John Huot
Name: John D. Huot
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-278-4487
Campaign Website: HuotforHouse.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/HuotforHouse
Candidate Bio
I have proudly represented HD57B, now HD56B, for three terms, with a strong record of bi-partisanship. My legislation has bolstered EMS service across Minnesota, and invested in public safety/first responder recruitment, training, and officer safety. I supported: access to reproductive healthcare, lower drug prices, lower healthcare costs, education and education funding, college affordability, public safety, infrastructure, and workers’ safety and security. There is more to do.
From the emergency department at the old St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center, to working as a paramedic to help people on some of the worst days of their lives, my career has reflected my commitment to serving people. It was this dedication to service that first drew me to the idea of running for office.
My wife and I raised our family in Rosemount to ensure that our kids would receive a top-notch education in a thriving community. I volunteered as a youth sports coach, a youth faith formation teacher, and for a local energy sector advisory council. I have started small businesses and developed a successful real estate career. Like so many of us, I have experienced the ups and downs, the challenges, and the joys, of working and raising a family.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Every budget reflects a set of values. I will continue to serve our community by:
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
Local businesses help to keep money circulating within the community while providing jobs, goods, and services. Moreover, local taxes fund local government resources. The role of the legislature is to protect the needs of the public and businesses while avoiding unnecessary regulations. Businesses also rely on a stable infrastructure, a well-educated workforce, child-care options, and safe communities. I am proud of the investments the legislature has made in each of these areas.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development? Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
The legislative role is largely to foster an environment for success which includes a well-educated and healthy population, a well-maintained infrastructure, child-care options and safe communities. Moreover, protecting workers’ rights helps all companies attract and retain workers. I am proud to be endorsed by business groups and multiple labor organizations.
In the last session:
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
Minnesota boasts an excellent quality of life which attracts families from across the country. Supporting excellent educational opportunities, healthy communities, individual rights and privacy, public safety, and a strong infrastructure help ensure that quality of life.
Supporting our public colleges and universities to lower tuition, promoting vocational training, trades, and a portion of educational loan forgiveness will allow our young people to stay in Minnesota and build their careers here.
Strong workers’ rights protections help Minnesota businesses attract and retain dedicated, qualified employees. I am proud to have been endorsed by multiple unions from across the economic spectrum, along with business associations.
Legal immigration has always been a source for valuable employees and new businesses. This means reforming immigration laws to create pathways to citizenship and continuing to be welcoming and provide initial resources, such as language education.
The 2023-2024 Legislature passed many new mandates on employers, such as Paid Family Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification penalties. Do you support the PFML program in its current form or do you believe there needs to be further refinement before the program comes into effect in January 2026? If elected, 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?
A safe and healthy workforce is essential for the success of any business, and workers who are valued and protected tend to remain, which reduces the cost of turnover and training. An illness or injury is all but inevitable at some point in everyone’s life. I hope we can all agree that when this happens, an individual should be able to schedule a medical appointment or take the time needed to recover (and not spread an illness to others) without fear of being unable to pay the rent or feed their family because of a day’s lost wages. Earned sick and safe time is just that, earned. It is also important to recognize that workers should be safe at work. I supported the legislation to protect warehouse and oil refinery workers, to protect pregnant and nursing workers, and improved nursing home workforce standards.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Our first responders willingly put themselves at risk for our benefit. Those who serve deserve our support, which is why I have moved legislation to recruit, train, physically protect, retain, and serve police, fire and EMS professionals. Moreover, Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan will receive an additional $6.6 million in Public Safety Aid.
Public safety also includes a reliable EMS system. As Co-Chair of the Legislative Task Force on Emergency Medical Services, my Bill led to $30 million to stabilize ambulance service across Minnesota, particularly in rural areas, and innovated a ”sprint” program to speed up response time.
The legislature also took important steps to reduce gun violence by expanding background checks, permitting Extreme Risk Protection Orders or “Red Flag Laws,” and elevating “straw” gun purchases to a felony.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Transportation is central to our daily lives for work, deliveries, shopping, worship, visiting, and entertainment. The State implements and maintains our infrastructure. Whenever we are out and about, properly maintained roads and public transportation are essential. In the last session, infrastructure finally received the attention and votes it deserved. Too many projects have been put off, which only increased the eventual costs. The 2023 Bonding Bill means these repairs and replacements can finally begin. Local allocations include $96 million for Highway 13, $2.4 million to remedy the dangerous interchange at Highway 52/County Road 42, and $2.2 million for a roundabout on Highway 3 to allow our students and staff to safely enter and exit the Rosemount Highschool campus.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
The legislature has invested heavily in high-density, affordable workforce housing in our core cities. More resources are needed to improve public transportation so that workers can reach their jobs. I support more grants for first-time home buyers in all communities throughout the state.
In light of projected budget deficit/"structural imbalance," what are your priorities for the State's budget?
As I stated above, budgets are a statement of values. I will continue:
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-278-4487
Campaign Website: HuotforHouse.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/HuotforHouse
Candidate Bio
I have proudly represented HD57B, now HD56B, for three terms, with a strong record of bi-partisanship. My legislation has bolstered EMS service across Minnesota, and invested in public safety/first responder recruitment, training, and officer safety. I supported: access to reproductive healthcare, lower drug prices, lower healthcare costs, education and education funding, college affordability, public safety, infrastructure, and workers’ safety and security. There is more to do.
From the emergency department at the old St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center, to working as a paramedic to help people on some of the worst days of their lives, my career has reflected my commitment to serving people. It was this dedication to service that first drew me to the idea of running for office.
My wife and I raised our family in Rosemount to ensure that our kids would receive a top-notch education in a thriving community. I volunteered as a youth sports coach, a youth faith formation teacher, and for a local energy sector advisory council. I have started small businesses and developed a successful real estate career. Like so many of us, I have experienced the ups and downs, the challenges, and the joys, of working and raising a family.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
Every budget reflects a set of values. I will continue to serve our community by:
- Supporting public schools and teachers, and ensuring that students receive a comprehensive education that does not hide the past;
- Build on my work supporting public safety officers and first responders;
- Work to ensure that medical care is available when needed, from EMS response to receiving the necessary medical care one’s doctor prescribes;
- Ensuring that everyone is fully protected in our community, including LGBTQIA persons;
- Preserving individual privacy rights including marriage, contraception and reproduction;
- Work toward an economy that works for everyone by maintaining our infrastructure, protecting workers, expanding childcare access, reducing the tax burden on retirees, and expanding opportunities for new businesses.
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
Local businesses help to keep money circulating within the community while providing jobs, goods, and services. Moreover, local taxes fund local government resources. The role of the legislature is to protect the needs of the public and businesses while avoiding unnecessary regulations. Businesses also rely on a stable infrastructure, a well-educated workforce, child-care options, and safe communities. I am proud of the investments the legislature has made in each of these areas.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development? Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
The legislative role is largely to foster an environment for success which includes a well-educated and healthy population, a well-maintained infrastructure, child-care options and safe communities. Moreover, protecting workers’ rights helps all companies attract and retain workers. I am proud to be endorsed by business groups and multiple labor organizations.
In the last session:
- I saved Rosemount taxpayers’ dollars by partnering with local industry to secure land for Rosemount’s new Police and Public Works Campus;
- My legislation will help stabilize EMS service across Minnesota;
- My legislation invested in recruiting, training, protecting, and serving police, fire and EMS professionals;
- Invested in public schools and children by increasing funding for ISD 196 by $84 million over the base for fiscal years 2019 to 2025;
- Invested in healthcare and lowered drug prices;
- Increased Public Safety Aid for Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan by $6.6 million
- Delivered the largest tax cut in Minnesota history, expanded child tax credits, increased child care scholarships, expanded the social security and public pensions tax cut, and provided tax credits for beginning farmers and new small businesses;
- Unlocked $500 million in matching federal dollars for business development, workforce development, grants and loans to small businesses;
- Improved worker protections;
- Returned $145 million of tax-payer dollars to Dakota County, including $96 million for Highway 13;
- Increased Local County Aid for Dakota County by $26 million;
- $4.6 million to improve the interchange at Highway52/County Road 42 and a safer Rosemount High School entrance on Highway 3.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
Minnesota boasts an excellent quality of life which attracts families from across the country. Supporting excellent educational opportunities, healthy communities, individual rights and privacy, public safety, and a strong infrastructure help ensure that quality of life.
Supporting our public colleges and universities to lower tuition, promoting vocational training, trades, and a portion of educational loan forgiveness will allow our young people to stay in Minnesota and build their careers here.
Strong workers’ rights protections help Minnesota businesses attract and retain dedicated, qualified employees. I am proud to have been endorsed by multiple unions from across the economic spectrum, along with business associations.
Legal immigration has always been a source for valuable employees and new businesses. This means reforming immigration laws to create pathways to citizenship and continuing to be welcoming and provide initial resources, such as language education.
The 2023-2024 Legislature passed many new mandates on employers, such as Paid Family Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification penalties. Do you support the PFML program in its current form or do you believe there needs to be further refinement before the program comes into effect in January 2026? If elected, 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?
A safe and healthy workforce is essential for the success of any business, and workers who are valued and protected tend to remain, which reduces the cost of turnover and training. An illness or injury is all but inevitable at some point in everyone’s life. I hope we can all agree that when this happens, an individual should be able to schedule a medical appointment or take the time needed to recover (and not spread an illness to others) without fear of being unable to pay the rent or feed their family because of a day’s lost wages. Earned sick and safe time is just that, earned. It is also important to recognize that workers should be safe at work. I supported the legislation to protect warehouse and oil refinery workers, to protect pregnant and nursing workers, and improved nursing home workforce standards.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Our first responders willingly put themselves at risk for our benefit. Those who serve deserve our support, which is why I have moved legislation to recruit, train, physically protect, retain, and serve police, fire and EMS professionals. Moreover, Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan will receive an additional $6.6 million in Public Safety Aid.
Public safety also includes a reliable EMS system. As Co-Chair of the Legislative Task Force on Emergency Medical Services, my Bill led to $30 million to stabilize ambulance service across Minnesota, particularly in rural areas, and innovated a ”sprint” program to speed up response time.
The legislature also took important steps to reduce gun violence by expanding background checks, permitting Extreme Risk Protection Orders or “Red Flag Laws,” and elevating “straw” gun purchases to a felony.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Transportation is central to our daily lives for work, deliveries, shopping, worship, visiting, and entertainment. The State implements and maintains our infrastructure. Whenever we are out and about, properly maintained roads and public transportation are essential. In the last session, infrastructure finally received the attention and votes it deserved. Too many projects have been put off, which only increased the eventual costs. The 2023 Bonding Bill means these repairs and replacements can finally begin. Local allocations include $96 million for Highway 13, $2.4 million to remedy the dangerous interchange at Highway 52/County Road 42, and $2.2 million for a roundabout on Highway 3 to allow our students and staff to safely enter and exit the Rosemount Highschool campus.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
The legislature has invested heavily in high-density, affordable workforce housing in our core cities. More resources are needed to improve public transportation so that workers can reach their jobs. I support more grants for first-time home buyers in all communities throughout the state.
In light of projected budget deficit/"structural imbalance," what are your priorities for the State's budget?
As I stated above, budgets are a statement of values. I will continue:
- Prioritizing Minnesota’s public education from pre-K through graduation, while making vocational training and college more affordable and accessible;
- Working toward comprehensive, affordable healthcare;
- Fostering an environment for a thriving economy;
- Providing needed resources to public safety and first responder professionals;
- Protecting our environment and natural resources;
- Serving the needs of veterans.