Why I’m Running
In 2008, I was privileged to be a candidate to represent Edina in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Although I did not prevail in a close three-way race, I thank those of you who worked hard on my behalf and took time to share your views with me throughout the campaign.
As our paths crossed over the past year, many of you encouraged me to run again saying we need a moderate, reasonable voice in the state legislature. In response to your encouragement, I’ve decided to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010.
My focus is on how we can keep Edina and Minnesota great. The key, as always, is maintaining and leveraging the competitive advantages we enjoy by having a healthy, well-educated population and livable communities. These competitive advantages create jobs by supporting our existing businesses and fostering the kind of innovation that creates the businesses (and jobs) of the future. To do this we need to build and maintain those things that make our communities endure – education, transportation infrastructure, a clean environment, and a sound healthcare system.
As we work to fund these priorities, it is critical we do so in a fiscally-responsible way. First and foremost, that means we must insist on value by ensuring the priorities we fund provide a return on our investment. Once we’ve decided it’s worth investing in a priority, we must be:
- honest about what it will cost and how we’re going to pay for it;
- transparent about how we expend our resources so we can see funds are going to the priorities we value and achieving our goals; and
- fair about how we share the cost of our investments.
People in our community and state are willing to pay for the things we value, but want to know our money will actually be used to fund the things we value and spent wisely to ensure a return on our investment.
Although these times are challenging, I am optimistic that together we can build a future that will make our children and grandchildren proud. I look forward to talking with you about the future of our great city and state in the coming months.
Sincerely,
