Blue Earth County Commissioner District 3 (Special Election) Choose 1
The county's key policymakers who ensure that citizen concerns are met, federal and state requirements are fulfilled, and county operations run smoothly. County Commissioners oversee the administration of the county, set the county budget, and participate in county long-range planning. Services that they oversee include a wide variety of social service and welfare programs as well as certain public health programs and capital improvements. Learn more about the day in the life of a county commissioner in this video from the Association of Minnesota Counties. (https://www.mncounties.org/meetings_and_education/day_in_the_life_of_a_minnesota_county_commissioner.php)
Biographical Information
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
How would you balance safe and secure elections with voting access? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you see as the biggest challenges to mental health and social services in your county, and how would you address them? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
What approach would you take to delivering county services while managing the cost of delivering those services? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
What role, if any, do you think the county board plays in immigration enforcement? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
How do you plan to interact with constituents to best understand the needs of the county? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)
By default the top 3 priorities will be SNAP,Medicare and Medicaid. The funding cuts from the federal government will be extremely challenging for county boards to deal with over the next couple of years. Outside these three related issue there is the problem of tasks being given to county governments with no corresponding funds to accomplish these tasks. This is referred to as “unfunded mandates “ . The state and federal governments can not continue to pass on tasks to the county then not pay for them. The solution will require the county board to be very creative! Not something that is sustainable!
How would you balance safe and secure elections with voting access? (500 characters)
I have complete confidence in Minnesota’s election procedures. Minnesota has led the nation in voter turnout and that is something I am personally very proud that the state continues lead in. Minnesota voter registrations have been carefully scrutinized over and over. The number of ineligible voters is extremely small. Ironically most of the time it has been people that have turned their lives around after committing a felony in their youth. People who are trying to be part a of community.
What do you see as the biggest challenges to mental health and social services in your county, and how would you address them? (500 characters)
Any solution must be a statewide solution. In the 1980’s Minnesota spent approximately 4% of the budget on mental health issues. This was during a time when the state operated a number of large state hospitals. As the hospitals closed promises were made that the money would follow the patients into the community. This never happened, as of 2020 it was down to 1.5%.
There is a need for more resources. More in patient beds and wraparound services are needed first and foremost.
What approach would you take to delivering county services while managing the cost of delivering those services? (500 characters)
A zero base budgeting program would help, by reviewing the service plan’s yearly goals and outcomes to see what works and what doesn’t. Having staff stay current in their areas of expertise would help with updating improvements in each area and bring innovation to the programs
What role, if any, do you think the county board plays in immigration enforcement? (500 characters)
If there is a dangerous individual local sheriff departments should assist, but only in an emergency situations. The federal government is charged with this responsibility and should not be putting their responsibility on the County or local authorities to do their jobs. It can create a tension between local law enforcement and the very people they have sworn to serve and protect.
How do you plan to interact with constituents to best understand the needs of the county? (500 characters)
I have taken a great deal of pride in how accessible I have been to my constituents in the past. I will continue to do the same in the future. People approach me on a regular basis and have continued even when I have not been in office.
Biographical Information
If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
How would you balance safe and secure elections with voting access? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
What do you see as the biggest challenges to mental health and social services in your county, and how would you address them? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
What approach would you take to delivering county services while managing the cost of delivering those services? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
What role, if any, do you think the county board plays in immigration enforcement? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.
How do you plan to interact with constituents to best understand the needs of the county? (500 characters)
Candidate has not yet responded.