Elizabeth Dickinson
I'm running for Mayor to advance real change wherever I can. I will present and work toward a positive vision for St. Paul. Currently at both the federal and state levels, a conservative and regressive agenda is promoted — clean air laws are weakened, big polluting corporations are given handouts, and citizens' interests are shut out of decisions that negatively affect their well-being and pocket-books. But the old saw, "Think globally, Act locally," applies. There are opportunities locally — at the city level — where we can promote change right where it matters most, here at home. History teaches us that the best defense is a good offense. And without a vision, you have no blueprint for the future. None of my fellow candidates have so far articulated a clear, progressive vision of where they want to see St. Paul over the next ten and twenty years. I have a vision. I want the city of St. Paul to lead the nation in environmental and socially progressive issues. There are a number of specific proposals into which I would translate that vision.
Grassroots Democracy
An open door policy
Environmental Justice for All
Clean Energy, Air, and Water for All
Economic and Social Justice
Improve living and working conditions of St. Paul's citizens
B.Ed. Honours in Drama and English, Cambridge University, England
M.A. Psychology, Lesley College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Married for 18 years to Christopher Childs, former national spokesperson for Greenpeace, and author of The Spirit's Terrain (Beacon Press, 1998). Has lived on the West Side of St. Paul for seven years. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys gardening, writing, and yoga.
Grassroots Democracy
An open door policy
- I believe every citizen wants a mayor who will respectfully listen to and value what every citizen says. While I can not guarantee that my administration will be able to agree and act upon what every individual citizen wants, I can guarantee an administration who will treat citizens with the respect each deserves. Even if I personally can't be at every community meeting, I can promise that someone from my staff will be at most important meetings and will be under a charge to accurately report back what was said. There will be an open door policy to my administration.
Environmental Justice for All
Clean Energy, Air, and Water for All
- Clean air to breathe and clean water to drink are the most basic needs of every St. Paulite. Yet St. Paul has suffered from more unhealthy air days in the past several years than at any time since the 1970s. And the water in the Mississippi River is not safely swimmable, fishable, or drinkable without extensive treatment — and some toxins like mercury in fish from coal-burning utilities can not be removed. The first way to make our air and water cleaner — and save significant money — is by conserving energy and making our energy sources cleaner. With Minnesota dependent on dirty coal-burning utilities for power, the less dirty power we use and the faster our transition to clean, renewable power sources, the cleaner our air and water will be.
Economic and Social Justice
Improve living and working conditions of St. Paul's citizens
- Wages, Housing, Education, Small Business, Education, and the Arts. In a progressive philosophy, all of these issues are addressed together to create a healthy community.
B.Ed. Honours in Drama and English, Cambridge University, England
M.A. Psychology, Lesley College, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Married for 18 years to Christopher Childs, former national spokesperson for Greenpeace, and author of The Spirit's Terrain (Beacon Press, 1998). Has lived on the West Side of St. Paul for seven years. In her spare time, Elizabeth enjoys gardening, writing, and yoga.