,000 uninsured and underinsured residents who live in the state of Minnesota.

Minnesota residents deserve the right to access non-discriminatory medical care as well as the right to private treatment under HIPAA protections.

Currently, Minnesota allows low-income residents access to MinnesotaCare and Medicaid that serves more than 1 million Minnesota residents.

9. Women’s Reproductive Rights

I strongly support legislation such as WHPA, which ensures women access to abortion rights and does not restrict a woman’s right to pro-choice. I also support the protections of women’s right for autonomy over their bodies, free from medical procedures that are performed without a woman’s consent.

10. Environmental Justice

I support environmental justice legislation such as the partnership between Burnsville and the GreenStep Cities program to reduce community-wide GHG emissions 40% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 and I will continue support the work of the caucus and MPCA to prioritize and advance the goals identified in Executive Order 26-03 to establish electric public transit, the expansion of protected bicycle lanes, and the implementation of MnDOT’s “Complete Streets” program to meet long range carbon reductions.

Key legislative actions I would take would be to adopt policies to protect our water supply from PFAS contaminants, promote the creation of more green spaces and prioritize infrastructure investment for zoning and pollution regulation.

Burnsville’s environmental issues are to protect our local drinking water from the Minnesota River because it is at risk of contaminates in the water from the landfill which carries PFAS, 714 times higher than on average and contributes to health concerns like cancer and high cholesterol levels.  Low levels of water in the nearby quarry could cause spillage from the Minnesota River into the drinking water containing contaminants and because there are no venting system that currently exists for the landfill to release methane and pollutant greenhouse gasses, this would be unsafe for our community.