I am running to make Hennepin County a safe, thriving community and to lead it into the future. I am a father of four, a Democrat, a Marine veteran, the former Acting U.S. Attorney, and a Hopkins, Minnesota native.
I have led a public law office, served at the highest levels of the Department of Justice and bring decades of leadership and legal experience necessary to run the largest public law office in Minnesota. My career has centered around public service and public safety.
I am running because Hennepin County deserves an experienced prosecutor and leader who will work every day to make our county safe for everyone. Everyone in Hennepin County should be safe, receive equal justice, and be treated with dignity.
Public safety. My plans are detailed on my website, but there are four priorities: (1) Ensuring accountability for violations of Minnesota law by federal agents during Operation Metro Surge; (2) Strategic enforcement to ensure violent and repeat criminal offenders are held accountable and taken off our streets; (3) prevention and intervention to ensure people are kept out of the criminal justice system when possible; and (4) making the Hennepin County Attorney a public safety leader.
I am a collaborative leader and will use my deep experience as a prosecutor and public sector leader to bring together stakeholders to create policies and strategies that increase public safety. Building partnerships with law enforcement in Hennepin County is critical. I am committed to working with our law enforcement partners and making it clear that the County Attorney's Office will do its job to ensure public safety and that we expect our law enforcement partners to do their job.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach but change is required. We must strike a balance between compassion and consequence. For juveniles involved in gun crime, violent crime, and who repeatedly violate the law, we need to ensure consequences that disrupt criminal behavior. We also need to continue investing in proven diversion, restorative justice, and prevention programs that provide an opportunity to break the cycle that has gotten juveniles into the justice system in the first place.
As County Attorney, I will change the direction of the office. I will be a collaborative leader and partner to ensure offenders are accountable for violating the law. We will work with crime victims to ensure their voices are heard.
As a federal prosecutor, I worked with law enforcement, victim witness advocates and the courts to ensure accountability. Minnesota has effectively used Group Violence Intervention as a method to reduce recidivism and prevent individuals from violating the law.
As the only DFL & Labor endorsed candidate in this race, I believe the decision before us this year is not simply about who holds the office of County Attorney—it’s about whether we move forward, applying the lessons we’ve learned from the past, or regress to the old failed approaches that do not deliver the safety or fairness our communities deserve.
My lived experience growing up on the southside of Chicago, combined with my professional experience as a public defender, legal counsel for Minneapolis Public Schools, a labor attorney at Education Minnesota, combined with my elected experience as a suburban city councilmember and state legislator, gives me the well-rounded perspective necessary to lead this office.
No one is above the law - whether on the corner of the block or in the corner office. That means treating wage theft like a crime, investing in proven violence prevention strategies, centering victims and survivors, and prosecuting ICE.
If we treat the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office as “business as usual,” we miss the opportunity—and the responsibility—to use this office to protect communities, defend rights, and respond to threats against our democracy.
With me, these relationships come built-in. During my service as a New Hope City Councilmember and State Legislator, I have built strong relationships with law enforcement, legislators, mayors, and community leaders.
To lead effectively, decisions need to be made together; no surprises.
I’ll ensure law enforcement investigations focus on the evidence needed for attorneys to build strong cases in court. When cases go to trial, we need convictions to stick.
I do not believe that placing children in adult prisons serves the long-term interests of public safety. There will, unfortunately, be cases where a young person commits conduct so serious that certification and a prison sentence are warranted.
That said, I will use my relationships at the State Capitol and with the County Commissioners to advocate for the resources needed to establish secure residential treatment options in Hennepin County for youth who are not safe at home or in the community
We do a great job with punishment. Reducing recidivism is something we struggle with.
I have a proven track record of making investments in our communities to bring down crime. I authored Minnesota’s Red Flag Law, “Restored the Vote” to formerly incarcerated Minnesotans, and funded investigations into Non-Fatal shootings.
All things that I’ve done in collaboration with law enforcement, victim advocates, and county attorneys, and all collaborative efforts that will continue under my leadership.
