Issues and Focus Areas

The scope and range of issues that face Hennepin County are vast- but present an opportunity to reshape our county and communities to be more dynamic, inclusive, and resilient. I’m eager to learn from and collaborate with many of our community members on the issues they care about. If I were your Hennepin County Commissioner, I’d want to focus on a few main areas for impact.

Economic Development

The economic vitality of our community and our county is powered by our small businesses, which I see every day working for a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). As inflation, higher interest rates, worker shortages, and supply chain challenges continue, we must actively seek to expand opportunity for businesses, particularly new businesses, to create a dynamic economy that works for all.

Public Safety and Public Health

Public safety fundamentally reflects the public health and economic wellbeing of any community. As we continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must further investments in affordable and accessible mental health infrastructure, substance abuse support, and crisis resources.

Investing in public health and crisis infrastructure will relieve burdens on our peace officers, enabling them to focus more on violent crime, and will make everyone in our community safer, healthier, and more secure.

Climate Resilience

As the father of three young daughters, I worry about the type of planet we’re leaving for the next generation. There is a huge opportunity to create new high-paying jobs, tackle the climate crisis, and mitigate the worst effects of climate change by building and attracting clean, sustainable industries and investing in clean energy right here in Hennepin County.

Youth Development

The sixth district has some of the best rated schools in the country, and we have so much to be proud of from our investments in the next generation. But we are combatting deepening crises of teen depression, loneliness, and substance abuse.

Furthering our investment in public opportunities for youth athletics, leisure, connection, and belonging is a critical role our county can play in winning this fight.

Transit

Our community needs access to affordable, safe, reliable, and environmentally conscious transit solutions. I will push for current solutions to be safe and accessible while working to foster new opportunities for transit, including supporting Southwest LRT development and other vital solutions.

New- Generation Leadership

A difficult truth in our country today is we continually find ourselves governed by politicians in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. I think it’s time for a new generation of leaders to take up the mantle of service and honor the legacy of those who have come before us, while injecting fresh energy and ideas into our public debates.

I will lead with a fresh perspective and bring other young people into government, solicit ideas and lift up the voices of the dynamic young people all over our county.