Dear Friends

Welcome to my campaign website and to the new State Senate - District 39 race. I hope you will find this website informative and useful. Please contact me if you have any further questions or comments.

We live in challenging times. We have just begun to pull out of the great recession and its effects will be felt on our families and finances for years to come. Likewise, its effects will be felt for decades on the budgets of our national and state governments. This major financial setback, combined with a demographic shift unprecedented in all of world history — the rapid aging of our population — presents enormous challenges for all of us, and especially the balancing of state budgets. Just as our population is aging and relying more on public services and programs, revenues from the taxes that seniors pay are declining, creating a structural imbalance between revenues and spending.

This structural imbalance was not created by one political party or another. It is instead a complex problem that we must strive together to address in a way that protects our families, our communities and our natural resources. Rather than speaking honestly to the economic and budgetary challenges we face, the political parties, especially the Republicans, place their own ideological spin on it. This response increases the divisiveness and leads to gridlock. We need leaders that will speak truth to the public about the nature of our challenges and lead with real solutions, not partisan sound bites.

These past two years the Republican-led legislature forced a government shutdown, failed to balance the budget, and raised property taxes on homeowners, seniors and small businesses. They raised property taxes by $370 million on Minnesotans across the state, while not developing any means to pay back the over $2 billion dollars borrowed from our school districts. Just as when we entered 2011, the state now faces over $4 billion in red ink entering 2013.

We need to expect better from our leaders and our government.
I am running for election to the state senate to deliver honest, effective leadership that works hard to deliver results for our families, communities and state.

Expect fiscal responsibility
As an economist, I know what it takes to grow our economy and create jobs. I also know that government can play a key supporting role. To thrive, Minnesota needs good roads, public safety, and quality schools. I oppose using the state credit card or borrowing from schools to balance the budget. To lower costs, I would support realistic government redesign. I would also promote stabilizing tax and budget policy reforms to reduce the crises caused by revenue swings.

Expect bipartisanship and balance
As a former member of the Minnesota House (2007-2010), I chief authored major initiatives to reform health care, protect our drinking water, and improve the business climate. These initiatives received broad bi-partisan support, were passed by the legislature, and were signed into law by Governor Pawlenty.

Expect effective leadership that moves us forward
Due to my effectiveness and balanced approach as a legislator, I was endorsed in 2008 and 2010 by the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Fund and by many labor organizations, including AFSCME, MAPE, SEIU, the St Paul Building and Construction Trades, and the Minnesota Police and Police Officers Association. In both 2008 and 2010 I was honored with the Champion of Small Business Award by the National Federation of Independent Businesses-MN. In 2010 I was one of three state legislators given a Leadership Award by Conservation Minnesota.

Expect hard work on behalf of our families and communities
I married into a large Minnesota farm family. My husband Marlon grew up on a dairy farm in Chisago County with ten brothers and sisters. Marlon and I returned to Minnesota after completing our schooling to work and raise our daughter. We did so because of the beauty of Minnesota's natural environment and, most importantly, the values that Minnesotans share: faith, family, hard work and commitment to community. I know that strong families and strong communities make for a strong state. Both as a community volunteer and legislator I work to deliver those supports that insure every family can succeed.

Expect a better future for Minnesota!
I am confident that Minnesotans, working together, have the moral, civic and intellectual capacity to meet these challenges. We have strong public and private institutions, a very high level of engagement in public policy among business, labor and education leaders, a wonderful history of effective private-public partnerships, and an educated and engaged citizenry. These strengths have served us very well in the past and will continue to serve us well in the months and years ahead as we face our challenges.

While the challenges facing the state seem daunting at times, I feel that my skills and training as an economist can be of service now more than ever.

I look forward to meeting you or hearing from you on the campaign trail!