Vision & Values

By carrying forward St. Louis Park’s values and priorities to the state level, I see an opportunity to have even more impact on issues we care about.

Climate Change

Addressing climate change is what inspires me to be involved in public service. If we don’t get climate right, it will continue to make every other issue worse. 

Climate change is also a tremendous opportunity to generate good jobs, to clean our water and air, to improve our health, and to deepen and restore our relationship with the natural world. As the impacts of climate change fall disproportionately on the least advantaged among us, climate investments also must address the inequalities caused by the fossil fuel economy.

IN MINNESOTA, WE CAN AND SHOULD: 

Track and beat our goal - In the 2023 legislative session, we updated Minnesota’s greenhouse gas reduction goal to be net zero emissions by 2050 (it was set in 2007 to be an 80% reduction by 2050). Net zero by 2050 is what the world needs to hit, based on the current science, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. To be a leader and be better than average, we need to track our progress, and beat our goal.

Get off fossil fuels - In order to reach net zero emissions by 2050, we have to first transition our electric grid to 100% clean electricity by 2040, and then take advantage of that clean fossil-fuel-free power by electrifying most everything else. This includes our cars, buses, trucks, and buildings. We need to educate and incent homeowners and businesses to move toward electric-powered appliances. And, in the short term, a focus on energy efficiency can make this transition easier and significantly reduce energy burdens, especially on lower income Minnesotans.

Remove carbon - Carbon dioxide, from the burning of fossil fuels, is the primary greenhouse gas causing climate change, and we must take immediate actions to remove it from the atmosphere. Key things on which to focus are preserving existing trees, planting many more trees, preserving wetlands, and incenting farmers to adjust soil management practices, to simultaneously improve water quality, make soil healthier for growing food, and remove carbon.

  • Racial Equity

    The vastly unequal outcomes for people of color and indigenous people in this country are caused by historical inequalities, discrimination, and systemic barriers. The lack of racial equity not only harms those who feel it directly, but holds us all back from reaching our full potential as a community, a state, and a country. In order to create a more just and inclusive society for all, racial equity and inclusion must be a lens through which we view virtually all government action

  • Education

    Strong public schools are the bedrock of our community and the lifeblood of our economy. Every Minnesota child deserves high-quality public education, regardless of who they are and where they are from. I see two gaps on which I want to focus: the racial achievement gap, and an overall funding gap. We must fully fund our public schools.

  • Housing for All

    Fundamental to success in society is having a safe, healthy, and affordable place to live. We must attack this issue on multiple fronts: ensuring an adequate supply of housing and especially affordable housing; encouraging homeownership and wealth creation; and addressing growing income and wealth inequality.

  • Community-centered Public Safety

    Providing safe neighborhoods and workplaces is a fundamental responsibility for government at all levels. For public safety to be effective, it should be:

    • holistic, extending beyond accountable policing, including things like effective and adequately funded mental health services.

    • outcome-focused, where the root causes of disparities in outcomes for different racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender groups are understood and addressed.

    • reflective of the community – the public safety workforce should look like the community it protects.

  • Healthcare

    Health care is a human right. I find it astonishing that, in the U.S., our per-capita health care spending is nearly double that of other developed countries, yet we have worse outcomes. The big difference? Universal health care. We should have it in Minnesota and throughout the country.

  • Reproductive Freedom

    Safe and easy access to comprehensive reproductive care is essential. Every person should have the power and ability to make healthy decisions about their own bodies. This issue is not just a women’s issue - it’s a human rights issue for us all.

  • Environmental Stewardship

    Minnesota needs to be a healthy and sustainable place to live for generations to come. Everyone should have safe water to drink and clean air to breathe. The health of our lakes, rivers, creeks, prairies, forests, and parks must be protected -- for our mental health, for our economic well being, and for passing on to future generations.

  • Gun Violence Prevention

    The number of guns in our society, combined with insufficient common sense regulations, is dangerous and is literally killing people. In 2023 we passed automatic background checks on all gun sales, and red flag laws to help keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. I will work with our young community leaders to build on these successes — there’s more to do, like safe gun storage laws and prohibiting future sales of military-style assault weapons.

  • Strengthening Our Democracy

    I have a fundamental belief that our government should be transparent, accessible, and ethical. I believe in getting money out of politics, public financing of elections, and campaign finance reform that makes it clear where large political donations come from. We should eliminate gerrymandering by removing redistricting power from legislators, so voters choose their representatives, not the other way around. I support Ranked Choice Voting for many reasons, including as a way to encourage civility in politics. And, above all, we should be making it easier for people to vote.