John Stromenger
Name: John Stromenger
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 67A
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-964-5227
Campaign website: https://john4house67a.com (Stromenger for 67A)
Twitter handle: @John4House67A
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JStromenger4MN67A
Candidate Bio
I have lived on the East Side for 35 years and District 67A for 20 years.
I’ve based my life on lifting people up and caring for all people. Years spent helping youth in trouble with the law; helping families, men, women and children in shelters; working at the Shoreview Community Center as a Building Maintenance Worker.
My work experience:
Maintenance worker for Rescue Missions in NY and CA; Mechanic’s Helper with Rollo Trucking; Fork Lift Driver and Welder for North Shore Packing; Maintenance Ranch Hand for at risk youth; And other work involving manufacturing and trucking. I retired after working 27 years with the City of Shoreview in Maintenance.
Being involved in my community is important to me. For 20 years I’ve volunteered for Gospel Missions and Shelters for Men, Women, and families suffering from housing instability, addiction, and other circumstances that create poverty and lack of opportunity.
I’ve been a hard worker and dedicated volunteer since I was a young teenager. I will bring the same dedication to find a solution to the challenges of violence, safety, decline in infrastructure, and education. You’ll get an experienced worker who will value your hard work and listen to your needs.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
I believe we are all responsible for public safety and we need police officers on our streets to deter crime. It takes both the community and our law enforcement agencies to work together to have a safe community.
Safety and Security also applies to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to find a way to fully open our businesses in Saint Paul safely. Our businesses are losing revenue which is impacting jobs for our residents. We need to look at the current regulations and alternatives to their constraints.
As your State Representative I will take action to eliminate racism and related intolerance in the workplace. I will work with community leaders and parents around important issues that directly impact people of color.
We have thrown money at public schools without significant progress because our school boards are under-represented by educators and a balance of liberal and conservative leadership. I will advocate for school choice and diverse educational opportunities for low-income and children of color and adults. I support preschool and early childhood opportunities that support parents while giving a nurturing physical environment that is free from over regulation by government officials.
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?
Boarded up buildings do nothing to support quality of life. Many of our businesses were thriving prior to the pandemic and the unrest. What makes Saint Paul great are all the unique shops and restaurants. Besides providing employment opportunities, our Saint Paul businesses create the culture and tourism that drives revenue for the city. Most importantly, our Small Business owners and their employees tend to be more committed to the community they are in for ensuring the community’s vitality. We all can support the quality of life in Saint Paul, especially the East Side, by shopping and eating locally in our neighborhoods.
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?
Our state needs to have lower taxes in order to attract new businesses and retain our existing businesses. We must make sure government doesn’t mandate even more regulations than they already have. Over regulation hinders growth. Removing these roadblocks will help retain and attract businesses.
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?
Regulations tend to harm small companies that cannot afford to hire trained personnel or train themselves to keep up with the new regulations. What is a small impact to a large company may eliminate a smaller company’s entire profit margin. I believe in a free market, and businesses will pay the wages and provide the benefits they need to attract employees.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
There are reasons people become homeless and those need to be addressed. We need to help find practical and loving solutions to sustainable and affordable housing.
I believe we are all responsible for public safety and we need police officers on our streets to deter crime. It takes both the community and our law enforcement agencies to work together to have a safe community. We need to work with our Congressional Representative in Washington D.C. by applying to public safety Federal Grants to pay for resources to curb crime on the Green Line and Gun Violence.
We need to take a serious look at criminal justice reform for those impacted by the penal system and developing educational programs to help communities avoid incarceration. As a tradesman myself, I’m an advocate for learning a trade to lift yourself up to become self-dependent and thrive in society.
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?
The COVID-19 pandemic has put our state in a situation we did not see or plan for us being in a year ago. For a short time we were celebrating a surplus and due to the pandemic, we are now looking at a deficit in the billions. This means we will need to be lean with our spending and really examine where there is potential for waste. We need to ensure that those taking advantage of programs like C-CAP are held accountable so the funds are available for those who most need it. The state needs to make sure money is being directed wisely to the businesses and ensure any subsidies to businesses are not squandered.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
We need to encourage more business growth which will require limiting our city and state regulations. We need to increasing housing and paths to home ownership.
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 advocate for school choice and diverse educational opportunities for low-income and children of color and adults. I support preschool and early childhood opportunities. I will work to ensure quality education is accessible and available for all communities.
When looking at curriculum, our Superintendents and School Board Representatives need to examine curriculum and educational methods which have proven themselves to increase math and reading literacy. Minnesota needs to continue to support and expand college in schools programs and access for youth and adults in order to decrease educational disparity. We should support Charter and Parochial school programs that successfully provide apprenticeships to youth while they are still in school as well as young adults who are in associates school or general college.
I am a man of the trades and understands that in many cases, the trades can offer higher income and more affordable educational opportunities as a way out of poverty. There are many great affordable programs at Saint Paul College or Metro State to learn skills or certificates to start a career in mechanics, healthcare, construction, auto body repair, etc.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
I will listen to the needs of the state and Saint Paul residents when it comes to all small business owners. The state’s primary responsibility is to ensure current laws to protect against discrimination are being enforced. Some of those laws being employment laws, financial lending laws, and rental agreements. We need to ensure current laws and regulations are supporting the growth of our minority, women, and veteran owned businesses. Where those laws or regulations are holding them back, we need to take a closer look and adjust where necessary.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
We can open the economy and do it safely. I understand individuals with pre-existing conditions and older age groups need to take full precautions to protect themselves from getting the virus. However, as a society we can take those precautions and still open businesses.
Our Schools are open with either distance or hybrid learning. We have many people working from home. The reliance on the internet has increased and therefore the need for access to and affordable internet access. As State Representatives, we need to provide better incentives to allow infrastructure to be built in the rural areas and for costs to be lower in the urban areas.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I, John Stromenger, believe “All men are created equal and endowed by their creator with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as stated in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence. I will work to uphold these words where injustice surfaces.
Conversations about race and culture are not meant to be easy, but without them we will never begin to understand the root causes of our racial disparities and challenge our current thinking. We can have these conversations peacefully without destroying our communities through looting, vandalism, and fires. Unlike my opponent, John Thompson, I believe we should lift each other up, not tear each other down.
I’m an avid book reader. I recently read the book titled, One Blood: A Parting Word to the Church on Race by Dr. John Perkins. It speaks to a plan for racial healing. I encourage everyone to check out the book or audio book from one of our Saint Paul Libraries.
Finally, Saint Paul has had DFL Leadership for over 40 years. It’s time for a change in Saint Paul. We need diversity of thought at all levels of Government. We need diversity of thought at our State Capital. Please consider me, John Stromenger, as your next Representative for 67A.
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 67A
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-964-5227
Campaign website: https://john4house67a.com (Stromenger for 67A)
Twitter handle: @John4House67A
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JStromenger4MN67A
Candidate Bio
I have lived on the East Side for 35 years and District 67A for 20 years.
I’ve based my life on lifting people up and caring for all people. Years spent helping youth in trouble with the law; helping families, men, women and children in shelters; working at the Shoreview Community Center as a Building Maintenance Worker.
My work experience:
Maintenance worker for Rescue Missions in NY and CA; Mechanic’s Helper with Rollo Trucking; Fork Lift Driver and Welder for North Shore Packing; Maintenance Ranch Hand for at risk youth; And other work involving manufacturing and trucking. I retired after working 27 years with the City of Shoreview in Maintenance.
Being involved in my community is important to me. For 20 years I’ve volunteered for Gospel Missions and Shelters for Men, Women, and families suffering from housing instability, addiction, and other circumstances that create poverty and lack of opportunity.
I’ve been a hard worker and dedicated volunteer since I was a young teenager. I will bring the same dedication to find a solution to the challenges of violence, safety, decline in infrastructure, and education. You’ll get an experienced worker who will value your hard work and listen to your needs.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Ensuring there is Safety and Security for all communities.
I believe we are all responsible for public safety and we need police officers on our streets to deter crime. It takes both the community and our law enforcement agencies to work together to have a safe community.
Safety and Security also applies to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to find a way to fully open our businesses in Saint Paul safely. Our businesses are losing revenue which is impacting jobs for our residents. We need to look at the current regulations and alternatives to their constraints.
- Protecting human rights and ensuring everyone is treated equally under the law regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, gender, etc.
As your State Representative I will take action to eliminate racism and related intolerance in the workplace. I will work with community leaders and parents around important issues that directly impact people of color.
- Promoting Educational Opportunities for All.
We have thrown money at public schools without significant progress because our school boards are under-represented by educators and a balance of liberal and conservative leadership. I will advocate for school choice and diverse educational opportunities for low-income and children of color and adults. I support preschool and early childhood opportunities that support parents while giving a nurturing physical environment that is free from over regulation by government officials.
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?
Boarded up buildings do nothing to support quality of life. Many of our businesses were thriving prior to the pandemic and the unrest. What makes Saint Paul great are all the unique shops and restaurants. Besides providing employment opportunities, our Saint Paul businesses create the culture and tourism that drives revenue for the city. Most importantly, our Small Business owners and their employees tend to be more committed to the community they are in for ensuring the community’s vitality. We all can support the quality of life in Saint Paul, especially the East Side, by shopping and eating locally in our neighborhoods.
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?
Our state needs to have lower taxes in order to attract new businesses and retain our existing businesses. We must make sure government doesn’t mandate even more regulations than they already have. Over regulation hinders growth. Removing these roadblocks will help retain and attract businesses.
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?
Regulations tend to harm small companies that cannot afford to hire trained personnel or train themselves to keep up with the new regulations. What is a small impact to a large company may eliminate a smaller company’s entire profit margin. I believe in a free market, and businesses will pay the wages and provide the benefits they need to attract employees.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
There are reasons people become homeless and those need to be addressed. We need to help find practical and loving solutions to sustainable and affordable housing.
I believe we are all responsible for public safety and we need police officers on our streets to deter crime. It takes both the community and our law enforcement agencies to work together to have a safe community. We need to work with our Congressional Representative in Washington D.C. by applying to public safety Federal Grants to pay for resources to curb crime on the Green Line and Gun Violence.
We need to take a serious look at criminal justice reform for those impacted by the penal system and developing educational programs to help communities avoid incarceration. As a tradesman myself, I’m an advocate for learning a trade to lift yourself up to become self-dependent and thrive in society.
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?
The COVID-19 pandemic has put our state in a situation we did not see or plan for us being in a year ago. For a short time we were celebrating a surplus and due to the pandemic, we are now looking at a deficit in the billions. This means we will need to be lean with our spending and really examine where there is potential for waste. We need to ensure that those taking advantage of programs like C-CAP are held accountable so the funds are available for those who most need it. The state needs to make sure money is being directed wisely to the businesses and ensure any subsidies to businesses are not squandered.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
We need to encourage more business growth which will require limiting our city and state regulations. We need to increasing housing and paths to home ownership.
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 advocate for school choice and diverse educational opportunities for low-income and children of color and adults. I support preschool and early childhood opportunities. I will work to ensure quality education is accessible and available for all communities.
When looking at curriculum, our Superintendents and School Board Representatives need to examine curriculum and educational methods which have proven themselves to increase math and reading literacy. Minnesota needs to continue to support and expand college in schools programs and access for youth and adults in order to decrease educational disparity. We should support Charter and Parochial school programs that successfully provide apprenticeships to youth while they are still in school as well as young adults who are in associates school or general college.
I am a man of the trades and understands that in many cases, the trades can offer higher income and more affordable educational opportunities as a way out of poverty. There are many great affordable programs at Saint Paul College or Metro State to learn skills or certificates to start a career in mechanics, healthcare, construction, auto body repair, etc.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
I will listen to the needs of the state and Saint Paul residents when it comes to all small business owners. The state’s primary responsibility is to ensure current laws to protect against discrimination are being enforced. Some of those laws being employment laws, financial lending laws, and rental agreements. We need to ensure current laws and regulations are supporting the growth of our minority, women, and veteran owned businesses. Where those laws or regulations are holding them back, we need to take a closer look and adjust where necessary.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
We can open the economy and do it safely. I understand individuals with pre-existing conditions and older age groups need to take full precautions to protect themselves from getting the virus. However, as a society we can take those precautions and still open businesses.
Our Schools are open with either distance or hybrid learning. We have many people working from home. The reliance on the internet has increased and therefore the need for access to and affordable internet access. As State Representatives, we need to provide better incentives to allow infrastructure to be built in the rural areas and for costs to be lower in the urban areas.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I, John Stromenger, believe “All men are created equal and endowed by their creator with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as stated in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence. I will work to uphold these words where injustice surfaces.
Conversations about race and culture are not meant to be easy, but without them we will never begin to understand the root causes of our racial disparities and challenge our current thinking. We can have these conversations peacefully without destroying our communities through looting, vandalism, and fires. Unlike my opponent, John Thompson, I believe we should lift each other up, not tear each other down.
I’m an avid book reader. I recently read the book titled, One Blood: A Parting Word to the Church on Race by Dr. John Perkins. It speaks to a plan for racial healing. I encourage everyone to check out the book or audio book from one of our Saint Paul Libraries.
Finally, Saint Paul has had DFL Leadership for over 40 years. It’s time for a change in Saint Paul. We need diversity of thought at all levels of Government. We need diversity of thought at our State Capital. Please consider me, John Stromenger, as your next Representative for 67A.