Nicole Joy Frethem
Name: Nicole Joy Frethem
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 763-229-7378
Website: nicolefrethem.com
Twitter Handle: @nicolefrethem
Facebook Page: Nicole Joy Frethem for Ramsey County Commissioner
Candidate Bio
My passion to help families inspired me to earn a master’s degree in early childhood education from Concordia, study public policy at the University of Saint Thomas and start law school at Mitchell Hamline School of Law last fall.
Finally, I grew up in the community; my family has had a home in district one for about thirty years. I've lived in Ramsey County for most of my adult life since attending Hamline University for my undergraduate degree. I understand the community my neighbors want to preserve. It's the same quality of life that my family sought when we moved to Shoreview when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.
1. Why are you running for this seat?
County leadership presents an opportunity to use my skills, knowledge and abilities to their fullest advantage to support families and my community. I believe I can provide transparent leadership with integrity and accountability to our district.
2. What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing my district is how we move forward with the development of the Rice Creek Commons site in light of the pending litigation. I would address this by focusing on rebuilding relationships between Arden Hills and Ramsey County by listening and understanding the concerns and values of the community and the entire county. Then I’d have honest conversations about the community’s needs and how development of the land can meet those needs. I believe the site presents an opportunity to bring more young families to the district and additional businesses while simultaneously serving as a catalyst to improve transit access in throughout the district but there remains flexibility for how that happens in a way that preserves the community.
3. What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Ramsey County is balancing how we address persistent racial disparities in outcomes and quality of life indicators, raising the necessary revenue to address these issues in a mostly developed county, and ensuring that existing funding is being spent efficiently and effectively. I would address this balancing act by working with colleagues on the board on our long-range vision for the county and then working with communities to help establish the plan to move us toward the vision and assess our progress. I am a believer in setting challenging yet achievable goals and working towards them in a way that incorporates regular assessment and continuous quality improvement.
4. What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
(1) Investing in family child care providers by streamlining the initial licensure process, establishing mentorship support for new providers, and working with the established child care provider community to develop on-going support to help retain quality family child care providers. This can be implemented at the county-level where family child care providers are licensed and would support affordable child care options for families, professional development and career opportunities for parents, and workforce availability for employers.
(2) Reforming human services delivery with a whole-family lens to improve service delivery and reduce barriers for families and increase efficiency and reduce waste for Ramsey County Human Services. Human services is a significant portion of the county budget and ensuring we are adopting best practices will not only be better for the residents being served but it also ensures tax payer funds are not wasted in duplicative services or by underserving families.
(3) Working across agencies to develop a comprehensive water plan for the district. Many homeowners in the district are experiencing catastrophic flooding and destruction of personal property. Businesses and commuters are frustrated with unusable and poorly designed roads. Residents are unable to use some of our public parks and trails due to high water levels motivating many to abandon parks near their homes for those in other counties. In light of on-going water issues, we must explore the possibility of higher water levels being the new normal and develop a plan to prevent loss and contamination of water sources in the district.
5. 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, because jobs are a cornerstone for how families can be successful. It should be the responsibility of government leaders and agencies to collaborate and work together to make good decisions that impact the structures and institutions that shape our communities including working with the business community. Attracting and retaining jobs is good for families and the community because it provides the means for families to be self-sufficient and to alleviate costs of public programs. It is an effective, preventative measure that the county should invest in to ensure that we allow families to succeed and live in dignity.
6. What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
Yes, because economic development is critical to the future of residents, families, and the financial health of our county. Effective public-private partnerships present opportunities to innovate the way both business and government do their work.
7. What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
I believe human services are the most essential services provided by the county government. Though I acknowledge my own bias, human services is where the most in need and vulnerable are supported. By investing in effective human services, not only do we demonstrate the innate value and worth of all people, but we also make smart investments in our future by reducing the future costs related to the trauma of living in poverty.
8. Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
My concerns are not so much with the services that are provided as with how they are provided. I would like to see more services embedded into the community and partnerships with organizations where families seek support.
9. Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Not currently. We must be cautious and evaluate the unintended consequences of cutting back services before acting. Though line items may look just like numbers on a page, there are people behind those numbers, and we must never forget those people if we want to be effective and compassionate leaders.
10. How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I would characterize the business climate in Ramsey County as varied and disparate. I think business success is very much tied to community success and there are places in our county were a disproportionate number of families live in poverty which make it hard for businesses to be successful in those regions. Therefore, working to dismantle structural disparities will ensure that the entirety of Ramsey County is “business ready.” I would also work to establish strong public and private partnerships because I recognize that we are in this together. The success of the business will depend on the strength of the county and vice versa.
11. 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?
One area in which more collaboration and partnership is necessary to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively is in planning and implementing road projects. In conversations with constituents, I have heard repeatedly that, although they recognize that road construction is a necessary evil, they believe if the cities, the county, and the state communicated better in planning and implementation of projects, quality of life for residents would drastically improve.
12. In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
Safe and usable non-vehicular transit options including, but not limited to, more walkable and bikeable county roads, bussing options that extend into suburban areas, and continuing to build out public transit infrastructure so that families, older residents, and those with disabilities have safe, efficient, and environmentally-friendly options to get around their community.
13. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I want to know what you think. I want to know what you and your family is experiencing. Call me, text me, email me, tweet me, send me a Facebook message. We may not agree on everything, but you are my neighbor and I will listen and strive to understand.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 763-229-7378
Website: nicolefrethem.com
Twitter Handle: @nicolefrethem
Facebook Page: Nicole Joy Frethem for Ramsey County Commissioner
Candidate Bio
My passion to help families inspired me to earn a master’s degree in early childhood education from Concordia, study public policy at the University of Saint Thomas and start law school at Mitchell Hamline School of Law last fall.
Finally, I grew up in the community; my family has had a home in district one for about thirty years. I've lived in Ramsey County for most of my adult life since attending Hamline University for my undergraduate degree. I understand the community my neighbors want to preserve. It's the same quality of life that my family sought when we moved to Shoreview when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.
1. Why are you running for this seat?
County leadership presents an opportunity to use my skills, knowledge and abilities to their fullest advantage to support families and my community. I believe I can provide transparent leadership with integrity and accountability to our district.
2. What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing my district is how we move forward with the development of the Rice Creek Commons site in light of the pending litigation. I would address this by focusing on rebuilding relationships between Arden Hills and Ramsey County by listening and understanding the concerns and values of the community and the entire county. Then I’d have honest conversations about the community’s needs and how development of the land can meet those needs. I believe the site presents an opportunity to bring more young families to the district and additional businesses while simultaneously serving as a catalyst to improve transit access in throughout the district but there remains flexibility for how that happens in a way that preserves the community.
3. What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Ramsey County is balancing how we address persistent racial disparities in outcomes and quality of life indicators, raising the necessary revenue to address these issues in a mostly developed county, and ensuring that existing funding is being spent efficiently and effectively. I would address this balancing act by working with colleagues on the board on our long-range vision for the county and then working with communities to help establish the plan to move us toward the vision and assess our progress. I am a believer in setting challenging yet achievable goals and working towards them in a way that incorporates regular assessment and continuous quality improvement.
4. What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
(1) Investing in family child care providers by streamlining the initial licensure process, establishing mentorship support for new providers, and working with the established child care provider community to develop on-going support to help retain quality family child care providers. This can be implemented at the county-level where family child care providers are licensed and would support affordable child care options for families, professional development and career opportunities for parents, and workforce availability for employers.
(2) Reforming human services delivery with a whole-family lens to improve service delivery and reduce barriers for families and increase efficiency and reduce waste for Ramsey County Human Services. Human services is a significant portion of the county budget and ensuring we are adopting best practices will not only be better for the residents being served but it also ensures tax payer funds are not wasted in duplicative services or by underserving families.
(3) Working across agencies to develop a comprehensive water plan for the district. Many homeowners in the district are experiencing catastrophic flooding and destruction of personal property. Businesses and commuters are frustrated with unusable and poorly designed roads. Residents are unable to use some of our public parks and trails due to high water levels motivating many to abandon parks near their homes for those in other counties. In light of on-going water issues, we must explore the possibility of higher water levels being the new normal and develop a plan to prevent loss and contamination of water sources in the district.
5. 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, because jobs are a cornerstone for how families can be successful. It should be the responsibility of government leaders and agencies to collaborate and work together to make good decisions that impact the structures and institutions that shape our communities including working with the business community. Attracting and retaining jobs is good for families and the community because it provides the means for families to be self-sufficient and to alleviate costs of public programs. It is an effective, preventative measure that the county should invest in to ensure that we allow families to succeed and live in dignity.
6. What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
Yes, because economic development is critical to the future of residents, families, and the financial health of our county. Effective public-private partnerships present opportunities to innovate the way both business and government do their work.
7. What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
I believe human services are the most essential services provided by the county government. Though I acknowledge my own bias, human services is where the most in need and vulnerable are supported. By investing in effective human services, not only do we demonstrate the innate value and worth of all people, but we also make smart investments in our future by reducing the future costs related to the trauma of living in poverty.
8. Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
My concerns are not so much with the services that are provided as with how they are provided. I would like to see more services embedded into the community and partnerships with organizations where families seek support.
9. Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Not currently. We must be cautious and evaluate the unintended consequences of cutting back services before acting. Though line items may look just like numbers on a page, there are people behind those numbers, and we must never forget those people if we want to be effective and compassionate leaders.
10. How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I would characterize the business climate in Ramsey County as varied and disparate. I think business success is very much tied to community success and there are places in our county were a disproportionate number of families live in poverty which make it hard for businesses to be successful in those regions. Therefore, working to dismantle structural disparities will ensure that the entirety of Ramsey County is “business ready.” I would also work to establish strong public and private partnerships because I recognize that we are in this together. The success of the business will depend on the strength of the county and vice versa.
11. 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?
One area in which more collaboration and partnership is necessary to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively is in planning and implementing road projects. In conversations with constituents, I have heard repeatedly that, although they recognize that road construction is a necessary evil, they believe if the cities, the county, and the state communicated better in planning and implementation of projects, quality of life for residents would drastically improve.
12. In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
Safe and usable non-vehicular transit options including, but not limited to, more walkable and bikeable county roads, bussing options that extend into suburban areas, and continuing to build out public transit infrastructure so that families, older residents, and those with disabilities have safe, efficient, and environmentally-friendly options to get around their community.
13. Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I want to know what you think. I want to know what you and your family is experiencing. Call me, text me, email me, tweet me, send me a Facebook message. We may not agree on everything, but you are my neighbor and I will listen and strive to understand.