I’m running for Re-Election to Continue Putting the Northland First
This week, I launched my campaign for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate with a message that has guided my work since day one. Put the Northland first and focus on just delivering.
Nowhere is that more important than along the North Shore, where infrastructure, schools, emergency services, and cost of living pressures all intersect in very real ways.
One of the most significant investments we delivered was $8 million in gap funding for the Lake Superior School District’s renovation projects. That funding helped move the project forward, protected local taxpayers, and ensured students and staff have safe, modern learning spaces. Schools are often the heart of North Shore communities, and investing in them is an investment in the future of the region.
Transportation is another critical issue. We secured $11 million for the Highway 61 reconstruction project, allowing MnDOT to reduce the number of summer construction seasons from three to two. That may sound technical, but for residents and businesses along Two Harbors, it means less disruption, safer roads, and a stronger local economy.
Public safety along Lake Superior also required action when the Feds pulled the Coast Guard from Grand Marais. This created a serious concerns about search and rescue capacity and since that time a number of individuals have faced tragic circumstances along Lake Superior. Working with the local Sheriff’s in Cook and Lake County, as well as the Grand Portage Band, we secured state funding to help ensure that lifesaving services remained available. I want to applaud these local leaders for their collaboration in turning this difficult situation into a win-win for our communities.
Rural ambulance services are another essential piece of the puzzle. We delivered new funding to help stabilize EMS across Northern Minnesota, including the North Shore, recognizing that response times and staffing challenges look very different here than elsewhere in the state. We also secured special funding for the Lake County Ambulance Service to work alongside the Lake Superior School District in providing a first-of-its-kind EMT pilot training program. This was a bipartisan effort in our district and I’m grateful once again to see local leaders stepping up to the biggest challenges we face and looking to the future.
With inflation and costs impacting families all across our country, it was important to me that we find direct relief for homeowners. To do so, I worked to provide every homeowner along the shore with $515 per year through a taconite homestead credit. That is on-going property tax cuts that will continue into the future, ensuring real relief for families facing rising costs and tight budgets.
Alongside delivering investments, the Senate has also focused on protecting taxpayer dollars. We passed bipartisan reforms to strengthen oversight of state spending and stop fraud when it is identified. Most importantly, the Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation to establish an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate fraud without political interference. The House did not act on that bill, and that is a problem. North Shore taxpayers deserve confidence that state dollars are being spent honestly and transparently, and I will keep pushing to get this done because we must make stopping fraud our top priority.
At my campaign launch, the focus was clear. Results matter. Working across the aisle matters. And Northern Minnesota deserves representation that understands its unique challenges.
Putting the Northland first means showing up for communities like Silver Bay, Two Harbors, and Grand Marais with solutions that actually fit. It means fighting for schools, roads, public safety, tax relief, and accountability, not just talking about them.
I am running for re-election because there is more work to do, and because the North Shore deserves a senator who stays out of the nonsense and just delivers.
I would be honored to continue serving this region and keeping the focus where it belongs, right here in the Northland.
