Pat Benner
Name: Pat Benner
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-325-7099
Campaign Website: patbennerforapplevalley.com
Twitter handle: @pjbenner
Facebook Page: /patbennerforapplevalley/
Candidate Bio
I've worked as a legislative representative with AFSCME Council 5 for six years. During that time, I helped shape several policies and programs that became law, like maintaining sick leave banks that workers can use on top of new ESST and PFML leave policies. I worked on expanding unemployment insurance benefits to non-instructional staff at K12 and higher education workplaces. And I've engaged our membership to work with legislators on issues they experience as frontline staff, statewide. My expertise is getting people from all a multitude of backgrounds to make changes in the legislative process. I've also been the chair of AFSCME Council 5's dental trust since 2021. During that time, I've set budgets, managed benefit sets, and improved our ratio of claims to premiums to the point that we've maintained a medical loss ratio of under 100 for the first time in several years. I was able to accomplish this by working closely with our trustees and staff to win contribution increases through collective bargaining and educate members as we navigated a difficult fiscal outlook. I'm very used to working within fiscal restraints while achieving sustainable results.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I'm collaborative and transparent by nature, and I'm always willing to have conversations with those I don't agree with, even if it's challenging. My preference is to meet people where they're at and empower them to overcome discomfort so we can get effective involvement from members that are not, by their nature, political.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
My top three priorities if elected are to address the exceptional costs for Apple Valley’s employees to cover their families with their health insurance, to prioritize housing development so young families can afford to buy a home in Apple Valley, and to begin cleanup on existing ordinances that are loosely enforced and prevent residents from living how they please on their own property.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Apple Valley?
The biggest issue facing Apple Valley is that it is rapidly becoming unaffordable. Housing costs have skyrocketed, cost of living is still high post-COVID, and childcare options in our community are very expensive. I fear that folks who’d like to move to Apple Valley need to have their lives figured out to an extent that we've not experienced before, at least since I moved here. To which, I'm not sure what kind of 25-year-old couple could afford to buy a 1970s home for $400,000, likely costing them $3,000 a month for a mortgage for 30 years.
Our greatest opportunity is that we have a dedicated community here that chooses to band together all the time to overcome problems, and that kind of community is hard to find. If we stick together, we can accomplish great things.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
I think that a prosperous business climate is really important, especially when it's serving the community it's based in. A strong economy allows for governments to have more resources and engagement as they attempt to solve really big and complex issues. The business community certainly should have a seat at the table, just like any other major aspect of our society.
That being said, I want to make it clear that governments serve our communities, and, more fundamentally, people. Many of the major accomplishments of the ‘23-’24 biennium happened because workers and families had needs that were not being addressed in a fair way. They brought their ideas and concerns to the capitol, and they were heard.
How would you characterize the business climate in Apple Valley and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Apple Valley?
I believe that the business climate is generally good in Apple Valley, but there are certainly areas that could use revitalization or expansion. For instance, Apple Valley is the largest city in the state without a brewery, and anecdotally I've heard that it's leadership within the city that has concerns. If leaders in Apple Valley can work through those issues, we could attract some major business opportunities. Much of our commercial space could use some redevelopment as well, since it's beginning to show its age, and Apple Valley could explore new ways to add additional housing while improving the prospects of small businesses.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
I will be happy to work closely with law enforcement and community groups to tackle any issues that might arise. I'm not currently aware of any major public safety issues in Apple Valley.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
I think we need to use the little remaining undeveloped land to build houses and lots to a scale that young families can actually afford. Looking at building starter homes that will have mortgages under $2,000 could be a way to reduce housing costs without impacting the existing housing stock. We also should pursue mixed use zoning to build housing on top of commercial space, especially around our transit lines.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
I think working with MVTA and Metro Transit to provide more options for commuters that need transportation for specific events in the Twin Cities could be some low-hanging fruit. For example, MVTA provides a great service for MNUFC games that pick up spectators in Burnsville and Eagan. Testing to see if that could get expanded to Apple Valley, and looking at similar services for Twins, Wolves, Saints, etc. could save costs on parking, add jobs for transit workers, and get cars off the road.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
My goal is to expand the property tax base as much as possible without increasing rates. The city already does a good job in pursuing grants to address local needs, and I'd do whatever our civil servants need to aid their efforts.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
I generally view federal and state standards as floors, not ceilings. If federal or state standards aren't keeping up with community needs, we should use the power our election certificates provide to try and make a difference. Though I'm not certain there are areas that cities should lead on, and though there are some solutions at the local level that aren't the best options compared to state or federal government, local governments are a lot nimbler than the state or feds. I'd certainly rather have childcare or senior housing subsidies at the local level than wait for a better solution that depends on a perfect storm of resources, policy expertise, and the right makeup of passionate legislators and a governor or president that will sign that into law.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-325-7099
Campaign Website: patbennerforapplevalley.com
Twitter handle: @pjbenner
Facebook Page: /patbennerforapplevalley/
Candidate Bio
I've worked as a legislative representative with AFSCME Council 5 for six years. During that time, I helped shape several policies and programs that became law, like maintaining sick leave banks that workers can use on top of new ESST and PFML leave policies. I worked on expanding unemployment insurance benefits to non-instructional staff at K12 and higher education workplaces. And I've engaged our membership to work with legislators on issues they experience as frontline staff, statewide. My expertise is getting people from all a multitude of backgrounds to make changes in the legislative process. I've also been the chair of AFSCME Council 5's dental trust since 2021. During that time, I've set budgets, managed benefit sets, and improved our ratio of claims to premiums to the point that we've maintained a medical loss ratio of under 100 for the first time in several years. I was able to accomplish this by working closely with our trustees and staff to win contribution increases through collective bargaining and educate members as we navigated a difficult fiscal outlook. I'm very used to working within fiscal restraints while achieving sustainable results.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I'm collaborative and transparent by nature, and I'm always willing to have conversations with those I don't agree with, even if it's challenging. My preference is to meet people where they're at and empower them to overcome discomfort so we can get effective involvement from members that are not, by their nature, political.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
My top three priorities if elected are to address the exceptional costs for Apple Valley’s employees to cover their families with their health insurance, to prioritize housing development so young families can afford to buy a home in Apple Valley, and to begin cleanup on existing ordinances that are loosely enforced and prevent residents from living how they please on their own property.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Apple Valley?
The biggest issue facing Apple Valley is that it is rapidly becoming unaffordable. Housing costs have skyrocketed, cost of living is still high post-COVID, and childcare options in our community are very expensive. I fear that folks who’d like to move to Apple Valley need to have their lives figured out to an extent that we've not experienced before, at least since I moved here. To which, I'm not sure what kind of 25-year-old couple could afford to buy a 1970s home for $400,000, likely costing them $3,000 a month for a mortgage for 30 years.
Our greatest opportunity is that we have a dedicated community here that chooses to band together all the time to overcome problems, and that kind of community is hard to find. If we stick together, we can accomplish great things.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development. Do you feel the outcomes of the 2023-2024 legislative session positively or negatively impacted that collaboration and our state's business climate?
I think that a prosperous business climate is really important, especially when it's serving the community it's based in. A strong economy allows for governments to have more resources and engagement as they attempt to solve really big and complex issues. The business community certainly should have a seat at the table, just like any other major aspect of our society.
That being said, I want to make it clear that governments serve our communities, and, more fundamentally, people. Many of the major accomplishments of the ‘23-’24 biennium happened because workers and families had needs that were not being addressed in a fair way. They brought their ideas and concerns to the capitol, and they were heard.
How would you characterize the business climate in Apple Valley and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Apple Valley?
I believe that the business climate is generally good in Apple Valley, but there are certainly areas that could use revitalization or expansion. For instance, Apple Valley is the largest city in the state without a brewery, and anecdotally I've heard that it's leadership within the city that has concerns. If leaders in Apple Valley can work through those issues, we could attract some major business opportunities. Much of our commercial space could use some redevelopment as well, since it's beginning to show its age, and Apple Valley could explore new ways to add additional housing while improving the prospects of small businesses.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
I will be happy to work closely with law enforcement and community groups to tackle any issues that might arise. I'm not currently aware of any major public safety issues in Apple Valley.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
I think we need to use the little remaining undeveloped land to build houses and lots to a scale that young families can actually afford. Looking at building starter homes that will have mortgages under $2,000 could be a way to reduce housing costs without impacting the existing housing stock. We also should pursue mixed use zoning to build housing on top of commercial space, especially around our transit lines.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
I think working with MVTA and Metro Transit to provide more options for commuters that need transportation for specific events in the Twin Cities could be some low-hanging fruit. For example, MVTA provides a great service for MNUFC games that pick up spectators in Burnsville and Eagan. Testing to see if that could get expanded to Apple Valley, and looking at similar services for Twins, Wolves, Saints, etc. could save costs on parking, add jobs for transit workers, and get cars off the road.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability as these federal, one-time funds run out?
My goal is to expand the property tax base as much as possible without increasing rates. The city already does a good job in pursuing grants to address local needs, and I'd do whatever our civil servants need to aid their efforts.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
I generally view federal and state standards as floors, not ceilings. If federal or state standards aren't keeping up with community needs, we should use the power our election certificates provide to try and make a difference. Though I'm not certain there are areas that cities should lead on, and though there are some solutions at the local level that aren't the best options compared to state or federal government, local governments are a lot nimbler than the state or feds. I'd certainly rather have childcare or senior housing subsidies at the local level than wait for a better solution that depends on a perfect storm of resources, policy expertise, and the right makeup of passionate legislators and a governor or president that will sign that into law.