Laurie Halverson
Name: Laurie Halverson
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner - District 3
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-249-9245
Website: www.LaurieHalverson.org
Twitter Handle: @LaurieHalverson
Facebook Page: @LaurieHalversonMN
Candidate Bio
Laurie Halverson has lived and worked in Dakota County for 20 years; she lives in Eagan with her husband and son.
Laurie is completing her 4th term as a state representative from Eagan. As a legislator, Laurie led the way on critical legislation. She created the state’s first regulation of e-cigarettes and led major policies including the Homeless Youth Act, Paid Family and Medical Leave, campaign finance reform and bike and pedestrian safety.
Laurie is a recognized leader in the House, creating the Health Care Cost Work Group, serving as assistant minority leader, speaker pro-tempore, and co-chair of the Council of State Government Institute for Legislative Leadership (BILLD). Laurie has served on health and human services finance and policy committees, government operations and elections committees, and is the chair of the commerce committee.
Prior to serving as state representative, Laurie worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota advancing public health and grassroots initiatives. She served as chair of the Eagan Parks Commission and on the Eagan Foundation Board. Laurie is an active community volunteer and is a member of the Eagan Kick-Start Rotary. She holds a degree in Political Science from St. Catherine University and attended the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Why are you running for this seat?
I am a firm believer in citizen engagement with government. County government impacts citizens in big ways, but it is often an unseen level of government. I would like to be a bridge between citizens and their government. County policies are visible in amenities like public libraries, transportation infrastructure and regional parks systems. In addition, the county has responsibility for a wide range of issues that have significant impact in our communities such as senior supports, disability services, public health, affordable housing, safe drinking water, elections, and much more. I hear about these priorities when I talk to my neighbors, and I have been a leader on many of these issues at the capitol. I’m running to raise the voices of the communities of Eagan, Mendota, Mendota Heights, and Lilydale in county policy.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The COVID-19 crisis is currently the top issue facing my district and our county. The most significant response to support our communities has been the distribution of the CARES Act dollars to local government. COVID has been a major challenge in congregate care settings, and I am in regular communication with the MN Dept. of Health, Dakota County Public Health and local facilities to stay abreast of the management of COVID-19. My background in public health policy has been an asset as we work to manage COVID-19 in our district. COVID is of course having a major impact on our local businesses and workers. One of the major priorities of this crisis is to protect our local businesses and help them weather this storm. We need to ensure that our employers can rebound as soon as possible. As a state legislator and chair of the commerce committee, I’ve assisted in the creation of loan and grant programs for local businesses. I’ve also worked directly with local employers to help them navigate the various programs available. I have been an advocate for various business sectors as the governor’s office has managed the reopening.
Of course, while the COVID is a challenge is something that we could not have anticipated at the beginning of 2020, we must also focus on addressing the ongoing issues in our communities. As I talk to voters, it is clear that safe, multi-modal transportation is a key concern. Residents of my district are advocating for greater options for safe bike and pedestrian travel in our communities. The fatal accident on Diffley Road highlighted the grave concerns that I have heard about traffic safety in our communities. I have worked with citizens, experts on Safe Routes policies, schools and local leaders help to create comprehensive solutions to help increase bike and pedestrian safety.
In addition, employers in the district recognize the need to create greater transportation options to help bring workforce talent into the district. Suburbs often have a reputation as “bedroom communities” where people travel outside the district for work. The city of Eagan actually grows in population during the workday as our employers bring talent into the community. Additionally, many residents of this region work, live, learn and play right here in Dakota County. Employers need options to help them attract and keep talent.
Finally, our communities are home to residents who are looking to age in place; senior residents want to continue to live in the communities where they have raised their families and worked. Safe and secure transit options are key to ensuring that we allow our residents to fully participate in the life of our communities throughout every stage of life. This means smart investment in housing and transportation infrastructure.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Dakota County as a whole and how would you address it?
COVID-19 has changed so much in our region and our state. The county has responsibility for public health, and is playing a significant role in helping residents get tested, managing the needs of infected people, distributing PPE and managing the COVID response in congregate care settings.
The COVID crisis is also putting a strain on local government budgets. I worked with the legislature and the governor’s office to obtain an appropriate share of the federal CARES Act dollars for our local governments. This will allow the county, and other entities to respond to this rapidly evolving pandemic and meet the needs of our citizens—from creating additional safety measures in polling places, to providing regular testing at congregate care settings—we are working to ensure that the burden of COVID does not disproportionally impact local taxpayers.
As we face this current crisis, it is incumbent upon us to plan for the future of our county. Dakota County is a fast-growing region, and we need to plan for future transportation infrastructure, housing, health, and open spaces.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners?
Bike and Pedestrian Safety--Our community experienced the tragic death of a student who was hit by a car while biking to school. The area when this child was killed was a 45 MPH road that serves 3 schools with total attendance of nearly 4000 students. A busy retail center was added to this stretch of road several years ago, increasing traffic in the area. As a state legislator I have secured resources for Safe Routes to School planning and infrastructure.
After this accident, I pushed for quick action from the county, city and school board for action. I held 3 community meetings to engage the public in planning for change. Since that time, the speed limit on the road has been reduced to 30 MPH during the hours when students are traveling to school. The county, city, and school district are working with residents to reimagine and rebuild the road to protect safe travel by pedestrians and bikes, and I am sponsoring the bill to get bonding dollars from the state.
Affordable Housing--Eagan, Mendota, Mendota Heights, and Lilydale have a diverse economy and are home to many businesses from family-owned restaurants to global firms. Like many communities, we have seen a rise in retail, service, and health care businesses. The fastest growth sector of jobs is generally low-paid work, and I believe that people who work in our communities deserve to be able to live in our communities. I support affordable housing that meets the needs of all sectors of our workforce. I have worked on policies for the Homes for All Coalition, advocating for a balanced mix of housing stock and increased access to affordable housing options. I work frequently with the CDA to help advance proposals in Dakota County.
In addition to workforce housing, I am committed to investing in affordable housing options that give preference to veterans, and senior housing to ensure that people who invest in our community by raising their kids and working here can also plan to retire in the neighborhoods where they put down roots.
Health--Improving the delivery of health care services is another priority for me. The county is responsible for providing care to people with disabilities, senior care, and public health functions such as the visiting nurse program and screening kids for developmental milestones. In this fast-growing county, the needs for quality care and health improvement will only increase. COVID-19 has only served to highlight the important role that the county plays in the health of our communities.
If elected, I will be able to start my job as commissioner with expertise in one of the most challenging areas of public policy—health care. I will also bring ideas for innovation for improving outcomes for families, as I have authored legislation to improve public program payments, increase pay for caregivers, and improve family economic security.
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
All levels of government have a role in actively growing our economy through business and job growth. The diverse economic sectors represented in Dakota County is part of the success of this region. The public and private sectors must work together to meet the needs of businesses and workers. Dakota County plays a role in providing people a great place to live—businesses looking to attract workers benefit from County amenities such as a beautiful park and trail system and the county libraries that feature innovations such as the Makers Lab at the Westcott branch. Dakota County is also a lower tax county—a key to attracting people to move into our communities. Businesses and workers are looking for efficient highway and transportation systems, and transportation investments will serve our business community by supporting the movement of goods and services, and provide multimodal transportation options that are in high demand. The county also plays a role in ensuring affordable workforce housing options, which is vital for being able to find and retain workers.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
The county plays a large role in economic development from building and maintaining infrastructure to managing amenities that attract commerce to our communities. The county is a partner with city, state, and federal governments. In addition, the Dakota County partners regionally on priorities such as transit. It is important to maintain partnerships that benefit our region and protect our taxpayers.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
The county has numerous responsibilities, many of which are designated county responsibility by state government. These services include housing, workforce development, care for people with disabilities, health care coverage for Minnesota’s working poor, public health—including the current expanded COVID testing and support for congregate care settings, workforce support and development, land use and open space, public safety.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I am an advocate for local government. I support government services that reside closest to the residents of the county.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Efficiency in government is always a good thing. I think that providing government service at the local level keeps government accountable to the residents of the community.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
The business climate in Dakota has historically been strong. However, the COVID crisis is putting strain on the business community right now. The diversity of businesses in the District 3 communities is a strength because it helps protect our local economy from industry-specific volatility. District 3 is home to large companies with an international reach such as Thompson Reuters, Bell Laboratories, numerous logistics companies such as Dart Transit and Murphy Warehouse, health care companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN, disability services such as Lifeworks and ProAct, and it’s home to the Minnesota Vikings and the Viking Lakes development. The opportunities for retail and hospitality are growing quickly with the development of shopping areas in Mendota Heights and Eagan, landmark restaurants like Inonni and Jensen’s, Baldman Brewing and more. I have worked with local businesses on legislation to help support our growth including voting to expand the Minnesota Investment Fund, cutting taxes on our local warehouse businesses, cutting unemployment insurance tax, passing legislation for TMI Coatings on fair government bidding, authoring and passing the reinsurance bill in 2019, and more. I want to see our county support workforce development through jobs programs, increasing workforce housing and improving transportation and transit. The era of COVID exposed challenges with supply chain for consumer goods, medications, and of course, masks. We have an opportunity in MN to work with industry to strengthen the supply chain to make us better able to react to emergencies, and grow jobs in manufacturing.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
Dakota County is home to successful women-owned and minority-owned businesses, which is a good start. However, women- and minority-owned businesses cannot be an anomaly. It is important to grow business opportunities that reflect the make-up of our county.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Dakota County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
Collaboration partnerships provide important efficiency in government, and Dakota County is utilizing such partnerships in its 911 service between county and citizens, the Dakota-Scott Workforce Center, and in planning and implementation to rebuild Diffley Road. I support collaborations that create efficiency and provide benefits for Dakota County residents.
In your view, what is Dakota County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
I am very grateful to the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce for their work to develop and implement a transportation study for county businesses. It’s important to understand the various and changing needs, and this study will help bring people together around a thoughtful and comprehensive transportation plan in the future. Multi-modal transportation that includes walking, biking, buses are important to the residents of our communities.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The County’s response to the needs of businesses demonstrates how much reach the county has in supporting the businesses and workers in the county. Dakota County has developed a testing strategy for congregate care setting, and is working with local nursing homes to assist these businesses in testing, employee health checks, infection control, and more. The county is also supporting employers by ensuring that resources are available for employees for mental health support, job training, and running a COVID Hotline to triage questions and concerns. Healthy workplaces are key to customers getting back into stores and ensuring that workers are safe on the job. In addition, Dakota County is responding to business needs with a grant program for local businesses.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am excited for the opportunity to serve our communities as a Dakota County Commissioner. I have a reputation as a thoughtful policy-maker who brings people together to solve problems. Engaging citizens in government is my top priority as an elected official. I am confident that my leadership experience makes me ready to serve the residents of District 3.
Public Office Sought: Dakota County Commissioner - District 3
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-249-9245
Website: www.LaurieHalverson.org
Twitter Handle: @LaurieHalverson
Facebook Page: @LaurieHalversonMN
Candidate Bio
Laurie Halverson has lived and worked in Dakota County for 20 years; she lives in Eagan with her husband and son.
Laurie is completing her 4th term as a state representative from Eagan. As a legislator, Laurie led the way on critical legislation. She created the state’s first regulation of e-cigarettes and led major policies including the Homeless Youth Act, Paid Family and Medical Leave, campaign finance reform and bike and pedestrian safety.
Laurie is a recognized leader in the House, creating the Health Care Cost Work Group, serving as assistant minority leader, speaker pro-tempore, and co-chair of the Council of State Government Institute for Legislative Leadership (BILLD). Laurie has served on health and human services finance and policy committees, government operations and elections committees, and is the chair of the commerce committee.
Prior to serving as state representative, Laurie worked at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota advancing public health and grassroots initiatives. She served as chair of the Eagan Parks Commission and on the Eagan Foundation Board. Laurie is an active community volunteer and is a member of the Eagan Kick-Start Rotary. She holds a degree in Political Science from St. Catherine University and attended the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Why are you running for this seat?
I am a firm believer in citizen engagement with government. County government impacts citizens in big ways, but it is often an unseen level of government. I would like to be a bridge between citizens and their government. County policies are visible in amenities like public libraries, transportation infrastructure and regional parks systems. In addition, the county has responsibility for a wide range of issues that have significant impact in our communities such as senior supports, disability services, public health, affordable housing, safe drinking water, elections, and much more. I hear about these priorities when I talk to my neighbors, and I have been a leader on many of these issues at the capitol. I’m running to raise the voices of the communities of Eagan, Mendota, Mendota Heights, and Lilydale in county policy.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The COVID-19 crisis is currently the top issue facing my district and our county. The most significant response to support our communities has been the distribution of the CARES Act dollars to local government. COVID has been a major challenge in congregate care settings, and I am in regular communication with the MN Dept. of Health, Dakota County Public Health and local facilities to stay abreast of the management of COVID-19. My background in public health policy has been an asset as we work to manage COVID-19 in our district. COVID is of course having a major impact on our local businesses and workers. One of the major priorities of this crisis is to protect our local businesses and help them weather this storm. We need to ensure that our employers can rebound as soon as possible. As a state legislator and chair of the commerce committee, I’ve assisted in the creation of loan and grant programs for local businesses. I’ve also worked directly with local employers to help them navigate the various programs available. I have been an advocate for various business sectors as the governor’s office has managed the reopening.
Of course, while the COVID is a challenge is something that we could not have anticipated at the beginning of 2020, we must also focus on addressing the ongoing issues in our communities. As I talk to voters, it is clear that safe, multi-modal transportation is a key concern. Residents of my district are advocating for greater options for safe bike and pedestrian travel in our communities. The fatal accident on Diffley Road highlighted the grave concerns that I have heard about traffic safety in our communities. I have worked with citizens, experts on Safe Routes policies, schools and local leaders help to create comprehensive solutions to help increase bike and pedestrian safety.
In addition, employers in the district recognize the need to create greater transportation options to help bring workforce talent into the district. Suburbs often have a reputation as “bedroom communities” where people travel outside the district for work. The city of Eagan actually grows in population during the workday as our employers bring talent into the community. Additionally, many residents of this region work, live, learn and play right here in Dakota County. Employers need options to help them attract and keep talent.
Finally, our communities are home to residents who are looking to age in place; senior residents want to continue to live in the communities where they have raised their families and worked. Safe and secure transit options are key to ensuring that we allow our residents to fully participate in the life of our communities throughout every stage of life. This means smart investment in housing and transportation infrastructure.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Dakota County as a whole and how would you address it?
COVID-19 has changed so much in our region and our state. The county has responsibility for public health, and is playing a significant role in helping residents get tested, managing the needs of infected people, distributing PPE and managing the COVID response in congregate care settings.
The COVID crisis is also putting a strain on local government budgets. I worked with the legislature and the governor’s office to obtain an appropriate share of the federal CARES Act dollars for our local governments. This will allow the county, and other entities to respond to this rapidly evolving pandemic and meet the needs of our citizens—from creating additional safety measures in polling places, to providing regular testing at congregate care settings—we are working to ensure that the burden of COVID does not disproportionally impact local taxpayers.
As we face this current crisis, it is incumbent upon us to plan for the future of our county. Dakota County is a fast-growing region, and we need to plan for future transportation infrastructure, housing, health, and open spaces.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Dakota County Board of Commissioners?
Bike and Pedestrian Safety--Our community experienced the tragic death of a student who was hit by a car while biking to school. The area when this child was killed was a 45 MPH road that serves 3 schools with total attendance of nearly 4000 students. A busy retail center was added to this stretch of road several years ago, increasing traffic in the area. As a state legislator I have secured resources for Safe Routes to School planning and infrastructure.
After this accident, I pushed for quick action from the county, city and school board for action. I held 3 community meetings to engage the public in planning for change. Since that time, the speed limit on the road has been reduced to 30 MPH during the hours when students are traveling to school. The county, city, and school district are working with residents to reimagine and rebuild the road to protect safe travel by pedestrians and bikes, and I am sponsoring the bill to get bonding dollars from the state.
Affordable Housing--Eagan, Mendota, Mendota Heights, and Lilydale have a diverse economy and are home to many businesses from family-owned restaurants to global firms. Like many communities, we have seen a rise in retail, service, and health care businesses. The fastest growth sector of jobs is generally low-paid work, and I believe that people who work in our communities deserve to be able to live in our communities. I support affordable housing that meets the needs of all sectors of our workforce. I have worked on policies for the Homes for All Coalition, advocating for a balanced mix of housing stock and increased access to affordable housing options. I work frequently with the CDA to help advance proposals in Dakota County.
In addition to workforce housing, I am committed to investing in affordable housing options that give preference to veterans, and senior housing to ensure that people who invest in our community by raising their kids and working here can also plan to retire in the neighborhoods where they put down roots.
Health--Improving the delivery of health care services is another priority for me. The county is responsible for providing care to people with disabilities, senior care, and public health functions such as the visiting nurse program and screening kids for developmental milestones. In this fast-growing county, the needs for quality care and health improvement will only increase. COVID-19 has only served to highlight the important role that the county plays in the health of our communities.
If elected, I will be able to start my job as commissioner with expertise in one of the most challenging areas of public policy—health care. I will also bring ideas for innovation for improving outcomes for families, as I have authored legislation to improve public program payments, increase pay for caregivers, and improve family economic security.
Should county government be actively involved in attracting and retaining jobs? Why or why not? If yes, please describe the role for the county in this process.
All levels of government have a role in actively growing our economy through business and job growth. The diverse economic sectors represented in Dakota County is part of the success of this region. The public and private sectors must work together to meet the needs of businesses and workers. Dakota County plays a role in providing people a great place to live—businesses looking to attract workers benefit from County amenities such as a beautiful park and trail system and the county libraries that feature innovations such as the Makers Lab at the Westcott branch. Dakota County is also a lower tax county—a key to attracting people to move into our communities. Businesses and workers are looking for efficient highway and transportation systems, and transportation investments will serve our business community by supporting the movement of goods and services, and provide multimodal transportation options that are in high demand. The county also plays a role in ensuring affordable workforce housing options, which is vital for being able to find and retain workers.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
The county plays a large role in economic development from building and maintaining infrastructure to managing amenities that attract commerce to our communities. The county is a partner with city, state, and federal governments. In addition, the Dakota County partners regionally on priorities such as transit. It is important to maintain partnerships that benefit our region and protect our taxpayers.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
The county has numerous responsibilities, many of which are designated county responsibility by state government. These services include housing, workforce development, care for people with disabilities, health care coverage for Minnesota’s working poor, public health—including the current expanded COVID testing and support for congregate care settings, workforce support and development, land use and open space, public safety.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I am an advocate for local government. I support government services that reside closest to the residents of the county.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Efficiency in government is always a good thing. I think that providing government service at the local level keeps government accountable to the residents of the community.
How would you characterize the business climate in Dakota County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
The business climate in Dakota has historically been strong. However, the COVID crisis is putting strain on the business community right now. The diversity of businesses in the District 3 communities is a strength because it helps protect our local economy from industry-specific volatility. District 3 is home to large companies with an international reach such as Thompson Reuters, Bell Laboratories, numerous logistics companies such as Dart Transit and Murphy Warehouse, health care companies like Blue Cross and Blue Shield of MN, disability services such as Lifeworks and ProAct, and it’s home to the Minnesota Vikings and the Viking Lakes development. The opportunities for retail and hospitality are growing quickly with the development of shopping areas in Mendota Heights and Eagan, landmark restaurants like Inonni and Jensen’s, Baldman Brewing and more. I have worked with local businesses on legislation to help support our growth including voting to expand the Minnesota Investment Fund, cutting taxes on our local warehouse businesses, cutting unemployment insurance tax, passing legislation for TMI Coatings on fair government bidding, authoring and passing the reinsurance bill in 2019, and more. I want to see our county support workforce development through jobs programs, increasing workforce housing and improving transportation and transit. The era of COVID exposed challenges with supply chain for consumer goods, medications, and of course, masks. We have an opportunity in MN to work with industry to strengthen the supply chain to make us better able to react to emergencies, and grow jobs in manufacturing.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Dakota County?
Dakota County is home to successful women-owned and minority-owned businesses, which is a good start. However, women- and minority-owned businesses cannot be an anomaly. It is important to grow business opportunities that reflect the make-up of our county.
Many communities and government entities in the East Metro collaborate to provide services to their residents in an effort operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Do you believe that Dakota County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
Collaboration partnerships provide important efficiency in government, and Dakota County is utilizing such partnerships in its 911 service between county and citizens, the Dakota-Scott Workforce Center, and in planning and implementation to rebuild Diffley Road. I support collaborations that create efficiency and provide benefits for Dakota County residents.
In your view, what is Dakota County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
I am very grateful to the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce for their work to develop and implement a transportation study for county businesses. It’s important to understand the various and changing needs, and this study will help bring people together around a thoughtful and comprehensive transportation plan in the future. Multi-modal transportation that includes walking, biking, buses are important to the residents of our communities.
What further policies can Dakota County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The County’s response to the needs of businesses demonstrates how much reach the county has in supporting the businesses and workers in the county. Dakota County has developed a testing strategy for congregate care setting, and is working with local nursing homes to assist these businesses in testing, employee health checks, infection control, and more. The county is also supporting employers by ensuring that resources are available for employees for mental health support, job training, and running a COVID Hotline to triage questions and concerns. Healthy workplaces are key to customers getting back into stores and ensuring that workers are safe on the job. In addition, Dakota County is responding to business needs with a grant program for local businesses.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I am excited for the opportunity to serve our communities as a Dakota County Commissioner. I have a reputation as a thoughtful policy-maker who brings people together to solve problems. Engaging citizens in government is my top priority as an elected official. I am confident that my leadership experience makes me ready to serve the residents of District 3.