TJ Hawthorne
Name: TJ Hawthorne
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-804-1038
Campaign Website: tjforliberty.com
Twitter handle: @TJ_Hawthorne44B
Facebook Page: TJ Hawthorne for MN 44B
Candidate Bio
I am a lifelong resident of North St. Paul and Oakdale. I spent almost 6 years serving on active duty and as a reservist in the US Navy. I’m now working as an Industrial Automation engineering technician for a company founded in North St. Paul, now operating out of Oakdale. We contract with local governments and also have federal/military contracts. My work for this company has brought me all over the world and I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge about how government spending has gotten out of control.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
I would characterize business climate in the East Metro as “OK”. I think there are too many regulations in place that hinder any entrepreneur’s progress to get their product or service to the market. Licensing and permitting to do business is unnecessary and impedes progress.
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?
There is nothing good that comes from “Public/private” ventures. If the private sector cannot do the work on their own, maybe it’s not time to do that work. Or the state can just get out of the way and let that entrepreneur succeed.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
Allow employers to hire who they want and associate with whom they want. When state policies of DEI and Affirmative Action are implemented, employers are forced to hire someone they may not want to hire.
The 2023-2024 Legislature passed many new mandates on employers, such as Paid Family Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification penalties. Do you support the PFML program in its current form or do you believe there needs to be further refinement before the program comes into effect in January 2026? If elected, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a proposal on the many types of businesses in the East Metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
This is exactly the kind of legislation that critically hurts our economy. Forcing private companies to pay someone that isn’t producing will cause prices to rise exponentially.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Constitutional Carry.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Allow freedom of movement. If a community wants to change their roads & sidewalks to accommodate for more bicycles and pedestrians, great! The state doesn’t need to get involved.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Deregulate the industry. There are too many regulations for zoning and building.
In light of projected budget deficit/"structural imbalance," what are your priorities for the State's budget?
I would like to see a mandate to cut the budget and not allow arbitrary spending.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-804-1038
Campaign Website: tjforliberty.com
Twitter handle: @TJ_Hawthorne44B
Facebook Page: TJ Hawthorne for MN 44B
Candidate Bio
I am a lifelong resident of North St. Paul and Oakdale. I spent almost 6 years serving on active duty and as a reservist in the US Navy. I’m now working as an Industrial Automation engineering technician for a company founded in North St. Paul, now operating out of Oakdale. We contract with local governments and also have federal/military contracts. My work for this company has brought me all over the world and I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge about how government spending has gotten out of control.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
- Defend The Guard – This is legislation that would prohibit the Federal Government from deploying our MN National Guard to fight in wars overseas, without an official declaration of war.
- Stop spending on frivolous pet projects – Our current legislators have activist agendas and are wasting time & money on issues that do not affect large portions o Minnesotans.
- Sunset arbitrary statutes and laws – There is so much unnecessary legislation still on the books that can be forgotten about and cancelled out. With this still there, there will always be loopholes for someone to become corrupt.
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
I would characterize business climate in the East Metro as “OK”. I think there are too many regulations in place that hinder any entrepreneur’s progress to get their product or service to the market. Licensing and permitting to do business is unnecessary and impedes progress.
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?
There is nothing good that comes from “Public/private” ventures. If the private sector cannot do the work on their own, maybe it’s not time to do that work. Or the state can just get out of the way and let that entrepreneur succeed.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
Allow employers to hire who they want and associate with whom they want. When state policies of DEI and Affirmative Action are implemented, employers are forced to hire someone they may not want to hire.
The 2023-2024 Legislature passed many new mandates on employers, such as Paid Family Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification penalties. Do you support the PFML program in its current form or do you believe there needs to be further refinement before the program comes into effect in January 2026? If elected, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a proposal on the many types of businesses in the East Metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
This is exactly the kind of legislation that critically hurts our economy. Forcing private companies to pay someone that isn’t producing will cause prices to rise exponentially.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Constitutional Carry.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
Allow freedom of movement. If a community wants to change their roads & sidewalks to accommodate for more bicycles and pedestrians, great! The state doesn’t need to get involved.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Deregulate the industry. There are too many regulations for zoning and building.
In light of projected budget deficit/"structural imbalance," what are your priorities for the State's budget?
I would like to see a mandate to cut the budget and not allow arbitrary spending.