Ben Schwanke
Name: Ben Schwanke
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State Senate - District 42
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 320-237-4774
Website: SchwankeForSenate.com
Twitter handle: @SchwankeBen
Facebook page: Ben Schwanke for MN Senate
Candidate Bio
Ben Schwanke is a middle school math teacher in Roseville where he works as an interventionist to help struggling students find success in school and mathematics.
He lives in Shoreview, where he also volunteers as a Human Rights Commissioner. When not teaching, he coaches high school football.
Ben earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at Augsburg College, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership at Concordia University in Saint Paul.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro and what role do businesses play in supporting quality of life issues in East Metro communities?
Currently the business climate is average at best. Tax and regulatory burdens are heavy compared to our neighbors in Wisconsin. Because of our proximity to Wisconsin, we are in a unique competitive disadvantage. Businesses play a major role in quality of life issues. They provide employment, tax revenue, civic leadership, and charitable donations.
What role do you think the State should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to and retain existing businesses in the East Metro?
The State first needs to do an analysis of the tax and regulatory requirements between Hudson, WI and any community in the East Metro. We should then take legislative action to ensure we are not at a competitive disadvantage. In order to attract new businesses and retain current businesses there needs to be a strong public-private partnership. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the public safety of all of it citizens. This is a jobs issues because businesses and employee will not locate to areas they believe are unsafe. This is particularly the case I the Twin Cities right now.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in the east metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I support a uniform standard so that Ramsey County businesses are not at a competitive disadvantage to its surrounding communities.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
A well-educated and employed community helps resolve all of these issues. I am for smart transit options that are efficient and cost effective. Minnesota has one of the highest regulatory burdens in terms of building housing as compared to almost any state. This has created a situation that not only has increased the cost of becoming a homeowner, but also has created unaffordable renting options.
What are your priorities for the State’s budget? Are there any services currently provided by the State that you believe should be expanded, cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
My priority to save money for the State budget is to use the Legislative Audit Reports to root out waste and best serve the tax payers by economizing and right-sizing the budget. I would shift the budget priorities to high need areas. We should encourage public-private partnerships to deliver services in a more efficient manner. Consolidation of back office services at the county level, especially in low population counties makes sense.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
Grow more businesses at all levels by right-sizing, downsizing and economizing taxes and regulations; focus on quality workforce and public safety so more businesses are expanding and locating here.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
As a math teacher, I know that our students need to be prepared for employment. We need more mentoring, job training and internship opportunities for students. I am a big proponent of technical education and the trades utilizing skills at an earlier age. We should value students that are going into all parts of the workforce and make sure that our education system meets these needs.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
We have a variety of programs in the DEED Department that nurture and mentor women and minority owned businesses. We should work with higher education and businesses to publicize their existence and make the programs more effective. Minnesota government has made starting a business confusing and cumbersome. Without lowering our standards, the State needs to make the process more understandable and efficient.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As we all know, the State of Minnesota has vast differences in community structures and every business is different from the other. The State needs to start listening to these businesses as they know how to best protect their customers and employees. A one size fits all plan does not work, nor does it make any sense. Instead, businesses should be able to proceed once they have figured out how to safely open their doors.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As a teacher, I understand how businesses can positively impact our community. As mentioned before, a strong public-private partnership ensures that our whole community can thrive. I have proven track record of working well with people who have different perspectives to find outcomes that benefit all parties. I will work in a non-partisan way to accomplish similar goals.
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State Senate - District 42
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 320-237-4774
Website: SchwankeForSenate.com
Twitter handle: @SchwankeBen
Facebook page: Ben Schwanke for MN Senate
Candidate Bio
Ben Schwanke is a middle school math teacher in Roseville where he works as an interventionist to help struggling students find success in school and mathematics.
He lives in Shoreview, where he also volunteers as a Human Rights Commissioner. When not teaching, he coaches high school football.
Ben earned a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics at Augsburg College, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership at Concordia University in Saint Paul.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Education Reform, so businesses in Minnesota can continue to have a highly educated workforce
- Provide quality healthcare, in doing so, lowering healthcare costs for employers and ensuring quality of life for employees and their families
- Ensure Minnesota is a retirement friendly state, people who contributed their whole life to this community should not be priced out upon retirement
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro and what role do businesses play in supporting quality of life issues in East Metro communities?
Currently the business climate is average at best. Tax and regulatory burdens are heavy compared to our neighbors in Wisconsin. Because of our proximity to Wisconsin, we are in a unique competitive disadvantage. Businesses play a major role in quality of life issues. They provide employment, tax revenue, civic leadership, and charitable donations.
What role do you think the State should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to and retain existing businesses in the East Metro?
The State first needs to do an analysis of the tax and regulatory requirements between Hudson, WI and any community in the East Metro. We should then take legislative action to ensure we are not at a competitive disadvantage. In order to attract new businesses and retain current businesses there needs to be a strong public-private partnership. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the public safety of all of it citizens. This is a jobs issues because businesses and employee will not locate to areas they believe are unsafe. This is particularly the case I the Twin Cities right now.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in the east metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I support a uniform standard so that Ramsey County businesses are not at a competitive disadvantage to its surrounding communities.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
A well-educated and employed community helps resolve all of these issues. I am for smart transit options that are efficient and cost effective. Minnesota has one of the highest regulatory burdens in terms of building housing as compared to almost any state. This has created a situation that not only has increased the cost of becoming a homeowner, but also has created unaffordable renting options.
What are your priorities for the State’s budget? Are there any services currently provided by the State that you believe should be expanded, cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
My priority to save money for the State budget is to use the Legislative Audit Reports to root out waste and best serve the tax payers by economizing and right-sizing the budget. I would shift the budget priorities to high need areas. We should encourage public-private partnerships to deliver services in a more efficient manner. Consolidation of back office services at the county level, especially in low population counties makes sense.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
Grow more businesses at all levels by right-sizing, downsizing and economizing taxes and regulations; focus on quality workforce and public safety so more businesses are expanding and locating here.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
As a math teacher, I know that our students need to be prepared for employment. We need more mentoring, job training and internship opportunities for students. I am a big proponent of technical education and the trades utilizing skills at an earlier age. We should value students that are going into all parts of the workforce and make sure that our education system meets these needs.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
We have a variety of programs in the DEED Department that nurture and mentor women and minority owned businesses. We should work with higher education and businesses to publicize their existence and make the programs more effective. Minnesota government has made starting a business confusing and cumbersome. Without lowering our standards, the State needs to make the process more understandable and efficient.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As we all know, the State of Minnesota has vast differences in community structures and every business is different from the other. The State needs to start listening to these businesses as they know how to best protect their customers and employees. A one size fits all plan does not work, nor does it make any sense. Instead, businesses should be able to proceed once they have figured out how to safely open their doors.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As a teacher, I understand how businesses can positively impact our community. As mentioned before, a strong public-private partnership ensures that our whole community can thrive. I have proven track record of working well with people who have different perspectives to find outcomes that benefit all parties. I will work in a non-partisan way to accomplish similar goals.