Temmy Olasimbo
Name: Temmy Olasimbo
Public Office Sought: Woodbury City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-508-6791
Website: https://temmyolasimbo.com/
Twitter handle: @olasimbo_2020
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/olasimbo2020
Candidate Bio
I’ve lived in Woodbury since 2006 with my husband Ola and our children, Lanre and Lola. I graduated from Augsburg University with a Marketing degree and a minor in Political Science.
I have over 20 years of combined experience in administration, marketing, and management in industries such as: finance, healthcare, and retail. At Best Buy, I regularly interact with and mentor C-level executives.
I served on the South Washington County Equity and Integration Advisory Committee from 2014-2018. The role of the committee was to advise the district on ways to close the education achievement gaps of minority students, review the Office of Equity and Integration (OIE) plan and budget, and provide recommendations.
Following the death of Philando Castile, I initiated a forum in collaboration with the Chief of Police, Lee Vague to bring community members of color and the police together to find common ground on safety opportunities in Woodbury.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My vision for Woodbury is one that enriches our community through a human approach to public safety, sustainable clean water, and economic equity for all.
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Woodbury has a thriving business community and we need future-focused thinking to ensure we support the business owners of today and tomorrow. In addition to providing employment for residents and ensuring that unemployment rates remain low, the presence of businesses in the community provides convenient access to household goods, recreation, and entertainment.
Local businesses in particular are a vital component of our quality of life, as they are able to cater to the unique needs of our community.
What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Woodbury?
The City has a big role to play in attracting and retaining jobs for the community. While we have a strong business climate, we need future-focused thinking to continue to thrive. As a council member, I will work to ensure that the City has the necessary structures in place to attract and retain businesses.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (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 Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As the daughter of a small business owner, I know how important the health of both businesses and their employees is. Any proposal that affects local businesses should ensure that both employers and employees are well-served and I would work with businesses, employees, and other policymakers toward that goal.
It’s in our best interest as a city to both have a strong business community and care for our constituents.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Public Safety. I would seek additional measures to provide more transparency, accountability, and feedback to drive our community toward a shared vision of a community that is safe for everyone. I would also advocate for the Police Officers that protect and serve our community, to help reinforce a culture where they’re able to express concerns and have confidence that they’ll be addressed.
Housing and Transportation. I believe thoughtful design around housing and transportation is imperative in making our city inclusive and ready for the future. Thoughtful, people-centered design means seeking input from as many sources and perspectives as possible and considering the future impact of our decisions. When it comes to housing and transportation, it is imperative to consider safety, inclusion, livability, and equity.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Generally, I favor spending responsibly and maintaining healthy cash reserves for both planned and unforeseen future expenses. Within those expectations, my priorities are clean water, education, and public safety to ensure that Woodbury is a leading community in which to live, work, and thrive.
What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
I support thoughtful and inclusive growth for existing and new businesses through business-friendly policies, responsible development, and fostering an environment that promotes workforce readiness.
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 availability of a skilled and well-educated workforce is vital to attracting businesses to our area. To that end, I would work to establish and maintain strong relationships with the school board and educational institutions. While we have separate responsibilities, we have a shared accountability to ensure that our K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions provide practical and applied curriculum that are needed by businesses in our area.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
Any money spent or services offered should bring a strong return on investment to Woodbury and we should be open to effective partnerships that reduce our costs while retaining our autonomy. As a council member, I expect to be held accountable -- and to hold our City accountable -- for ensuring that the services provided are delivering results.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Woodbury?
Our role begins with recognizing that minority- and women-owned businesses are beneficial for all of Woodbury, and not just a small segment of the community. To foster and nurture those businesses, we need to understand the unique needs of those seeking to start businesses and what new types of support may be required to encourage that growth.
What further policies can Woodbury adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
There is a lot we can learn by what is being practiced in other cities. We can benefit from observing what is working in other municipalities and adapting existing solutions to meet our needs.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I would like to emphasize that it is in our best interest to have a strong business community in Woodbury. A business-friendly Woodbury can also be a human-friendly Woodbury by caring for the needs of our constituents.
Public Office Sought: Woodbury City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-508-6791
Website: https://temmyolasimbo.com/
Twitter handle: @olasimbo_2020
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/olasimbo2020
Candidate Bio
I’ve lived in Woodbury since 2006 with my husband Ola and our children, Lanre and Lola. I graduated from Augsburg University with a Marketing degree and a minor in Political Science.
I have over 20 years of combined experience in administration, marketing, and management in industries such as: finance, healthcare, and retail. At Best Buy, I regularly interact with and mentor C-level executives.
I served on the South Washington County Equity and Integration Advisory Committee from 2014-2018. The role of the committee was to advise the district on ways to close the education achievement gaps of minority students, review the Office of Equity and Integration (OIE) plan and budget, and provide recommendations.
Following the death of Philando Castile, I initiated a forum in collaboration with the Chief of Police, Lee Vague to bring community members of color and the police together to find common ground on safety opportunities in Woodbury.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
My vision for Woodbury is one that enriches our community through a human approach to public safety, sustainable clean water, and economic equity for all.
How would you characterize the business climate in Woodbury and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
Woodbury has a thriving business community and we need future-focused thinking to ensure we support the business owners of today and tomorrow. In addition to providing employment for residents and ensuring that unemployment rates remain low, the presence of businesses in the community provides convenient access to household goods, recreation, and entertainment.
Local businesses in particular are a vital component of our quality of life, as they are able to cater to the unique needs of our community.
What role do you think the City should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Woodbury?
The City has a big role to play in attracting and retaining jobs for the community. While we have a strong business climate, we need future-focused thinking to continue to thrive. As a council member, I will work to ensure that the City has the necessary structures in place to attract and retain businesses.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Woodbury (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 Woodbury and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
As the daughter of a small business owner, I know how important the health of both businesses and their employees is. Any proposal that affects local businesses should ensure that both employers and employees are well-served and I would work with businesses, employees, and other policymakers toward that goal.
It’s in our best interest as a city to both have a strong business community and care for our constituents.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Public Safety. I would seek additional measures to provide more transparency, accountability, and feedback to drive our community toward a shared vision of a community that is safe for everyone. I would also advocate for the Police Officers that protect and serve our community, to help reinforce a culture where they’re able to express concerns and have confidence that they’ll be addressed.
Housing and Transportation. I believe thoughtful design around housing and transportation is imperative in making our city inclusive and ready for the future. Thoughtful, people-centered design means seeking input from as many sources and perspectives as possible and considering the future impact of our decisions. When it comes to housing and transportation, it is imperative to consider safety, inclusion, livability, and equity.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Generally, I favor spending responsibly and maintaining healthy cash reserves for both planned and unforeseen future expenses. Within those expectations, my priorities are clean water, education, and public safety to ensure that Woodbury is a leading community in which to live, work, and thrive.
What will you do to expand Woodbury’s tax base?
I support thoughtful and inclusive growth for existing and new businesses through business-friendly policies, responsible development, and fostering an environment that promotes workforce readiness.
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 availability of a skilled and well-educated workforce is vital to attracting businesses to our area. To that end, I would work to establish and maintain strong relationships with the school board and educational institutions. While we have separate responsibilities, we have a shared accountability to ensure that our K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions provide practical and applied curriculum that are needed by businesses in our area.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
Any money spent or services offered should bring a strong return on investment to Woodbury and we should be open to effective partnerships that reduce our costs while retaining our autonomy. As a council member, I expect to be held accountable -- and to hold our City accountable -- for ensuring that the services provided are delivering results.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Woodbury?
Our role begins with recognizing that minority- and women-owned businesses are beneficial for all of Woodbury, and not just a small segment of the community. To foster and nurture those businesses, we need to understand the unique needs of those seeking to start businesses and what new types of support may be required to encourage that growth.
What further policies can Woodbury adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
There is a lot we can learn by what is being practiced in other cities. We can benefit from observing what is working in other municipalities and adapting existing solutions to meet our needs.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I would like to emphasize that it is in our best interest to have a strong business community in Woodbury. A business-friendly Woodbury can also be a human-friendly Woodbury by caring for the needs of our constituents.