Nicole Joy Frethem
Name: Nicole Joy Frethem
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner - District 1
Email: nicole@nicolefrethem.com
Phone: 763-229-7378
Website: www.nicolefrethem.com
Twitter Handle: @nicolefrethem
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FrethemforRamseyCounty
Candidate Bio
Nicole lives in Shoreview with her husband Stephen and their two children. Nicole was elected Ramsey County Commissioner for District 1 last November. On the board, she chairs the health and wellness service team committee and vice chairs the safety and justice service team committee. Currently, as part of the COVID-19 crisis response, she is chairing the financial implications subcommittee to educate, advocate and communicate the public and policy makers on how the pandemic is impacting local government budgets. As county commissioner, she serves on the boards of the Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington county, the Metro Alliance for Healthy Families Home Visiting, the Joint Property Tax Advisory Committee, and the Metro Conservation District. Prior to elected office, Nicole was an early childhood educator, children’s advocate, and childcare policy specialist for the state of Minnesota. Nicole has work experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Nicole received her undergraduate degree from Hamline University, a master’s in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Saint Paul, studied public policy at the University of Saint Thomas and is currently pursuing a law degree at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Nicole is a labor, DFL, and Women Winning endorsed candidate.
Why are you running for this seat?
County government is where the “rubber meets the road” in terms of large-scale government investments in communities, families, and people. For these programs to work effectively, county leaders must understand their purpose and be passionate about delivering services efficiently and effectively to residents. In my experiences, working extensively with families with diverse and varied life experiences, socio-economic status, and racial and ethnic backgrounds, it became clear to me that our systems do not work for everyone. As a suburban resident, I recognize that the challenges families face may need different solutions to meet to overcome geographic barriers to county services.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest issue in our district is the access and choice in homes that are affordable to our workforce. Because of the lack of public transit access (another big issues), accessing jobs in our community requires having housing options nearby. For our essential workers, our retail staff, grocery store workers, janitors, health care aides and nurses, and even teachers and emergency responders, too often they cannot afford to live in the same communities as the people they are serving. Further, our elders who are reaching the point of transitioning out of larger family homes to smaller retirement homes are often unable to find affordable options in the communities they have been living in for decades. The most important things we can do as a county is to encourage and support development of new housing, preserve existing naturally occurring affordable housing, and work with our state and federal partners to establish and implement new funding streams that support the creation of housing options, across the spectrum of family incomes, that do not solely rely on municipalities.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
Ramsey County is the most diverse county in Minnesota, the geographically smallest county with the second highest population. These factors mean that, as we build our understanding of how systemic barriers impact Black, Indigenous and communities of color, our county will be most impacted. Because of our high population but small footprint, we are limited in our capacity to levy property tax dollars to address these issues. We must be innovative and creative in our efforts to build a thriving community where all are valued and thrived. Further, we must do this work in full partnership with the communities most impacted by these issues. Our relationships with local units of government, the state and at the federal level are critical to our success.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
(1) Continue to work in collaboration with cities, school districts, and Ramsey County staff to address the public health crisis of COVID-19. We must establish science-based protocols to keep our at-risk residents safe while balancing the other needs of our community. (2) Work in partnership with our transforming systems together community partners to rebuild our systems and structures in a way that provides equitable outcomes for everyone in our community. Racism is a public health crisis and we must move forward together with the communities most impacted to ensure we are moving towards the Ramsey County vision of a vibrant community where all are valued and thrive. (3) Continue efforts to build for an environmentally responsible future. This requires multi-faceted efforts to partner with our building trades to increase capacity and skill in environmentally friendly building methods, working with our business leaders and state agencies to ensure worker and community safety, addressing the immediate impacts of climate change in our communities like flooding issues, aquatic invasive species, and tree loss due to Dutch Elm Disease.
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.
Yes, we have a substantial interest in ensuring economic success for our residents which means helping businesses be successful, helping residents develop the work skills necessary for success, and continuing to build a strong environment for innovation and growth.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
The government’s role in supporting economic development should be one that prioritizes the public interest and our resident’s role in the economy. It helps our residents when there are robust job opportunities and when they are qualified to meet those opportunities head on. This means that we must work with our business community and partner organizations to identify emerging business skills and needs and ensure that our workforce programs are equipped to prepare workers for those needs. Further, we must balance workforce development with the needs for robust tax base, workforce housing, and creating a climate for business success. This means that we cannot prioritize one over the other but work in partnership to maximize outcomes for our residents collaboratively with our business community and partner organizations.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
County government is often where people turn to when they are in a personal or family crisis. I don’t believe in rating one crisis as more essential than another. Every personal and family situation is unique. For some families, our disability support services are critical to keeping family members safe in their community. For others, financial assistance programs ensure a support safety net in the most challenging of times. For people who are not experiencing a crisis, well-maintained roads, robust parks and trail systems, or affordable property taxes are the most essential issues for us. As a county, we must be working diligently to provide the continuum of services our community needs, in the most efficient and equitable ways.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I think we must do more in the affordable housing realm. We spend a significant amount of levy dollars responding to the lack of affordable housing in investments in sheltering homeless people and families. Funds would be more efficiently spent keeping people in housing and investing in adequate housing to meet our current demands. Not only would this reduce the harms and costs caused by the collateral consequences of homelessness, but it would help create good trades jobs building the housing stock that we need.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
I believe that all our services are essential. That said, we should always be evaluating where we are putting in extra investments and ensuring we have the right balance for our community needs. Currently, the highest priority to evaluate is within our policing and corrections areas. In response to COVID-19, we have expanded our use of alternate corrections options. I would like to see us to continue moving funding upstream, to more cost-effective and harm reduction strategies like safe, stable, affordable housing, culturally-responsive mental health and addiction treatment, equitable educational and youth development opportunities, and workforce and economic development rather than relying on incarceration as our primary public safety option.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
It has been seven years since I had an active role managing a business in Ramsey County. Our biggest challenges were providing a high-quality service and ensuring our staff members were adequately compensated. This was a common issue in the child care field that I worked in as a center director. Changing it, for me, meant stronger engagement in the advocacy and policy community. For our current climate, I hope to work in partnership with our business community to find innovative ways to better balance community needs and creating a climate for business success.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
As market-participants, government plays a role in investing in communities that have traditionally been denied opportunities to establish thriving businesses. I support Ramsey County efforts to evaluate contracting policies and open opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. Further, through partnerships with culturally competent and women-focused local business organizations, we can provide access and navigation for new entrepreneurs to enter our markets.
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 Ramsey County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
As Ramsey County moves towards a resident’s first model of service delivery, partnerships with communities and government entities in the East Metro could provide additional opportunities to embed county services with the trusted messengers already existing in the community and provide broader access to navigation services. Our pilot sites are focused in Ramsey County facilities but are already spreading to some Saint Paul owned locations. As we refine and improve how we offer access to services for residents, we will continue to expand. Other entities across the East Metro who are willing to co-locate or host mobile service sites could increase access and support for all of our residents. My hope would be that we could start exploring those options as soon as 2022 once the navigator position and service delivery models we are currently piloting become more established.
In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
Gaps in access to non-vehicle transportation options. Especially in our suburban communities, access to public transit, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly trails and sidewalks limits community transportation options both in and out of our suburban areas. This directly impacts many residents who prefer not to use a vehicle for cost, environmental, or disability reasons. The County has prioritized transitioning 4 lane to 3 lane roads over the last several years because of the high mortality risks on these roads. Next, we should look at our 2-lane county roads in suburban areas which often have unnecessarily high speeds and little to no protection for walkers and bikers. Finally, we must partner with Met Council to ensure continued expansion of public transit access. In addition to the Rush Line in the eastern part of Ramsey County, we must also expand the A line to include more of the north west portions of Ramsey County and evaluate east-west transit options, such as along Hwy 96.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I would like for Ramsey County to prioritize retaining existing businesses and prevent investor groups from outside the community from taking over properties and leases that were occupied by local businesses. Our dollars go further when we invest directly in our community and small business.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner - District 1
Email: nicole@nicolefrethem.com
Phone: 763-229-7378
Website: www.nicolefrethem.com
Twitter Handle: @nicolefrethem
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FrethemforRamseyCounty
Candidate Bio
Nicole lives in Shoreview with her husband Stephen and their two children. Nicole was elected Ramsey County Commissioner for District 1 last November. On the board, she chairs the health and wellness service team committee and vice chairs the safety and justice service team committee. Currently, as part of the COVID-19 crisis response, she is chairing the financial implications subcommittee to educate, advocate and communicate the public and policy makers on how the pandemic is impacting local government budgets. As county commissioner, she serves on the boards of the Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington county, the Metro Alliance for Healthy Families Home Visiting, the Joint Property Tax Advisory Committee, and the Metro Conservation District. Prior to elected office, Nicole was an early childhood educator, children’s advocate, and childcare policy specialist for the state of Minnesota. Nicole has work experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Nicole received her undergraduate degree from Hamline University, a master’s in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University Saint Paul, studied public policy at the University of Saint Thomas and is currently pursuing a law degree at Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Nicole is a labor, DFL, and Women Winning endorsed candidate.
Why are you running for this seat?
County government is where the “rubber meets the road” in terms of large-scale government investments in communities, families, and people. For these programs to work effectively, county leaders must understand their purpose and be passionate about delivering services efficiently and effectively to residents. In my experiences, working extensively with families with diverse and varied life experiences, socio-economic status, and racial and ethnic backgrounds, it became clear to me that our systems do not work for everyone. As a suburban resident, I recognize that the challenges families face may need different solutions to meet to overcome geographic barriers to county services.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest issue in our district is the access and choice in homes that are affordable to our workforce. Because of the lack of public transit access (another big issues), accessing jobs in our community requires having housing options nearby. For our essential workers, our retail staff, grocery store workers, janitors, health care aides and nurses, and even teachers and emergency responders, too often they cannot afford to live in the same communities as the people they are serving. Further, our elders who are reaching the point of transitioning out of larger family homes to smaller retirement homes are often unable to find affordable options in the communities they have been living in for decades. The most important things we can do as a county is to encourage and support development of new housing, preserve existing naturally occurring affordable housing, and work with our state and federal partners to establish and implement new funding streams that support the creation of housing options, across the spectrum of family incomes, that do not solely rely on municipalities.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
Ramsey County is the most diverse county in Minnesota, the geographically smallest county with the second highest population. These factors mean that, as we build our understanding of how systemic barriers impact Black, Indigenous and communities of color, our county will be most impacted. Because of our high population but small footprint, we are limited in our capacity to levy property tax dollars to address these issues. We must be innovative and creative in our efforts to build a thriving community where all are valued and thrived. Further, we must do this work in full partnership with the communities most impacted by these issues. Our relationships with local units of government, the state and at the federal level are critical to our success.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
(1) Continue to work in collaboration with cities, school districts, and Ramsey County staff to address the public health crisis of COVID-19. We must establish science-based protocols to keep our at-risk residents safe while balancing the other needs of our community. (2) Work in partnership with our transforming systems together community partners to rebuild our systems and structures in a way that provides equitable outcomes for everyone in our community. Racism is a public health crisis and we must move forward together with the communities most impacted to ensure we are moving towards the Ramsey County vision of a vibrant community where all are valued and thrive. (3) Continue efforts to build for an environmentally responsible future. This requires multi-faceted efforts to partner with our building trades to increase capacity and skill in environmentally friendly building methods, working with our business leaders and state agencies to ensure worker and community safety, addressing the immediate impacts of climate change in our communities like flooding issues, aquatic invasive species, and tree loss due to Dutch Elm Disease.
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.
Yes, we have a substantial interest in ensuring economic success for our residents which means helping businesses be successful, helping residents develop the work skills necessary for success, and continuing to build a strong environment for innovation and growth.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
The government’s role in supporting economic development should be one that prioritizes the public interest and our resident’s role in the economy. It helps our residents when there are robust job opportunities and when they are qualified to meet those opportunities head on. This means that we must work with our business community and partner organizations to identify emerging business skills and needs and ensure that our workforce programs are equipped to prepare workers for those needs. Further, we must balance workforce development with the needs for robust tax base, workforce housing, and creating a climate for business success. This means that we cannot prioritize one over the other but work in partnership to maximize outcomes for our residents collaboratively with our business community and partner organizations.
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
County government is often where people turn to when they are in a personal or family crisis. I don’t believe in rating one crisis as more essential than another. Every personal and family situation is unique. For some families, our disability support services are critical to keeping family members safe in their community. For others, financial assistance programs ensure a support safety net in the most challenging of times. For people who are not experiencing a crisis, well-maintained roads, robust parks and trail systems, or affordable property taxes are the most essential issues for us. As a county, we must be working diligently to provide the continuum of services our community needs, in the most efficient and equitable ways.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
I think we must do more in the affordable housing realm. We spend a significant amount of levy dollars responding to the lack of affordable housing in investments in sheltering homeless people and families. Funds would be more efficiently spent keeping people in housing and investing in adequate housing to meet our current demands. Not only would this reduce the harms and costs caused by the collateral consequences of homelessness, but it would help create good trades jobs building the housing stock that we need.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
I believe that all our services are essential. That said, we should always be evaluating where we are putting in extra investments and ensuring we have the right balance for our community needs. Currently, the highest priority to evaluate is within our policing and corrections areas. In response to COVID-19, we have expanded our use of alternate corrections options. I would like to see us to continue moving funding upstream, to more cost-effective and harm reduction strategies like safe, stable, affordable housing, culturally-responsive mental health and addiction treatment, equitable educational and youth development opportunities, and workforce and economic development rather than relying on incarceration as our primary public safety option.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
It has been seven years since I had an active role managing a business in Ramsey County. Our biggest challenges were providing a high-quality service and ensuring our staff members were adequately compensated. This was a common issue in the child care field that I worked in as a center director. Changing it, for me, meant stronger engagement in the advocacy and policy community. For our current climate, I hope to work in partnership with our business community to find innovative ways to better balance community needs and creating a climate for business success.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
As market-participants, government plays a role in investing in communities that have traditionally been denied opportunities to establish thriving businesses. I support Ramsey County efforts to evaluate contracting policies and open opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. Further, through partnerships with culturally competent and women-focused local business organizations, we can provide access and navigation for new entrepreneurs to enter our markets.
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 Ramsey County uses such partnerships appropriately, and can you identify any specific areas where more sharing of services should be used?
As Ramsey County moves towards a resident’s first model of service delivery, partnerships with communities and government entities in the East Metro could provide additional opportunities to embed county services with the trusted messengers already existing in the community and provide broader access to navigation services. Our pilot sites are focused in Ramsey County facilities but are already spreading to some Saint Paul owned locations. As we refine and improve how we offer access to services for residents, we will continue to expand. Other entities across the East Metro who are willing to co-locate or host mobile service sites could increase access and support for all of our residents. My hope would be that we could start exploring those options as soon as 2022 once the navigator position and service delivery models we are currently piloting become more established.
In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
Gaps in access to non-vehicle transportation options. Especially in our suburban communities, access to public transit, protected bike lanes, and pedestrian-friendly trails and sidewalks limits community transportation options both in and out of our suburban areas. This directly impacts many residents who prefer not to use a vehicle for cost, environmental, or disability reasons. The County has prioritized transitioning 4 lane to 3 lane roads over the last several years because of the high mortality risks on these roads. Next, we should look at our 2-lane county roads in suburban areas which often have unnecessarily high speeds and little to no protection for walkers and bikers. Finally, we must partner with Met Council to ensure continued expansion of public transit access. In addition to the Rush Line in the eastern part of Ramsey County, we must also expand the A line to include more of the north west portions of Ramsey County and evaluate east-west transit options, such as along Hwy 96.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I would like for Ramsey County to prioritize retaining existing businesses and prevent investor groups from outside the community from taking over properties and leases that were occupied by local businesses. Our dollars go further when we invest directly in our community and small business.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?