Judy Seeberger
Name: Judy Seeberger
Public Office Sought: Minnesota Senate District 41
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone:
Campaign Website: www.judyforsenate.com
Twitter handle: @judyseeberger
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079452444983
Candidate Bio
I grew up in the St. Croix River Valley, and decided to start a family and raise my kids here because I love this community. I have taken on challenges and have been a problem-solver in every step of my career so far. I have connected with kids as a classroom teacher, served my community on the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department, kept people safe as a paramedic, and advocated for veterans while leading the Yellow Ribbon Network of Washington County. I have also served in local government on a city council and two planning commissions, met a budget as a small business owner, and mediated difficult negotiations as a lawyer and civil mediator.
Minnesotans need legislators who will work for solutions - not just throw out partisan talking points. Too much of the latter is how we accomplished next to nothing with our historic budget surplus this year. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work because my wide-ranging experiences give me the knowledge and the tools to pass good policy and build a stronger Minnesota.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top priorities would be:
An economy that works for Minnesotans. As a small business owner and a union member, I have great perspective on the importance of growing a thriving business climate while supporting good paying jobs with strong benefits for workers. I hear from voters all over SD 41 about the need to bring down costs from gas prices to childcare, and that will be priority number one for me.
Safe Neighborhoods and thriving communities. I serve on the front lines of public safety in our communities, shoulder to shoulder with my police and fire colleagues. I want to make sure they have the tools they need to keep us safe, invest in community-based policing, and address pensions and pay issues that have contributed to difficulties hiring and retaining officers and firefighters.
Keeping Minnesota a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I think most Minnesotans know that we have some of the widest disparities in educational outcomes in the country. As a classroom teacher, I know that the solutions to that crisis start by lowering class sizes, meeting students’ mental health challenges with support and understanding, and making sure Minnesota does not remain last in the nation in the ratio of students to school counselors.
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?
I think our business climate is strong, with areas where we can do better. Our water and transportation infrastructure challenges on the East Side are real, and need to be urgently addressed. Our businesses are vital to bringing good jobs and creating welcoming communities- something that I’ve seen firsthand with the thriving downtown area in my hometown of Afton.
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?
Attracting and retaining jobs is a key function of state government, along with supporting a positive business climate and ensuring strong economic growth that is central to quality of life in Minnesota. I think we need to continue to find smart ways to build in the East Metro while encouraging business growth with smart incentives, robust infrastructure development, and livable communities that workers want to stay in. The end result is that businesses can then retain good employees who want to lay down roots in the community which benefits everyone,.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
We can address our state’s critical labor shortage in a few key ways: (1) a strong secondary and post-secondary education system that helps our young people work and grow; (2) investing in apprenticeships so that we have a skilled workforce ready to take on good paying jobs that do not require a college degree; and (3) attracting workers from out of state with livable communities and access to healthcare, recreation, and safety.
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 support targeted investments in apprenticeships and ensuring that Minnesota’s wage theft laws are working correctly. I am committed to hearing out all stakeholders, in particular a wide range of business owners in SD 41, on any employment-related proposals.
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?
I strongly support community-based policing and investing additional resources in local law enforcement to reduce the burdens on our officers and increase support for their needs. I serve on the front line with officers every shift I work as a paramedic, and I am committed to being as strong of a partner for our police in the legislature as I am in my role as a first responder. We desperately need to develop Minnesota’s mental health system and invest in proven strategies to stop crime today and prevent crime in the future.
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 do think smart investments in public transportation are the best solution to traffic challenges. However, our development for both transit and cars needs to consider shifts in road use that are related not only to the pandemic, but which quite possibly are part of a long-term shift to an increasingly digital and work-from-home economy. I support investing auto parts sales tax revenue entirely in transportation infrastructure.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
We have a lot of work to do to ensure that we are building homes in a range of prices, and not just at the high end which is unattainable for a lot of folks. A mix of changes to current zoning laws and policies, investments in housing infrastructure bonds and multifamily housing, and programs increasing homeownership opportunities are needed to address the housing crunch in the Twin Cities.
Specific to the East Metro, we will get nowhere in solving our housing issues until we determine how to meet our needs for abundant and clean water. PFAS contaminations and concerns about water levels in White Bear Lake impact all of the North and East Metro areas, and decisive action is required so that our communities can continue to grow and thrive.
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 failure to make sound decisions with Minnesota’s historic budget surplus is a clear sign of rhetoric and politics getting in the way of public service and doing what is best for Minnesotans. That is at the heart of why I am running for office. I support getting money back into the pockets of Minnesotans through direct checks or a low- and middle-class tax cut. I also believe we fail our students when they have class sizes of 30 plus, or even 40 or 45 for certain classes in many districts. Reversing that, and strengthening mental health investments in our schools statewide, need to be top budget priorities, along with funding community-based policing in our local communities across the state.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
We need to continue to encourage smart and responsible development, both residential and commercial. I believe that requires a collaboration between state and local units of government to create incentives and opportunities to invest in the East Metro. I believe my experience on the Afton planning commission makes me well suited to be a problem-solver and bring all parties necessary to the table to grow SD 41’s 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, and address the achievement gap?
The legislature can do a great deal to build incentives for young people and folks changing careers midstream to fill gaps in our workforce. We need to value technical and apprenticeships tracks as much as a four-year degree, while ensuring that every student has the chance to make the decision to seek either an affordable college degree or a strong pathway to a trade or another fulfilling career.
The opportunity gap in our schools is one of the most concerning long-term issues that Minnesota must take on with urgency. I confronted this challenge head-on in my classroom, and called out instances where students in my building were targeted for exclusionary discipline based on their race or disability status. I support a number of strategies to end the opportunity gap, including increasing the number of teachers of color in classrooms, investing in literacy and math support specialists, and more.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
Entrepreneurs are a critical lifeblood of our economy, and Minnesota should identify ways to support them and help them find success. Opportunity zones are an important strategy, as well as carve-outs for minority and women-owned businesses in business investment plans. This helps to ensure that business owners with fewer resources and connections are not shoved out of the way in a first-come first-serve only system.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The legislature should strongly consider additional one-time funding in grant recovery programs to industries most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The failure to come together at the end of the 2022 legislative session left a great deal of money on the bottom line, which means we can afford to make targeted and smart investments with onetime money.
I also believe that the pandemic made clear the importance of our caregiving systems like childcare, elder and long-term care, and disability day services- and the burden that families face when taking on additional unexpected caregiving responsibilities. The pandemic also placed incredible burdens on all of those care systems- and any action taken to stabilize those services will allow families to return to work and breathe easier knowing that their loved ones are being cared for.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I want voters to know that I am committed to serving all of the constituents in my district when I am elected, and to working to find solutions across the aisle and across differences in perspective. I think folks are rightly sick and tired of rhetoric and talking points coming before the work of the people of Minnesota, and that simply isn’t who I am. You don’t have that luxury in an ambulance or in a classroom, and I don’t think it’s something we can afford to continue at the state legislature.
Public Office Sought: Minnesota Senate District 41
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone:
Campaign Website: www.judyforsenate.com
Twitter handle: @judyseeberger
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079452444983
Candidate Bio
I grew up in the St. Croix River Valley, and decided to start a family and raise my kids here because I love this community. I have taken on challenges and have been a problem-solver in every step of my career so far. I have connected with kids as a classroom teacher, served my community on the Lower St. Croix Valley Fire Department, kept people safe as a paramedic, and advocated for veterans while leading the Yellow Ribbon Network of Washington County. I have also served in local government on a city council and two planning commissions, met a budget as a small business owner, and mediated difficult negotiations as a lawyer and civil mediator.
Minnesotans need legislators who will work for solutions - not just throw out partisan talking points. Too much of the latter is how we accomplished next to nothing with our historic budget surplus this year. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work because my wide-ranging experiences give me the knowledge and the tools to pass good policy and build a stronger Minnesota.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My top priorities would be:
An economy that works for Minnesotans. As a small business owner and a union member, I have great perspective on the importance of growing a thriving business climate while supporting good paying jobs with strong benefits for workers. I hear from voters all over SD 41 about the need to bring down costs from gas prices to childcare, and that will be priority number one for me.
Safe Neighborhoods and thriving communities. I serve on the front lines of public safety in our communities, shoulder to shoulder with my police and fire colleagues. I want to make sure they have the tools they need to keep us safe, invest in community-based policing, and address pensions and pay issues that have contributed to difficulties hiring and retaining officers and firefighters.
Keeping Minnesota a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I think most Minnesotans know that we have some of the widest disparities in educational outcomes in the country. As a classroom teacher, I know that the solutions to that crisis start by lowering class sizes, meeting students’ mental health challenges with support and understanding, and making sure Minnesota does not remain last in the nation in the ratio of students to school counselors.
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?
I think our business climate is strong, with areas where we can do better. Our water and transportation infrastructure challenges on the East Side are real, and need to be urgently addressed. Our businesses are vital to bringing good jobs and creating welcoming communities- something that I’ve seen firsthand with the thriving downtown area in my hometown of Afton.
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?
Attracting and retaining jobs is a key function of state government, along with supporting a positive business climate and ensuring strong economic growth that is central to quality of life in Minnesota. I think we need to continue to find smart ways to build in the East Metro while encouraging business growth with smart incentives, robust infrastructure development, and livable communities that workers want to stay in. The end result is that businesses can then retain good employees who want to lay down roots in the community which benefits everyone,.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
We can address our state’s critical labor shortage in a few key ways: (1) a strong secondary and post-secondary education system that helps our young people work and grow; (2) investing in apprenticeships so that we have a skilled workforce ready to take on good paying jobs that do not require a college degree; and (3) attracting workers from out of state with livable communities and access to healthcare, recreation, and safety.
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 support targeted investments in apprenticeships and ensuring that Minnesota’s wage theft laws are working correctly. I am committed to hearing out all stakeholders, in particular a wide range of business owners in SD 41, on any employment-related proposals.
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?
I strongly support community-based policing and investing additional resources in local law enforcement to reduce the burdens on our officers and increase support for their needs. I serve on the front line with officers every shift I work as a paramedic, and I am committed to being as strong of a partner for our police in the legislature as I am in my role as a first responder. We desperately need to develop Minnesota’s mental health system and invest in proven strategies to stop crime today and prevent crime in the future.
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 do think smart investments in public transportation are the best solution to traffic challenges. However, our development for both transit and cars needs to consider shifts in road use that are related not only to the pandemic, but which quite possibly are part of a long-term shift to an increasingly digital and work-from-home economy. I support investing auto parts sales tax revenue entirely in transportation infrastructure.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
We have a lot of work to do to ensure that we are building homes in a range of prices, and not just at the high end which is unattainable for a lot of folks. A mix of changes to current zoning laws and policies, investments in housing infrastructure bonds and multifamily housing, and programs increasing homeownership opportunities are needed to address the housing crunch in the Twin Cities.
Specific to the East Metro, we will get nowhere in solving our housing issues until we determine how to meet our needs for abundant and clean water. PFAS contaminations and concerns about water levels in White Bear Lake impact all of the North and East Metro areas, and decisive action is required so that our communities can continue to grow and thrive.
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 failure to make sound decisions with Minnesota’s historic budget surplus is a clear sign of rhetoric and politics getting in the way of public service and doing what is best for Minnesotans. That is at the heart of why I am running for office. I support getting money back into the pockets of Minnesotans through direct checks or a low- and middle-class tax cut. I also believe we fail our students when they have class sizes of 30 plus, or even 40 or 45 for certain classes in many districts. Reversing that, and strengthening mental health investments in our schools statewide, need to be top budget priorities, along with funding community-based policing in our local communities across the state.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
We need to continue to encourage smart and responsible development, both residential and commercial. I believe that requires a collaboration between state and local units of government to create incentives and opportunities to invest in the East Metro. I believe my experience on the Afton planning commission makes me well suited to be a problem-solver and bring all parties necessary to the table to grow SD 41’s 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, and address the achievement gap?
The legislature can do a great deal to build incentives for young people and folks changing careers midstream to fill gaps in our workforce. We need to value technical and apprenticeships tracks as much as a four-year degree, while ensuring that every student has the chance to make the decision to seek either an affordable college degree or a strong pathway to a trade or another fulfilling career.
The opportunity gap in our schools is one of the most concerning long-term issues that Minnesota must take on with urgency. I confronted this challenge head-on in my classroom, and called out instances where students in my building were targeted for exclusionary discipline based on their race or disability status. I support a number of strategies to end the opportunity gap, including increasing the number of teachers of color in classrooms, investing in literacy and math support specialists, and more.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
Entrepreneurs are a critical lifeblood of our economy, and Minnesota should identify ways to support them and help them find success. Opportunity zones are an important strategy, as well as carve-outs for minority and women-owned businesses in business investment plans. This helps to ensure that business owners with fewer resources and connections are not shoved out of the way in a first-come first-serve only system.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The legislature should strongly consider additional one-time funding in grant recovery programs to industries most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The failure to come together at the end of the 2022 legislative session left a great deal of money on the bottom line, which means we can afford to make targeted and smart investments with onetime money.
I also believe that the pandemic made clear the importance of our caregiving systems like childcare, elder and long-term care, and disability day services- and the burden that families face when taking on additional unexpected caregiving responsibilities. The pandemic also placed incredible burdens on all of those care systems- and any action taken to stabilize those services will allow families to return to work and breathe easier knowing that their loved ones are being cared for.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I want voters to know that I am committed to serving all of the constituents in my district when I am elected, and to working to find solutions across the aisle and across differences in perspective. I think folks are rightly sick and tired of rhetoric and talking points coming before the work of the people of Minnesota, and that simply isn’t who I am. You don’t have that luxury in an ambulance or in a classroom, and I don’t think it’s something we can afford to continue at the state legislature.