Chris Whitfield

Name: Chris Whitfield
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: (612)720-2337
Campaign Website: www.whitfieldforminnesota.com
Twitter handle: whitfieldfor52B
Facebook Page: Chrisforhouse
Candidate Bio
I have years of experience in leadership. I served as the Director of Operations at the High Performance Academy in Eagan, working with local sports organizations, and schools. I helped negotiate with Nike to bring their EYBL tournament to Eagan. We also hosted the Minnesota Senior Games, North Tartan and Howard Pulley tournaments, as well as Just Between Friends consignor. For the last two years, I have been a consultant manager at a local technology firm called SPS Commerce. Since 2021, I have been serving as the Communications Officer in Senate District 52. In that role I have helped to increase community engagement, and spread the word about our local elected representatives. I also currently serve as Secretary on the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission. In that role, we review zoning, land use, and subdivision reports presented by the City Staff, and advise the City Council on moving forward. It has given me the chance to hear from and work with members of the community who have concerns about different proposals that come before us. I collaborate well with others, listen closely to what people want to see get done, and earn their trust while getting results.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top three priorities are centered around education, economic prosperity, and affordable housing. I strongly advocate for a system where all children get a high-quality education, where we keep extremists out of schools who want to ban books and whitewash history, support and properly pay our educators, and increase early learning opportunities across the board. We must also be protecting our children from the threat of gun violence. In pushing for economic prosperity, there needs to be policies that create jobs, support small businesses, and keep good paying jobs local. I will advocate for job training programs, and initiatives that encourage more entrepreneurship, that will benefit all members of the community. Having a safe community also coincides, I want to focus on programs that build more trust among law enforcement and our community and have access to more de-escalation resources. The housing crisis affects not just the millennial and Gen-Z generations but is now becoming more of an issue even among our senior citizens. I will push for more policies that promote affordable housing, offer subsidies, and provide rent control measures, so people on fixed incomes are not being priced out of their home.
How would you characterize the business climate in 52B and what role do businesses play in supporting quality of life issues?
Throughout the district, there have been a lot of investments in businesses, and continued growth. In a post COVID world, many companies are dealing with the reality of flexible work from home schedules, and large office buildings that aren’t being used as much. It is important for the local businesses to support a proper quality of life for their workforce. While not all jobs can have the luxury of working from home, there needs to be continued investments in affordable childcare.
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?
I do think that Minnesota can be doing more to attract and retain businesses. Minnesota has seen some good overall expansion, but compared to many other states in the midwest, we have been lacking. There are some businesses that shy away from Minnesota because of higher tax rates, and lack of available skilled workers. We need to continue improving job training programs, and partnering with businesses on encouraging expansion in Minnesota.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
With an aging demographic retiring, Minnesota is finding itself in a labor hole. Our unemployment numbers are currently at some of the lowest in decades, we need to find ways to encourage new labor. We can start by increasing more investments in education and job training programs, so people are getting the skills needed sooner. We need to continue making childcare more affordable. I know firsthand the struggles of trying to either have both parents work and pay a second mortgage a month, or have one stay home. I would partner with local businesses and see if it’s possible to have hiring incentives for bringing in people from out of state.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a proposal on the many types of businesses in the East Metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I am happy to see that Minnesota passed the Paid Family and Medical Leave, which will help expand access to those who need to take care of their family, or a medical leave. It was also good to see Minnesota institute a ban on employer-employee noncompete agreements, and new workplace safety protections. If elected, I will meet and collaborate with local business leaders, hear from them on what their concerns are, and make sure that we are setting up not just our businesses but labor force for success.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you use to address public safety issues?
We are lucky to have some of the best public safety resources in the state. I would like to partner with our local law enforcement on strategies that help improve public safety, increase de-escalation training, and organize more community events to encourage collaboration and trust. It would be helpful to see more involvement in neighborhood watch across the district, so people can quickly and easily spot problems and get help.
What strategies or policies would you use to address transportation issues? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
I was a regular transit rider to my job in Minneapolis before COVID and the shift to hybrid work. With many people going back to their offices more, I do think that it is important to continue not just funding, but expanding public transportation options for people. The new sales tax being implemented is going to provide a much needed investment in our roads, transportation, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
I would work to identify more affordable housing, from single family homes, to rent that isn’t pricing people out of a home. I would look to push policies that block corporations from buying up homes to use as investment properties. We see far too often that young families looking to get their first home are constantly priced out of the market. It would be good to see more rent control measures put in place, especially for seniors on a fixed income, who can’t withstand a sudden annual increase. I would also like to see an increase in emergency rental assistance.
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?
I am pleased with the increase in education spending that was passed last year. I would still like to see even more work be done in our public education to expand early childhood programs, incentivize teachers with better pay and support, and improve our college readiness that has been falling behind post COVID. There needs to be continued expansion of affordable housing options, rent control measures, and emergency rental assistance for those in need. We should also be finding more cost effective healthcare options, so people aren’t being buried under medical debt.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
To expand the state’s tax base, there will need to be a number of strategies that are aimed at increasing our revenue, investing in economic growth and making sure that our tax system is fair across the board. In supporting small businesses, I would like to look into incentives and tax breaks for startups. We should be investing in bringing new companies and jobs to Minnesota, developing that workforce and increasing revenues. We need to examine where there are tax loopholes for corporations, and look to eliminate them.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce, and address the achievement gap?
My mother was an educator for early childhood education in the district for decades, and my children both attend the district, so I am very invested in making sure our institutions are taken care of. I will look to increase our early childhood programs, and expand access, giving people of all economic backgrounds more opportunity. I plan to partner with the teacher’s union, and other staff to identify their concerns, and work together to solve those problems. We are seeing a number of teachers who end up leaving the profession because they are able to get better paying jobs elsewhere, so I want to make sure that we are retaining that talent, paying them appropriately, and providing enough support so our children are given a better learning experience.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
I believe that we should be providing incentives and encouraging more businesses that are owned by women and minorities. At the company I work for (SPS Commerce), they took it upon themselves to really bolster investment in minority owned businesses that need access to EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to complete their order to cash processes with their retail partners. It was great to see us partner with a number of small businesses and provide them with their supply chain services while they were getting established, and set up for success.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: (612)720-2337
Campaign Website: www.whitfieldforminnesota.com
Twitter handle: whitfieldfor52B
Facebook Page: Chrisforhouse
Candidate Bio
I have years of experience in leadership. I served as the Director of Operations at the High Performance Academy in Eagan, working with local sports organizations, and schools. I helped negotiate with Nike to bring their EYBL tournament to Eagan. We also hosted the Minnesota Senior Games, North Tartan and Howard Pulley tournaments, as well as Just Between Friends consignor. For the last two years, I have been a consultant manager at a local technology firm called SPS Commerce. Since 2021, I have been serving as the Communications Officer in Senate District 52. In that role I have helped to increase community engagement, and spread the word about our local elected representatives. I also currently serve as Secretary on the Eagan Advisory Planning Commission. In that role, we review zoning, land use, and subdivision reports presented by the City Staff, and advise the City Council on moving forward. It has given me the chance to hear from and work with members of the community who have concerns about different proposals that come before us. I collaborate well with others, listen closely to what people want to see get done, and earn their trust while getting results.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top three priorities are centered around education, economic prosperity, and affordable housing. I strongly advocate for a system where all children get a high-quality education, where we keep extremists out of schools who want to ban books and whitewash history, support and properly pay our educators, and increase early learning opportunities across the board. We must also be protecting our children from the threat of gun violence. In pushing for economic prosperity, there needs to be policies that create jobs, support small businesses, and keep good paying jobs local. I will advocate for job training programs, and initiatives that encourage more entrepreneurship, that will benefit all members of the community. Having a safe community also coincides, I want to focus on programs that build more trust among law enforcement and our community and have access to more de-escalation resources. The housing crisis affects not just the millennial and Gen-Z generations but is now becoming more of an issue even among our senior citizens. I will push for more policies that promote affordable housing, offer subsidies, and provide rent control measures, so people on fixed incomes are not being priced out of their home.
How would you characterize the business climate in 52B and what role do businesses play in supporting quality of life issues?
Throughout the district, there have been a lot of investments in businesses, and continued growth. In a post COVID world, many companies are dealing with the reality of flexible work from home schedules, and large office buildings that aren’t being used as much. It is important for the local businesses to support a proper quality of life for their workforce. While not all jobs can have the luxury of working from home, there needs to be continued investments in affordable childcare.
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?
I do think that Minnesota can be doing more to attract and retain businesses. Minnesota has seen some good overall expansion, but compared to many other states in the midwest, we have been lacking. There are some businesses that shy away from Minnesota because of higher tax rates, and lack of available skilled workers. We need to continue improving job training programs, and partnering with businesses on encouraging expansion in Minnesota.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
With an aging demographic retiring, Minnesota is finding itself in a labor hole. Our unemployment numbers are currently at some of the lowest in decades, we need to find ways to encourage new labor. We can start by increasing more investments in education and job training programs, so people are getting the skills needed sooner. We need to continue making childcare more affordable. I know firsthand the struggles of trying to either have both parents work and pay a second mortgage a month, or have one stay home. I would partner with local businesses and see if it’s possible to have hiring incentives for bringing in people from out of state.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a proposal on the many types of businesses in the East Metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I am happy to see that Minnesota passed the Paid Family and Medical Leave, which will help expand access to those who need to take care of their family, or a medical leave. It was also good to see Minnesota institute a ban on employer-employee noncompete agreements, and new workplace safety protections. If elected, I will meet and collaborate with local business leaders, hear from them on what their concerns are, and make sure that we are setting up not just our businesses but labor force for success.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you use to address public safety issues?
We are lucky to have some of the best public safety resources in the state. I would like to partner with our local law enforcement on strategies that help improve public safety, increase de-escalation training, and organize more community events to encourage collaboration and trust. It would be helpful to see more involvement in neighborhood watch across the district, so people can quickly and easily spot problems and get help.
What strategies or policies would you use to address transportation issues? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
I was a regular transit rider to my job in Minneapolis before COVID and the shift to hybrid work. With many people going back to their offices more, I do think that it is important to continue not just funding, but expanding public transportation options for people. The new sales tax being implemented is going to provide a much needed investment in our roads, transportation, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
I would work to identify more affordable housing, from single family homes, to rent that isn’t pricing people out of a home. I would look to push policies that block corporations from buying up homes to use as investment properties. We see far too often that young families looking to get their first home are constantly priced out of the market. It would be good to see more rent control measures put in place, especially for seniors on a fixed income, who can’t withstand a sudden annual increase. I would also like to see an increase in emergency rental assistance.
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?
I am pleased with the increase in education spending that was passed last year. I would still like to see even more work be done in our public education to expand early childhood programs, incentivize teachers with better pay and support, and improve our college readiness that has been falling behind post COVID. There needs to be continued expansion of affordable housing options, rent control measures, and emergency rental assistance for those in need. We should also be finding more cost effective healthcare options, so people aren’t being buried under medical debt.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
To expand the state’s tax base, there will need to be a number of strategies that are aimed at increasing our revenue, investing in economic growth and making sure that our tax system is fair across the board. In supporting small businesses, I would like to look into incentives and tax breaks for startups. We should be investing in bringing new companies and jobs to Minnesota, developing that workforce and increasing revenues. We need to examine where there are tax loopholes for corporations, and look to eliminate them.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce, and address the achievement gap?
My mother was an educator for early childhood education in the district for decades, and my children both attend the district, so I am very invested in making sure our institutions are taken care of. I will look to increase our early childhood programs, and expand access, giving people of all economic backgrounds more opportunity. I plan to partner with the teacher’s union, and other staff to identify their concerns, and work together to solve those problems. We are seeing a number of teachers who end up leaving the profession because they are able to get better paying jobs elsewhere, so I want to make sure that we are retaining that talent, paying them appropriately, and providing enough support so our children are given a better learning experience.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
I believe that we should be providing incentives and encouraging more businesses that are owned by women and minorities. At the company I work for (SPS Commerce), they took it upon themselves to really bolster investment in minority owned businesses that need access to EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to complete their order to cash processes with their retail partners. It was great to see us partner with a number of small businesses and provide them with their supply chain services while they were getting established, and set up for success.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?