County commissioners are the county s key policymakers. They oversee the administration of the county, set county budget, and participate in county long-range planning. County services that they oversee include a wide variety of social service and welfare programs, as well as certain public health programs. 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)
My priorities are protecting mandated services, strengthening mental health crisis response, and bringing data discipline to county decisions — and they're connected.
Medical Assistance, child protection, and mental health programs are where the county has the greatest impact on residents with nowhere else to turn. Protecting them comes first.
Dakota County built its crisis system on temporary ARPA dollars now running out, while receiving 2.9% of state crisis funds despite representing 8% of the population. It also carries the lowest levy per capita among all seven metro counties. Closing that gap is essential. Where reductions become necessary, knowing what works — and what doesn't — is how you protect the most vulnerable from guesswork.
These aren't competing goals — they're both achievable. Secure elections require accurate records, reliable equipment, and transparent processes. Accessible elections require clear information, reasonable hours, and removing unnecessary barriers. Dakota County can meet both standards. I'd support regular audits to verify accuracy alongside outreach that helps every eligible voter understand how and when to participate.
The biggest challenge is a funding cliff. Dakota County built a nationally recognized crisis response system — embedded social workers, mobile response, a new Crisis and Recovery Center — largely on one-time ARPA dollars that are running out. Meanwhile, the county receives 2.9% of state crisis funds while representing 8% of the population. I'd push to fix that formula and build sustainable funding before services contract.
Dakota County has maintained the lowest levy per capita among all seven metro counties since 2005, through 20% population growth. The consequence is a structural fund balance of 8% — well below the State Auditor's recommended floor of 35–50%. That's the real fiscal context. I'd start by understanding what each program delivers and to whom, working with front-line staff rather than managing from a spreadsheet. Mandated services for vulnerable residents get protected first. Where reductions become
Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. The county board's role is to ensure county employees and resources aren't used to carry out federal enforcement work. I brought a verification protocol policy to the Dakota County Board after witnessing federal operations that violated residents' Constitutional rights. The board declined to adopt it — and that experience is part of why I'm running. Local government should serve all residents.
I'd hold regular listening sessions across District 6, make myself reachable by email and in person, and apply my data background directly: regular public reports tracking program performance against stated goals in plain language. If the county says something is working, residents should be able to see what "working" means. Good representation means going to people, not waiting for them to come to you.
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