Liz Reyer
Name: Liz Reyer
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 51B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-398-4765
Campaign website: https://lizreyer.com/
Twitter handle: @reyerforhouse
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lreyer51B
Candidate Bio
I bring an extensive business background along with deep community experience. Professionally, I’m a researcher, project leader, and leadership coach, trained to listen to concerns, generate solutions, and get things done. I’ve worked locally, with 12 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as in global roles. For several years, I ran my own consulting firm, Reyer Coaching and Consulting, and have written a business column, Coach’s Corner, for the Star Tribune for more than 10 years (currently on hiatus). Colleagues and clients speak to my ability to bring a calm focus to contentious situations so problems can get solved.
I’ve lived in Eagan for almost 30 years and we raised our four kids here. Community engagement has been part of my life since moving here, including being active in local DFL politics, volunteering at our schools, serving on the Eagan Athletic and Eastview Hockey boards, volunteering at Open Door, and other community activities. I earned a bachelor’s in Chinese at the University of Minnesota, and a master’s in Political Science at the Ohio State University.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
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?
In my experience, the business climate has been conducive to business expansion and growth, at least until the economic crisis caused by COVID. We have a well-educated workforce and good infrastructure, all of which is beneficial to business.
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?
I think the state should have a strong role in attracting and retaining jobs. I would support increased funding and resources for small businesses operating in the neighborhood of the business owner. Loans should be readily available for businesses with a realistic business plan, and free assistance should be available for preparation of business plans. Loan forgiveness should be set up on the basis of the number of new jobs created and retained.
Business retention would be aided by providing universal health care, taking that burden off of businesses. We should also look at changes that could be made to tax structures that could help struggling businesses remain viable.
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?
I do support an increase in minimum wage (including extending protection to workers who receive tips), mandatory paid sick leave, and mandatory scheduling notices. I would seek input from businesses in the east metro in personal meetings and phone calls that go beyond rhetoric and build authentic relationships and understanding. I would do what I could to address their concerns within the goals of making life livable for our lowest income workers and of creating a society without an underclass. Notably, evidence suggests that there is a net benefit from improving working conditions, as these workers then become better customers of local businesses.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
The long-term strategy for public safety, housing, and many other issues must be to create a society where housing, enough to eat, health care, a good education, and physical safety are considered a right of all people. At that point, we will have a society where we start from a baseline of safety, stability and adequacy.
To achieve this vision, we must start by addressing our current needs. In terms of public safety, I support sensible gun control to get guns off our streets and out of the hands of people who might use them in unplanned confrontations or planned murders or other crimes. I support a public safety approach such as the one proposed by the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. In my view, both community and police will be well served by this, as police officers will then be serving in the roles for which they are best equipped.
We need to invest in transportation, keeping our current infrastructure safe; moving toward a low carbon, electrified system; and expanding transit in ways that are optimized for community needs. We also should plan for changing transportation needs. We may be seeing a shift in our commuting culture that benefits employees’ quality of life and improves our environment. Making sure we cover the state with high speed, broadband internet will be important in this.
In regard to housing, I support high density housing development in the metro area and the policy of requiring an affordable housing component in all new developments, regardless of location.
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?
We must fully fund our schools and redesign our funding formulas to achieve more equity statewide. We also should be developing programs with businesses, unions, and professional associates to expand opportunities for postsecondary education and training. We have vast untapped resources in our youth, and are also going to be faced with severe lasting job loss from COVID. We can turn this into an opportunity to help unemployed/underemployed Minnesotans find quality new careers.
We should be looking at our prison system and addressing the damage that mass incarceration has done. Legalizing marijuana, freeing non-violent drug offenders, and expunging records would free up very sizable budget resources that could be used for education and other community development services.
We also can do more to collaborate across government entities. The state could incent and facilitate more program development and resource sharing across school districts, city, county, and state units.
What will you do to expand your district’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?
The first things we need to accomplish are fully funding education, paying teachers a competitive wage, increasing the number of teachers of color, and making post-secondary education affordable for everyone. We should continue to expand communications between educational institutions and businesses, and support them in the Minnesota legislature, as needed. But when whole communities of children do not have the environment or resources they need to learn to read, write, and do math, we should not and cannot leave it up to educational institutions and businesses to fix it. This requires Legislative action, and with my professional experience within education, I am prepared to work on this issue.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
Again, I think the state should have a strong role. I reiterate my answer from question 4, and think we should use the same programs to encourage and support minority- and women-owned businesses.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Make health coverage available through MinnesotaCare to more employees, taking the burden off of employers. Provide financial relief to small business owners to help them wait out the worst of the crisis. Provide financial support to employees in the form of rent/mortgage assistance, particularly if their income has been reduced--a stable workforce is essential to the recovery of the business community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As the daughter of a small business owner and a business person myself, I am committed to the well-being of our business community. To me, this is integrally intertwined with economic and social justice. I have been encouraged to see increasing diversity in our local businesses, and know we can do much more. I look forward to partnering with businesses large and small to help our district flourish.
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 51B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-398-4765
Campaign website: https://lizreyer.com/
Twitter handle: @reyerforhouse
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lreyer51B
Candidate Bio
I bring an extensive business background along with deep community experience. Professionally, I’m a researcher, project leader, and leadership coach, trained to listen to concerns, generate solutions, and get things done. I’ve worked locally, with 12 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as in global roles. For several years, I ran my own consulting firm, Reyer Coaching and Consulting, and have written a business column, Coach’s Corner, for the Star Tribune for more than 10 years (currently on hiatus). Colleagues and clients speak to my ability to bring a calm focus to contentious situations so problems can get solved.
I’ve lived in Eagan for almost 30 years and we raised our four kids here. Community engagement has been part of my life since moving here, including being active in local DFL politics, volunteering at our schools, serving on the Eagan Athletic and Eastview Hockey boards, volunteering at Open Door, and other community activities. I earned a bachelor’s in Chinese at the University of Minnesota, and a master’s in Political Science at the Ohio State University.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Addressing the health concerns arising from COVID-19 by ensuring people have access to care and making that care more affordable. My immediate focus would be on expanding access to MinnesotaCare while moving forward with broader structural reform.
- Promoting job development by blanketing the state with high speed, broadband internet service and incenting climate-friendly industries, such as solar or wind power equipment manufacturers, to locate in parts of the state where jobs are most needed while also focusing on equity of economic opportunity.
- Continuing the Legislature’s efforts on policing and criminal justice reform. These injustices, along with other structural inequities, must be addressed in order to have the level of social well-being we all desire.
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?
In my experience, the business climate has been conducive to business expansion and growth, at least until the economic crisis caused by COVID. We have a well-educated workforce and good infrastructure, all of which is beneficial to business.
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?
I think the state should have a strong role in attracting and retaining jobs. I would support increased funding and resources for small businesses operating in the neighborhood of the business owner. Loans should be readily available for businesses with a realistic business plan, and free assistance should be available for preparation of business plans. Loan forgiveness should be set up on the basis of the number of new jobs created and retained.
Business retention would be aided by providing universal health care, taking that burden off of businesses. We should also look at changes that could be made to tax structures that could help struggling businesses remain viable.
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?
I do support an increase in minimum wage (including extending protection to workers who receive tips), mandatory paid sick leave, and mandatory scheduling notices. I would seek input from businesses in the east metro in personal meetings and phone calls that go beyond rhetoric and build authentic relationships and understanding. I would do what I could to address their concerns within the goals of making life livable for our lowest income workers and of creating a society without an underclass. Notably, evidence suggests that there is a net benefit from improving working conditions, as these workers then become better customers of local businesses.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
The long-term strategy for public safety, housing, and many other issues must be to create a society where housing, enough to eat, health care, a good education, and physical safety are considered a right of all people. At that point, we will have a society where we start from a baseline of safety, stability and adequacy.
To achieve this vision, we must start by addressing our current needs. In terms of public safety, I support sensible gun control to get guns off our streets and out of the hands of people who might use them in unplanned confrontations or planned murders or other crimes. I support a public safety approach such as the one proposed by the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus. In my view, both community and police will be well served by this, as police officers will then be serving in the roles for which they are best equipped.
We need to invest in transportation, keeping our current infrastructure safe; moving toward a low carbon, electrified system; and expanding transit in ways that are optimized for community needs. We also should plan for changing transportation needs. We may be seeing a shift in our commuting culture that benefits employees’ quality of life and improves our environment. Making sure we cover the state with high speed, broadband internet will be important in this.
In regard to housing, I support high density housing development in the metro area and the policy of requiring an affordable housing component in all new developments, regardless of location.
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?
We must fully fund our schools and redesign our funding formulas to achieve more equity statewide. We also should be developing programs with businesses, unions, and professional associates to expand opportunities for postsecondary education and training. We have vast untapped resources in our youth, and are also going to be faced with severe lasting job loss from COVID. We can turn this into an opportunity to help unemployed/underemployed Minnesotans find quality new careers.
We should be looking at our prison system and addressing the damage that mass incarceration has done. Legalizing marijuana, freeing non-violent drug offenders, and expunging records would free up very sizable budget resources that could be used for education and other community development services.
We also can do more to collaborate across government entities. The state could incent and facilitate more program development and resource sharing across school districts, city, county, and state units.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
- Continue to offer excellent community services to attract employees, which, in turn, increases the appeal to employers.
- Maintain business-friendly economic policies that have led to growth to-date.
- As outlined in other questions, assist under-represented business owners and entrepreneurs in getting started through loan programs, business incubators, and other support.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
The first things we need to accomplish are fully funding education, paying teachers a competitive wage, increasing the number of teachers of color, and making post-secondary education affordable for everyone. We should continue to expand communications between educational institutions and businesses, and support them in the Minnesota legislature, as needed. But when whole communities of children do not have the environment or resources they need to learn to read, write, and do math, we should not and cannot leave it up to educational institutions and businesses to fix it. This requires Legislative action, and with my professional experience within education, I am prepared to work on this issue.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
Again, I think the state should have a strong role. I reiterate my answer from question 4, and think we should use the same programs to encourage and support minority- and women-owned businesses.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Make health coverage available through MinnesotaCare to more employees, taking the burden off of employers. Provide financial relief to small business owners to help them wait out the worst of the crisis. Provide financial support to employees in the form of rent/mortgage assistance, particularly if their income has been reduced--a stable workforce is essential to the recovery of the business community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
As the daughter of a small business owner and a business person myself, I am committed to the well-being of our business community. To me, this is integrally intertwined with economic and social justice. I have been encouraged to see increasing diversity in our local businesses, and know we can do much more. I look forward to partnering with businesses large and small to help our district flourish.