Julie Ohs
Name: Julie Ohs
Public Office Sought: Washington County Commissioner-District 2
Email:
Phone:
Campaign website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: JulieOhs4WashingtonCounty CommissionerDistrict2
Candidate Bio
I was elected to the Woodbury City Council in 2006 and served for 3 terms from 2007 to 2018. Prior to that I served on the Business Development Commission from 2004-2006. I was also in The Leadership St. Paul class of 2002-2003. I have a bachelors and master’s degree. I was recently a finalist for appointment to the Metropolitan Council. I am a founding member and current chair of the Woodbury Yellow Ribbon Network. I am on the board of the Woodbury K9 Fund and am also on the school board for Woodbury Leadership Academy. I have lived in the county for 20+ years. I have 2 adult children. I have a long history of serving my community and would love to continue to do so.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
I believe the county has a good business climate but there is room for improvement. Jobs that pay a living wage are important to any community. When serving on the Woodbury City Council we developed areas in the city to be medical or health care corridors bringing good paying jobs to the area. Being a medical destination also brought people to the city increasing business for the surrounding areas. Businesses play a role in supporting quality of life issues by sponsoring events in the communities and by volunteering and encouraging their employees to volunteer at various charitable events and entities.
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 Washington County?
The county should play an active role in attracting and maintaining businesses. I would support the existing Community Development Agency to attract robust businesses that provide well-paying jobs. Focusing on developing a health care corridor is one way to bring in good jobs. I would also support the workforce center in providing training and career opportunities to have a diverse population prepared to staff the new businesses. An efficient transit system and good infrastructure are also key components is attracting and maintain businesses.
Do you support any specific employment related proposals in Washington 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 Washington County and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
While I believe all the issues mentioned above are important, I feel they should be addressed at the state level.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I would support the existing workforce center and would explore expanding their training programs. I would seek state and federal grants in this area to fund this expansion. Transit is important in this arena both to provide mobility of local residents and to bring others in to work in our community. As a council member I was active in the Gold Line project and after my three terms was a member of the Metro Gold Line CBAC.
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?
As mentioned previously public safety is one of my top three priorities. I would seek out any and all grants or funding sources from the state and federal government to augment the tax dollars utilized to fund law enforcement. It is important to provide public safety the resources and training they need to do their job effectively and safely. As a council member I worked on the Cottage Grove Hero Center. I currently serve on the board of the Woodbury Police K9 Fund. I fully support integrating mental health training and solutions into the public safety model.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
It is crucial need for the county to have affordable stable housing for residents of all ages. The Washington County CDA is one tool that works toward providing affordable housing and building new housing units, I would definitely support the CDA. As a council person I supported private public partnerships to maximize state and federal dollars to provide workforce/affordable housing. This is also important to our business community. A perfect opportunity for expanding this type of housing would be along the Gold Line BRT. Keeping taxes in check is another tool I would utilize in making housing more affordable, as a council person I have a record of keeping taxes low while supporting high quality public service levels.
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?
It is important to focus on multiple modes of transportation in order to be inclusive of all of our residents. I am proud to have been part of the Gold Line project and of our decision to go the BRT route versus the more expensive options. Station design to include space for people to park their bikes is also a great decision that makes the route more accessible. The changes in transportation during the pandemic reinforced the need for transportation planning to be flexible and to include long range plans.
What are your priorities for the county’s budget?
As a Woodbury Councilmember I have gone through 12 budget cycles, and I have always supported fiscally responsible budgeting. The overall goal is to keep the tax levels at a reasonable and affordable level while still providing the necessary services for a high quality of life for our residents. I support seeking out and utilizing state and federal monies to augment the budget whenever possible.
What will you do to expand Washington County’s tax base?
Growing the tax base in a planned and efficient manner is one tool to grow the tax base. Re-development and re-investment in the county is another way. My work on the Gold Line is one way I have already helped increase the tax base. Station based development of housing and businesses increases 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?
As a teacher I fully support quality education for all. I teach at a core knowledge school and we are striving to become a core knowledge school of distinction. I would work with state officials to secure funding for education and educational programs. We have a history of quality education locally and I would work to maintain that. Trade schools are also important in my opinion. Going into debt for a college education isn’t always the best route. There are trades that pay a good wage and that need trained workers.
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 point I do not have a specific service that I feel should be eliminated. I do believe in always evaluating whether something “is nice to have” or “necessary”. I believe in economies of scale and the sharing of services whenever possible. Public private partnerships are a good thing to look at when providing services.
What is the role of the County Board in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Washington County?
It is the role of the county to support all business in the county. Increasing the number of minority and women owned businesses would a great thing and would be representative of the residents in the county. The local chamber of commerce and the county workforce center are good connectors for business owners end entrepreneurs.
What further policies can Washington County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The county can and should help businesses secure any state and federal funds that are available.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I really enjoy serving my community and would like to do so in a broader manner. I am not running because I have an agenda. I believe county commissioner is a non-partisan position and that is how I would serve.
Public Office Sought: Washington County Commissioner-District 2
Email:
Phone:
Campaign website:
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: JulieOhs4WashingtonCounty CommissionerDistrict2
Candidate Bio
I was elected to the Woodbury City Council in 2006 and served for 3 terms from 2007 to 2018. Prior to that I served on the Business Development Commission from 2004-2006. I was also in The Leadership St. Paul class of 2002-2003. I have a bachelors and master’s degree. I was recently a finalist for appointment to the Metropolitan Council. I am a founding member and current chair of the Woodbury Yellow Ribbon Network. I am on the board of the Woodbury K9 Fund and am also on the school board for Woodbury Leadership Academy. I have lived in the county for 20+ years. I have 2 adult children. I have a long history of serving my community and would love to continue to do so.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Supporting law enforcement and focusing on maintaining a safe county in which to work and live.
- Working on issues surrounding well-being, such as substance abuse, homelessness, food insecurity and mental health.
- Increasing the number of jobs that pay a living wage.
I believe the county has a good business climate but there is room for improvement. Jobs that pay a living wage are important to any community. When serving on the Woodbury City Council we developed areas in the city to be medical or health care corridors bringing good paying jobs to the area. Being a medical destination also brought people to the city increasing business for the surrounding areas. Businesses play a role in supporting quality of life issues by sponsoring events in the communities and by volunteering and encouraging their employees to volunteer at various charitable events and entities.
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 Washington County?
The county should play an active role in attracting and maintaining businesses. I would support the existing Community Development Agency to attract robust businesses that provide well-paying jobs. Focusing on developing a health care corridor is one way to bring in good jobs. I would also support the workforce center in providing training and career opportunities to have a diverse population prepared to staff the new businesses. An efficient transit system and good infrastructure are also key components is attracting and maintain businesses.
Do you support any specific employment related proposals in Washington 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 Washington County and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
While I believe all the issues mentioned above are important, I feel they should be addressed at the state level.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I would support the existing workforce center and would explore expanding their training programs. I would seek state and federal grants in this area to fund this expansion. Transit is important in this arena both to provide mobility of local residents and to bring others in to work in our community. As a council member I was active in the Gold Line project and after my three terms was a member of the Metro Gold Line CBAC.
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?
As mentioned previously public safety is one of my top three priorities. I would seek out any and all grants or funding sources from the state and federal government to augment the tax dollars utilized to fund law enforcement. It is important to provide public safety the resources and training they need to do their job effectively and safely. As a council member I worked on the Cottage Grove Hero Center. I currently serve on the board of the Woodbury Police K9 Fund. I fully support integrating mental health training and solutions into the public safety model.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
It is crucial need for the county to have affordable stable housing for residents of all ages. The Washington County CDA is one tool that works toward providing affordable housing and building new housing units, I would definitely support the CDA. As a council person I supported private public partnerships to maximize state and federal dollars to provide workforce/affordable housing. This is also important to our business community. A perfect opportunity for expanding this type of housing would be along the Gold Line BRT. Keeping taxes in check is another tool I would utilize in making housing more affordable, as a council person I have a record of keeping taxes low while supporting high quality public service levels.
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?
It is important to focus on multiple modes of transportation in order to be inclusive of all of our residents. I am proud to have been part of the Gold Line project and of our decision to go the BRT route versus the more expensive options. Station design to include space for people to park their bikes is also a great decision that makes the route more accessible. The changes in transportation during the pandemic reinforced the need for transportation planning to be flexible and to include long range plans.
What are your priorities for the county’s budget?
As a Woodbury Councilmember I have gone through 12 budget cycles, and I have always supported fiscally responsible budgeting. The overall goal is to keep the tax levels at a reasonable and affordable level while still providing the necessary services for a high quality of life for our residents. I support seeking out and utilizing state and federal monies to augment the budget whenever possible.
What will you do to expand Washington County’s tax base?
Growing the tax base in a planned and efficient manner is one tool to grow the tax base. Re-development and re-investment in the county is another way. My work on the Gold Line is one way I have already helped increase the tax base. Station based development of housing and businesses increases 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?
As a teacher I fully support quality education for all. I teach at a core knowledge school and we are striving to become a core knowledge school of distinction. I would work with state officials to secure funding for education and educational programs. We have a history of quality education locally and I would work to maintain that. Trade schools are also important in my opinion. Going into debt for a college education isn’t always the best route. There are trades that pay a good wage and that need trained workers.
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 point I do not have a specific service that I feel should be eliminated. I do believe in always evaluating whether something “is nice to have” or “necessary”. I believe in economies of scale and the sharing of services whenever possible. Public private partnerships are a good thing to look at when providing services.
What is the role of the County Board in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Washington County?
It is the role of the county to support all business in the county. Increasing the number of minority and women owned businesses would a great thing and would be representative of the residents in the county. The local chamber of commerce and the county workforce center are good connectors for business owners end entrepreneurs.
What further policies can Washington County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The county can and should help businesses secure any state and federal funds that are available.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I really enjoy serving my community and would like to do so in a broader manner. I am not running because I have an agenda. I believe county commissioner is a non-partisan position and that is how I would serve.