Local Control

Under what circumstances should the Legislature override decisions made by cities, counties, or school districts, and when should local governments be allowed to make their own decisions?

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It depends on the circumstances. State control sometimes sets a high bar for protecting our rights, like with access to reproductive care. Other times, State control can make it more difficult for things like land development/use. I think we address it issue by issue at the legislature for when communities make requests for control, and grant that pre-emption where it makes sense.

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Elections & Election Reform

Minnesota consistently ranks among the states with the highest voter participation and strongest election administration. What, if any, changes do you believe are necessary to further strengthen election security and public confidence in election outcomes? Separately, what is your stance on ranked choice voting?

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Our elections and registration processes make it easy and convenient to vote. I would be open to ideas as long as it makes it easier for people to securely vote. Some things I would support would be like expanding voting official harassment laws, working with the Secretary of State to see what else needs to be done to protect the cybersecurity of our elections, and possibly making Election Day a state holiday makes sense to me. I would like to see RCV happen state-wide.

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Public Health

What role should state government play during public health emergencies, and how do you balance individual liberty with protecting public health and safety?

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Our response to public health emergencies should be made on a case-by-case basis, depending on what the best available science says on the potential magnitude of the threat that we are looking at. Whatever emergency powers that might be declared by the governor, and the legislature should be able to get clear answers to queries to make an informed decision about the extent we might want to continue or end emergency powers based on clear evidence. Whenever possible, the evidence presented to the legislature should also be shared with the public so that we know what to expect from our government during a public health crisis. This is a critical area for me. As President of the Prairie Island Tribal Council during COVID, we had to take urgent and immediate action, especially to protect our elders, and we were able to navigate that process transparently, together, coordinating with State and Federal partners.

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Immigration

What role should Minnesota play in ensuring constitutional rights, due process protections, and public safety are maintained when federal immigration enforcement activities occur within the state?

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Minnesota should err on the side of protecting the rights of everyone in our communities, regardless of their immigration status. The abuses of ICE during Operation Metro Surge have been egregious, and it continues to threaten our immigrant and BIPOC neighbors. ICE, as it currently exists, should be abolished, although we probably do not have the power at the State level to dismantle them. At the State level, I would support immigration enforcement officials be required to wear body cameras, have a standardized uniform, be prohibited from wearing masks, and have judicial (not administrative) warrants required for an arrest. I think that individuals and officials should be able to be criminally and civilly liable for their abuses. I would like to see a prohibition of operations at churches, hospitals, schools, and courts.

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School Support

What do you see as the Legislature's highest priority in supporting public schools over the next four years, and how would you measure success?

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Minnesota tied the general education formula to inflation and committed to covering the special education cross-subsidy, which we need to move to cover that gap in its entirety. State funding of this gap would allow districts to spend more on teachers and smaller class sizes, which should help student achievement. We should also extend unemployment for hourly school workers, like bus drivers and lunch staff, which could potentially lapse, if we allow it.

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Housing

Minnesota faces housing affordability challenges across many communities. What state-level policies would you support to increase housing options for young families, workers, and seniors while respecting local community needs?

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I would like to see an expansion of zoning for townhomes, ADUs, and duplex, triplexes, and quadplexes at the state level. I would like to see more bonding dollars go in to building more public housing for a variety of different family styles, whether it is for seniors, multi-family housing, and multi-generational housing while also taking into account the effect of these developments on our natural relatives. There has to be a good balance.

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Environment & Water

As Minnesota continues to grow, how should the state balance economic development with protection of groundwater supplies and other natural resources? Where do you see the biggest opportunities for state coordination with local governments and state agencies alike in preserving Minnesota's natural resources?

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Protecting our natural relatives is a responsibility that we all have. As a Dakota winyan (woman) I view the plants, animals, land, and water as relatives. Our economy cannot be great if our drinking water is compromised, our air is unbreatheable, or we have wildfires driven by climate change ripping through our communities. I am heartened to see local action at all levels of government to protect the Boundary Waters and communities pushing back on data centers that wish to rush out builds without doing any environmental impact analysis. We have to take care of our natural relatives so they in turn can take care of us. We can pass legislation that puts a higher standard on protecting our natural relatives, especially the Boundary Waters.

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Diversity & Inclusion

Minnesota's population is becoming increasingly diverse. What responsibility does state government have to ensure that policies and services effectively serve communities with different backgrounds, experiences, and needs?

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State government should not discriminate based on national origin, religion, sex, sexual identity, or any other factor that is central to who we are. Justice requires us to make reasonable accommodations for groups to make sure that we all have the same opportunity to live our best lives. Representation also matters and having a diverse legislature is important. We need to make sure that there is a seat at the table for everyone where laws are being created.

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Democratic Norms & Democracy

What responsibilities do elected officials have to uphold democratic institutions, constitutional protections, and the rule of law, particularly when those principles may conflict with political pressures? What specific policies would you support to strengthen democracy in Minnesota?

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Our elections are secure and fair, and it is important to be honest about that. In the rare event that people break election laws, they should be held accountable according to currently existing laws. Our laws our working, and there is no reason to make it harder or more inconvenient to vote. Of significant importance right now, we must make sure that the Secretary of State and Attorney General’s offices are equipped to handle any federal overreach that seeks to interfere in our elections. Other than that, I discussed some other policies in my answer on elections and voting.

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Campaign Finance

Do you accept campaign contributions from sources other than individuals (e.g., PACs, corporations, party committees)? If so, from whom, and why?

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I accept money from Labor PACs and interest group PACs like Planned Parenthood and Tribal Nations. I evaluate every donation on its own merits, and if there is any contribution that I find questionable, like mining PACs, I will not take it.

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Personal

What are you most passionate about, and why did you choose to run?

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I am most passionate about protecting our natural relatives and giving people a voice who would otherwise not have one. As a Dakota it is our culture to make sure everyone is taken care of and has a place in the system. I chose to run to give a different perspective from someone who is a descendant from the original stewards of this land we call Minnesota. I think it is important to view things in a different way than the greater society does. We need to start caring about the words we use and work with purpose for ALL. We all do better, when we ALL do better (Paul Wellstone).