Priorities
We have real challenges in our community and the County Board plays a critical role in solving them. My priorities include economic and workforce development, downtown revitalization, transportation, childcare and public health.
How we do this work is just as important as what we do. I’ll prioritize smooth coordination between the City and County, genuine community engagement, and effective use of public resources.
RiversEdge
The RiversEdge project is a powerful chance to reconnect downtown Saint Paul with the Mississippi River, a long-awaited transformation. The plan envisions housing, offices, street-level retail, and a sweeping public park and riverwalk that would invite residents, workers and visitors back to the waterfront. But after decades of planning and approval of an $800 million proposal, progress has stalled. It’s time to move forward with urgency to bring this vision to life for the benefit of the entire city.
West 7th
West 7th is a vital corridor, both for local residents and for the thousands of workers who rely on it to reach their jobs at downtown hospitals, the airport, and beyond. After two decades of County-led work on a potential transit alternative, the project stalled - leaving this important St. Paul corridor without a clear path forward and delaying long-needed street repairs. Cracked sidewalks, aging pavement, vacant tree holes, and major infrastructure failures demand urgent attention. With the City now exploring new solutions, stronger collaboration with the County is essential to making the long-awaited improvements the neighborhood deserves.
Opioid Response
Addressing the opioid crisis requires strong coordination between our City and County systems, especially as both receive substantial opioid settlement funds over the next decade. Rather than developing separate approaches, as we’re doing now, a shared plan can ensure that dollars are working better to support prevention, treatment access, and long-term recovery. Recent decisions to close the County’s detox facility highlight the need for transparent processes and clearer collaboration. With thoughtful planning, the facility could be repurposed to better connect people to care and reduce harm for those experiencing addiction. A unified strategy is essential for an effective, compassionate response.
Workforce Development
A strong workforce depends on reliable transportation, affordable childcare, and effective job training for workers across every sector. In places like West 7th, where many employees travel to hospitals, the airport, and major job centers, stalled transit planning and deferred street maintenance have created barriers to accessing work. At the same time, high childcare costs limit families’ ability to stay employed, and the early-childhood workforce remains underpaid despite rising demand.
Addressing these gaps requires coordinated investment, transparent planning, and close collaboration with our local labor partners. Strengthening the infrastructure that workers rely on helps stabilize families, employers, and the region’s broader economic health.
Affordable Childcare
Affordable, accessible childcare remains one of the biggest barriers facing working families. Research clearly shows the long-term benefits of investing in children from birth to age five, yet the current system is strained on all sides: centers struggle to pay educators a living wage and many parents can’t afford care at all. Existing subsidies leave a major gap for families who earn too much to qualify but far too little to cover full costs. Expanding support programs and exploring targeted universal models could help stabilize providers, reduce financial strain on families, and strengthen the early-childhood workforce that fuels our region’s economy.
Housing & Homelessness
Too many St. Paul residents struggle to find housing they can afford and many of our neighbors are unhoused. While our City and County have made progress in building affordable housing, we don’t have enough shelter beds and permanent supportive housing to meet our needs. We also need an equitable funding formula to make sure all counties are contributing their fair share to supporting vulnerable residents. I will work on a collaborative strategy for building more housing and shelter of all types, reaching out to those who are living outside, and funding the work equitably across the region.
