Janine Hudson
Name: Janine Hudson
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner-District 3
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-452-2017
Campaign Website: VoteJanineHudson.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: Janine Hudson
Candidate Bio
My name is Janine Hudson, I was born in Mankato, MN and graduated from Mankato West high school and Mankato State University with a degree in Home Economics Education 7-12 and Parent Education. I worked for Wadena County from 1995 to 2007 in the area of child protection and mental health. In 2008, I moved to Eagan MN. Famy family has lived in Eagan for over 50 years. I began working at the Family Place, a homeless shelter in St. Paul. In 2013, I began working for Hennepin County in the area of Mnsure and moved to MFIP and SNAP in 2015. I grew up in foster care as a child and feel the county needs a commissioner who understands Social Services inside and out.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Dakota County needs to stop Union busting. Dakota County needs to stop outsourcing its social services and bring social workers back into the county to care for its citizens.
Mental Health is an area that needs great improvement. My step son has been living with me for the past year and has had 4 social workers from 3 different companies and an ARMS worker for only 3 weeks. Dakota County has to do better. The lives of our citizens depend on it.
Our Veterans and other homeless citizens need to have shelter and services to improve their lives. As my Marine son says, everyone needs a bunk and a locker. If it is good enough for the Marines it is good enough for everyone else.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The community I will represent has been bringing a lot of retail to Eagan. This has taken away business from Burnsville. When new businesses are open, the county needs to see how it will impact other communities within the county. Dakota County needs to look at adding technological and industrial jobs that will provide skilled workers in our area.
What role do you think the county should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in Dakota County?
Dakota county needs to be open to listening to the community as to what types of businesses they desire. We need to look at what the county needs and provide start up funding/tax benefits to bring new businesses to the area.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Dakota County (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a policy on the many types of businesses in Dakota County and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I am a union steward. I support providing a fair contract for all Dakota County Employees.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I support pushing legislators to fully fund child care assistance programs. If Dakota County wants a diverse workforce, the county needs to make sure workers have a safe place for their children to be while they are working.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
I will ensure Dakota County fully funds the sheriff department, ensures excellent training and a union contract that supports their workers. My son is a student at St Cloud State in law enforcement and a former Marine MP. He will keep me abreast of the needs of law enforcement and I will reach out to the union stewards.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Dakota County needs to support building low income and affordable housing so our young people can rent or purchase a modest home. Homes that are currently being built are not starter homes. I plan on making more 1000 square foot starter homes available to our young people.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? 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?
Metro transit started a door to door bus in Eagan. This type of transportation needs to be expanded to the rest of the county.
What are your priorities for the county’s budget?
The County budget first and foremost needs to care for its people. No person should sleep outside unless they are enjoying the camping in our parks.
Second, Dakota county residents need to feel safe in their homes. Our Sheriff Department needs to be funded to ensure our officers can afford to live and work in the community. WE need to provide them all the resources we can so they can do their job.
What will you do to expand Dakota County’s tax base?
When businesses are brought into the county, new workers and businesses will increase the tax base.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I will work with the school districts by ensuring Dakota County places social workers and financial workers in the schools. The collaboration will assist the students in receiving the services they need. Dakota county is fortunate to have a vocational school in our community. I want to see students be able to learn a trade as well as attend colleges.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
At this time I am not aware of any areas that need to be eliminated. I want to see the outsourcing end in the social service area.
What is the role of the County Board in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
I support Dakota county promoting, funding women and minority businesses.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a Commissioner, I will reach out to businesses and ask what is needed to recover from the continued pandemic. We are all in this together and together we will improve the community we live in.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As a 27 years worker in the area of Human services, that is my speciality. I support businesses and am willing to sit down with business owners, community members and community leaders to help business thrive and grow.
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner-District 3
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-452-2017
Campaign Website: VoteJanineHudson.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: Janine Hudson
Candidate Bio
My name is Janine Hudson, I was born in Mankato, MN and graduated from Mankato West high school and Mankato State University with a degree in Home Economics Education 7-12 and Parent Education. I worked for Wadena County from 1995 to 2007 in the area of child protection and mental health. In 2008, I moved to Eagan MN. Famy family has lived in Eagan for over 50 years. I began working at the Family Place, a homeless shelter in St. Paul. In 2013, I began working for Hennepin County in the area of Mnsure and moved to MFIP and SNAP in 2015. I grew up in foster care as a child and feel the county needs a commissioner who understands Social Services inside and out.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Dakota County needs to stop Union busting. Dakota County needs to stop outsourcing its social services and bring social workers back into the county to care for its citizens.
Mental Health is an area that needs great improvement. My step son has been living with me for the past year and has had 4 social workers from 3 different companies and an ARMS worker for only 3 weeks. Dakota County has to do better. The lives of our citizens depend on it.
Our Veterans and other homeless citizens need to have shelter and services to improve their lives. As my Marine son says, everyone needs a bunk and a locker. If it is good enough for the Marines it is good enough for everyone else.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The community I will represent has been bringing a lot of retail to Eagan. This has taken away business from Burnsville. When new businesses are open, the county needs to see how it will impact other communities within the county. Dakota County needs to look at adding technological and industrial jobs that will provide skilled workers in our area.
What role do you think the county should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in Dakota County?
Dakota county needs to be open to listening to the community as to what types of businesses they desire. We need to look at what the county needs and provide start up funding/tax benefits to bring new businesses to the area.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Dakota County (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a policy on the many types of businesses in Dakota County and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
I am a union steward. I support providing a fair contract for all Dakota County Employees.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I support pushing legislators to fully fund child care assistance programs. If Dakota County wants a diverse workforce, the county needs to make sure workers have a safe place for their children to be while they are working.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
I will ensure Dakota County fully funds the sheriff department, ensures excellent training and a union contract that supports their workers. My son is a student at St Cloud State in law enforcement and a former Marine MP. He will keep me abreast of the needs of law enforcement and I will reach out to the union stewards.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Dakota County needs to support building low income and affordable housing so our young people can rent or purchase a modest home. Homes that are currently being built are not starter homes. I plan on making more 1000 square foot starter homes available to our young people.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? 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?
Metro transit started a door to door bus in Eagan. This type of transportation needs to be expanded to the rest of the county.
What are your priorities for the county’s budget?
The County budget first and foremost needs to care for its people. No person should sleep outside unless they are enjoying the camping in our parks.
Second, Dakota county residents need to feel safe in their homes. Our Sheriff Department needs to be funded to ensure our officers can afford to live and work in the community. WE need to provide them all the resources we can so they can do their job.
What will you do to expand Dakota County’s tax base?
When businesses are brought into the county, new workers and businesses will increase the tax base.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I will work with the school districts by ensuring Dakota County places social workers and financial workers in the schools. The collaboration will assist the students in receiving the services they need. Dakota county is fortunate to have a vocational school in our community. I want to see students be able to learn a trade as well as attend colleges.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
At this time I am not aware of any areas that need to be eliminated. I want to see the outsourcing end in the social service area.
What is the role of the County Board in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
I support Dakota county promoting, funding women and minority businesses.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a Commissioner, I will reach out to businesses and ask what is needed to recover from the continued pandemic. We are all in this together and together we will improve the community we live in.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As a 27 years worker in the area of Human services, that is my speciality. I support businesses and am willing to sit down with business owners, community members and community leaders to help business thrive and grow.