Sandra Feist
Name: Sandra Feist
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 41B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-492-8389
Campaign website: www.feistforhouse.org
Twitter handle: @SandraFeistMN
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FeistForHouse/
Candidate Bio
I have spent my entire career as an immigration attorney helping to share my clients’ experiences and strategically advocate for their interests. I will bring this career of advocacy to the State Legislature. I will also bring my 10 years of experience as a small business owner and employer. My law firm currently employs six people and I am proud of having founded and grown my operations over the past decade.
I have extensive experience with legislative advocacy through the American Immigration Lawyers Association and know the importance of collaborating with experts to advance causes. I am a nationally-recognized leader in my field, and I am regularly interviewed by local and national media, including recent interviews with The New York Times and The Washington Post about the Executive Order on immigration.
In my personal life, I feel that my experience as a Hurricane Katrina evacuee has given me perspective and a calm under pressure that serves me well as I run my law firm through a pandemic.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
I will advocate for fully-funding our public schools. Our schools are critical for the future of our state’s economic workforce competitiveness, and equally importantly, for addressing Minnesota’s unacceptable opportunity gap for communities of color that is one of the highest in the nation. I would also like to follow the lead of Tennessee to expand the public education continuum in Minnesota to include two-year community and technical colleges as a way to provide cutting-edge workforce training to Minnesotans graduating from high school and those interested in returning to school for continuing education.
I am also very committed to healthcare reform, which means expanding access to affordable, quality care. In addition to healthcare being a right, not a privilege, I support expanding healthcare access because if those in our community cannot afford the care they need, they create a drag on our economy and productivity. The health of our economy is dependent upon the health of our residents, and it is the role of the State of Minnesota to create the structural support to ensure that all residents have healthcare coverage. In the legislature, I will be a vocal advocate for universal healthcare.
At the legislature, I will also prioritize addressing the crisis of COVID-19. This is a multifaceted and complex issue, but at its core is finding ways to support local businesses and workers survive and thrive post-pandemic so that our economy can recover steadily with the support of the State of Minnesota. This includes addressing unemployment insurance coverage, housing access, workplace safety as our economy reopens, mental health crises that have resulted from the isolation of the pandemic, and myriad other interrelated issues that rely upon support by the State to ensure that we emerge from the pandemic a cohesive community and economy.
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?
Over the past months, we have seen how the local business community plays an essential, central role in the community’s quality of life. I personally have felt the weight of the pandemic on my shoulders as an employer and business owner responsible for the income of my staff, which in turn impacts every facet of their livelihoods. The restaurants where we eat, the malls where we shop, and the theaters that provide us entertainment all contribute to the rich tapestry of our lives. When these services and goods were suddenly taken away, their centrality in our daily lives was made all the more apparent.
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?
Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the top states for business. Minnesota ranks high for our educational system and commitment to workforce development, as well as general quality of life attributes. As an immigration lawyer, I would also point out that immigrant entrepreneurs play a key role in the thriving local economy. According to New American Economy, there are over 1,800 immigrant entrepreneurs in the 4th Congressional District alone.
In order to solicit new businesses and retain businesses, we need to focus on education and workforce development, which has been responsible for the recent success in national rankings of states supportive of businesses. Investing in our current student population is the most important investment we can make for the state and its future. In addition, we must invest in our infrastructure, including our roads and public transportation, as well as our airport. These investments are critical to attracting new businesses and supporting the quality of life metrics that have earned us national praise in recent years.
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 support minimum wage, sick and safe time, and in general, laws that ensure that everyone has a life of dignity and quality. For this reason, I also support laws that would create restrictions around the type of unpredictable scheduling that makes employees unable to be the parents, partners and people that they strive to be in their personal lives. Ensuring that employees have a predictable work schedule is not just for their benefit – businesses succeed when they have high worker morale. Therefore, I see all of these types of policies as a win-win for management, labor and our economy overall.
As an employer who has operated a successful business for the past 10 years, I understand the impact of these types of laws on business operations. I understand that paying competitive wages, providing sick time, and ensuring that my staff has notice of their schedule in advance has resulted in a stable, productive team environment and played a key role in the success of my business. I am open to hearing from local businesses and organizations that represent business interests to hear their perspectives.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
These are three critical aspects of our quality of life that impact every resident in our district and state. In particular, investing in transportation is a critical investment in the future of our state. We must be strategic and thoughtful in investing along the corridors in the Twin Cities metro area that will benefit the communities most in need of access to economic activity. This means investing not just in roads and bridges, but also in light rail, bike and walking paths, and heavy rail to allow more access between the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota. These types of investments will enhance the quality of life, attract and support new business development, and address the traffic congestion issues that are a huge economic drain.
With respect to public safety, I would support measures to reform our system of policing in order to ensure that there is accountability, training, and an expectation that our police force serves the community. We must ensure, when addressing matters of public safety, that we find the right balance between safety and over-policing.
With respect to housing, we need to ensure that as our community develops and expands, housing is plentiful, strategically developed, and affordable for all in need. There are numerous approaches to this issue and I am eager play a role in considering options that require collaboration and investment across all sectors and all levels of government. There is no single solution to ensure access to safe, affordable, optimally-located housing, but there are many exciting opportunities to make progress.
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?
My priorities for the State’s budget include investment in education, healthcare, and ensuring economic security for all. I believe that Minnesota should have a robust and efficient government funded by a progressive system of taxation so that those with the greatest ability to pay, pay a higher percentage of taxes towards State services. Through this system of taxation, focused in these three key areas, we can support continuous economic growth and a greater prosperity for all.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
As discussed above, investment in transportation and transit corridors is critical to attracting and supporting new business development. This is definitely true for my district. By attracting new business development, we would be expanding our tax base organically through economic growth. I would support a strong bonding bill to fund infrastructure investments to fund repair work on our local streets, highways and bridges.
I would also support the business investment programs available through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to nurture the businesses that already exist in my district. These programs include grants, emergency business loans, funding to support emerging entrepreneurs and targeted loans for diverse communities. In the wake of COVID-19, this type of financial support is more critical than ever in ensuring that our existing businesses are able to maintain operations, which provides income and opportunities for business owners and employees alike and is critical to the financial health and future tax revenues for our local community.
When the State invests in these ways in our local infrastructure, businesses, and entrepreneurs, the community thrives and grows organically, feeling a sense of belonging and the confidence to step into the role of entrepreneur. The end-result is a growing tax base and a thriving local economy.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Education funding is a top priority for me. If we ensure that our education funding is equitable, consistent, and generous, we will ensure that today’s students will be tomorrow’s skilled workforce. This funding should encompass early childhood education. Studies have demonstrated time and again that investing in early learning and development programs is a cost-effective strategy for promoting economic growth. The return on investment in early childhood education shows a high level of return based on increased school and career achievement, as well as reduced costs in remedial education, health, and criminal justice expenditures.
In addition to expanding education funding to encompass pre-K, I would also support an expansion of the public school continuum to encompass free two-year community and technical colleges. This concept was first pioneered in Tennessee and has seen bipartisan support across the United States as a measure that is surprisingly affordable and has seen a high level of participation, with high graduation and job placement rates. This concept is particularly helpful in addressing workforce development because community and technical colleges have close ties with local industry and cutting-edge technology development and oftentimes training is completed in partnership through hands-on experience with local businesses. This type of training is a very effective way to train students in the precise skills they need to succeed in their careers and contribute to the economy.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
Diversity in business ownership in the State of Minnesota should be a key focal point as we look to kick-starting the economy and supporting sustained growth into the future. Studies have shown time and again that growing diversity in the workforce drives prosperity and economic growth. There are many rationales for this, including the fact that diversity of experience leads to innovation and creative business solutions. Ultimately, fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses is not just a matter of addressing historic structural inequities, but a strategy for economic development across the State. We need to have programs focused on building economic power in underserved communities in order to ensure economic prosperity in the long term.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
This will be a critical priority for the State as we move past the pandemic. As a business owner, I can confirm that providing the business community reassurance that it has the support of the State will be essential in ensuring that businesses feel confident to expand and innovate, and that new entrepreneurs step up to drive economic growth. There are a number of specific ways that the State can support the business community directly, through loans, grants and other methods of funding to support business operations as the economy slowly returns to normal levels. In addition, it will be important to put into place safety measures that will give the public the confidence it needs to be consumers of the services and goods that the local business community provides. Ensuring that the community feels safe going to the mall, eating at a restaurant, and shopping for non-essential goods will be absolutely critical to the recovery of the business community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 41B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-492-8389
Campaign website: www.feistforhouse.org
Twitter handle: @SandraFeistMN
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FeistForHouse/
Candidate Bio
I have spent my entire career as an immigration attorney helping to share my clients’ experiences and strategically advocate for their interests. I will bring this career of advocacy to the State Legislature. I will also bring my 10 years of experience as a small business owner and employer. My law firm currently employs six people and I am proud of having founded and grown my operations over the past decade.
I have extensive experience with legislative advocacy through the American Immigration Lawyers Association and know the importance of collaborating with experts to advance causes. I am a nationally-recognized leader in my field, and I am regularly interviewed by local and national media, including recent interviews with The New York Times and The Washington Post about the Executive Order on immigration.
In my personal life, I feel that my experience as a Hurricane Katrina evacuee has given me perspective and a calm under pressure that serves me well as I run my law firm through a pandemic.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
I will advocate for fully-funding our public schools. Our schools are critical for the future of our state’s economic workforce competitiveness, and equally importantly, for addressing Minnesota’s unacceptable opportunity gap for communities of color that is one of the highest in the nation. I would also like to follow the lead of Tennessee to expand the public education continuum in Minnesota to include two-year community and technical colleges as a way to provide cutting-edge workforce training to Minnesotans graduating from high school and those interested in returning to school for continuing education.
I am also very committed to healthcare reform, which means expanding access to affordable, quality care. In addition to healthcare being a right, not a privilege, I support expanding healthcare access because if those in our community cannot afford the care they need, they create a drag on our economy and productivity. The health of our economy is dependent upon the health of our residents, and it is the role of the State of Minnesota to create the structural support to ensure that all residents have healthcare coverage. In the legislature, I will be a vocal advocate for universal healthcare.
At the legislature, I will also prioritize addressing the crisis of COVID-19. This is a multifaceted and complex issue, but at its core is finding ways to support local businesses and workers survive and thrive post-pandemic so that our economy can recover steadily with the support of the State of Minnesota. This includes addressing unemployment insurance coverage, housing access, workplace safety as our economy reopens, mental health crises that have resulted from the isolation of the pandemic, and myriad other interrelated issues that rely upon support by the State to ensure that we emerge from the pandemic a cohesive community and economy.
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?
Over the past months, we have seen how the local business community plays an essential, central role in the community’s quality of life. I personally have felt the weight of the pandemic on my shoulders as an employer and business owner responsible for the income of my staff, which in turn impacts every facet of their livelihoods. The restaurants where we eat, the malls where we shop, and the theaters that provide us entertainment all contribute to the rich tapestry of our lives. When these services and goods were suddenly taken away, their centrality in our daily lives was made all the more apparent.
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?
Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the top states for business. Minnesota ranks high for our educational system and commitment to workforce development, as well as general quality of life attributes. As an immigration lawyer, I would also point out that immigrant entrepreneurs play a key role in the thriving local economy. According to New American Economy, there are over 1,800 immigrant entrepreneurs in the 4th Congressional District alone.
In order to solicit new businesses and retain businesses, we need to focus on education and workforce development, which has been responsible for the recent success in national rankings of states supportive of businesses. Investing in our current student population is the most important investment we can make for the state and its future. In addition, we must invest in our infrastructure, including our roads and public transportation, as well as our airport. These investments are critical to attracting new businesses and supporting the quality of life metrics that have earned us national praise in recent years.
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 support minimum wage, sick and safe time, and in general, laws that ensure that everyone has a life of dignity and quality. For this reason, I also support laws that would create restrictions around the type of unpredictable scheduling that makes employees unable to be the parents, partners and people that they strive to be in their personal lives. Ensuring that employees have a predictable work schedule is not just for their benefit – businesses succeed when they have high worker morale. Therefore, I see all of these types of policies as a win-win for management, labor and our economy overall.
As an employer who has operated a successful business for the past 10 years, I understand the impact of these types of laws on business operations. I understand that paying competitive wages, providing sick time, and ensuring that my staff has notice of their schedule in advance has resulted in a stable, productive team environment and played a key role in the success of my business. I am open to hearing from local businesses and organizations that represent business interests to hear their perspectives.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
These are three critical aspects of our quality of life that impact every resident in our district and state. In particular, investing in transportation is a critical investment in the future of our state. We must be strategic and thoughtful in investing along the corridors in the Twin Cities metro area that will benefit the communities most in need of access to economic activity. This means investing not just in roads and bridges, but also in light rail, bike and walking paths, and heavy rail to allow more access between the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota. These types of investments will enhance the quality of life, attract and support new business development, and address the traffic congestion issues that are a huge economic drain.
With respect to public safety, I would support measures to reform our system of policing in order to ensure that there is accountability, training, and an expectation that our police force serves the community. We must ensure, when addressing matters of public safety, that we find the right balance between safety and over-policing.
With respect to housing, we need to ensure that as our community develops and expands, housing is plentiful, strategically developed, and affordable for all in need. There are numerous approaches to this issue and I am eager play a role in considering options that require collaboration and investment across all sectors and all levels of government. There is no single solution to ensure access to safe, affordable, optimally-located housing, but there are many exciting opportunities to make progress.
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?
My priorities for the State’s budget include investment in education, healthcare, and ensuring economic security for all. I believe that Minnesota should have a robust and efficient government funded by a progressive system of taxation so that those with the greatest ability to pay, pay a higher percentage of taxes towards State services. Through this system of taxation, focused in these three key areas, we can support continuous economic growth and a greater prosperity for all.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
As discussed above, investment in transportation and transit corridors is critical to attracting and supporting new business development. This is definitely true for my district. By attracting new business development, we would be expanding our tax base organically through economic growth. I would support a strong bonding bill to fund infrastructure investments to fund repair work on our local streets, highways and bridges.
I would also support the business investment programs available through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to nurture the businesses that already exist in my district. These programs include grants, emergency business loans, funding to support emerging entrepreneurs and targeted loans for diverse communities. In the wake of COVID-19, this type of financial support is more critical than ever in ensuring that our existing businesses are able to maintain operations, which provides income and opportunities for business owners and employees alike and is critical to the financial health and future tax revenues for our local community.
When the State invests in these ways in our local infrastructure, businesses, and entrepreneurs, the community thrives and grows organically, feeling a sense of belonging and the confidence to step into the role of entrepreneur. The end-result is a growing tax base and a thriving local economy.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Education funding is a top priority for me. If we ensure that our education funding is equitable, consistent, and generous, we will ensure that today’s students will be tomorrow’s skilled workforce. This funding should encompass early childhood education. Studies have demonstrated time and again that investing in early learning and development programs is a cost-effective strategy for promoting economic growth. The return on investment in early childhood education shows a high level of return based on increased school and career achievement, as well as reduced costs in remedial education, health, and criminal justice expenditures.
In addition to expanding education funding to encompass pre-K, I would also support an expansion of the public school continuum to encompass free two-year community and technical colleges. This concept was first pioneered in Tennessee and has seen bipartisan support across the United States as a measure that is surprisingly affordable and has seen a high level of participation, with high graduation and job placement rates. This concept is particularly helpful in addressing workforce development because community and technical colleges have close ties with local industry and cutting-edge technology development and oftentimes training is completed in partnership through hands-on experience with local businesses. This type of training is a very effective way to train students in the precise skills they need to succeed in their careers and contribute to the economy.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
Diversity in business ownership in the State of Minnesota should be a key focal point as we look to kick-starting the economy and supporting sustained growth into the future. Studies have shown time and again that growing diversity in the workforce drives prosperity and economic growth. There are many rationales for this, including the fact that diversity of experience leads to innovation and creative business solutions. Ultimately, fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses is not just a matter of addressing historic structural inequities, but a strategy for economic development across the State. We need to have programs focused on building economic power in underserved communities in order to ensure economic prosperity in the long term.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
This will be a critical priority for the State as we move past the pandemic. As a business owner, I can confirm that providing the business community reassurance that it has the support of the State will be essential in ensuring that businesses feel confident to expand and innovate, and that new entrepreneurs step up to drive economic growth. There are a number of specific ways that the State can support the business community directly, through loans, grants and other methods of funding to support business operations as the economy slowly returns to normal levels. In addition, it will be important to put into place safety measures that will give the public the confidence it needs to be consumers of the services and goods that the local business community provides. Ensuring that the community feels safe going to the mall, eating at a restaurant, and shopping for non-essential goods will be absolutely critical to the recovery of the business community.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?