The Time to Make a Change is Now

As a single mother, I raised my kids to work hard, be respectful, and serve others. Anything is possible when you have a good-paying union job and an education if it is necessary to reach your goals in life. Public-health and human-service programs helped me break the chains of generational poverty for my family; it was difficult at times, and we struggled all the way through. After working 25 years in the medical profession, retiring as a director of rehabilitation, I know what it takes to maintain standards for service quality and excellence. By prioritizing oversight using a health-in-all-policies model, evaluation, and feedback mechanisms, I will lead budget actions that support everyone from birth to end of life. I will foster transparency and trust within the community.

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I am running for St Louis County commissioner in District 3 because the time to make a change is now.

For the past 10 years, I have worked assessing local community needs in consideration of regional and state priorities. The needs are many, and our population and geography are diverse. My first priority is to foster a consensus for County Board members in understanding that county policy, ordinance, and budget decisions work best if viewed through a framework that considers the factors affecting a person’s health outcomes and quality of life.​ These are the conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work, play, and age. We make better decisions when everyone is at the table, so everyone has the opportunity to be in the picture.

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I believe a community will prosper when we all walk on even ground. We deserve a commissioner who is rooted in the community, in forward-thinking innovation, and in creativity in addressing complex challenges facing our communities. These challenges include road and bridge infrastructure, transportation, housing, child care, public safety, economic development, and environmental sustainability that does not leave anyone behind.

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Serving as past president of the Duluth City Council and current president of the St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services Advisory Committee, and also leading the St. Mark Parish Community Health Ministry as a member of the Arrowhead Parish Nurse Association, I serve communities and community members from western Duluth to East Hillside.

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As a former corrections officer, I will lead in advocacy for funding to support updating our jails and public safety, including public-service workers. I am leading community working groups developing indoor active living spaces and supporting aging community members' desire to transition out of their homes while remaining in their current neighborhoods with access to housing and supportive care services.

 

We are at a time in our community and world when making ends meet is tough for families and individuals. One solution is to rethink the workforce model by connecting workforce development directly to the county.

As the next county commissioner for District 3, I will foster excellent intragovernmental connections and collaborate with intergovernmental partners, bringing experienced, balanced, mature leadership focused on ensuring that we are working together to meet all of our community’s needs.

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As a daughter, niece, sister, and grandmother of a veteran, and as a caregiver for my mother living with Alzheimer’s dementia, my lived experience is needed on the St. Louis County Board. I have listened to and watched the County Board from my vantage point on the Duluth City Council. We cannot afford to wait another four years. I will step into the work with business, nonprofit, education, and work experience, keeping us focused on the county issues and leading us to quality county services that we all need and deserve.

 

I ask for your vote to serve as the next St Louis County Commissioner for District 3.

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