Victoria A. Reinhardt
Name: Victoria A. Reinhardt
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner - District 7
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-271-6950
Website: www.VictoriaReinhardt.com
Twitter Handle: @CommVReinhardt
Facebook Page: Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt
Candidate Bio
A lot has changed in our county, state and national since earlier this year. We are faced with the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic and civil unrest in our communities. These add to the call to action on the complex issues facing Ramsey County. As in the past, I dig in and work hard to get the best outcomes for all who live, work, and do business here. I am an experienced, nationally recognized, leader and tireless advocate, who will continue to work with partnerships I have formed in the public, private and non-profit sectors at the local, state and national levels to keep our community safe and support our neighbors as we address the global pandemic and equity issues head on.
I earned a Doctorate of Public Administration, which focused on taxpayer costs avoided through preventing juvenile crime, and I have a Masters of Business Administration degree.
Why are you running for this seat?
I am running for re-election because I want to continue being a tireless advocate for Ramsey County with state and federal legislators, and to collaborate with private, public and non-profit sector partners to find innovative solutions to the complex issues facing Ramsey County. Now, more than ever, we need to work together to get through the pandemic and provide equitable opportunities and prosperity for all.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing my district is the same as it is for Ramsey County as a whole – balancing needs with limited resources as we deal with providing public services during a global pandemic.
Within my district, which includes White Bear Lake, Maplewood, North St. Paul, and the Hillcrest neighborhood in St. Paul, there are a variety of issues. In addition to providing support and resources regarding the pandemic and civil unrest, some of the for each community are:
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
As stated above, the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole is balancing needs with limited resources as we deal with providing public services during a global pandemic.
Ramsey County began reorganizing our structure to provide better public services in 2014. The purpose of the reorganization is to align resources to strengthen our work and more effectively advance our goal of providing prosperity, opportunity, and well-being for all. Ramsey County ties it’s budget decisions directly to outcomes. Therefore, our two-year budget (to more closely fit with the State of Minnesota cycle) is outcome based by Teams. The four teams include: Health and Wellness; Economic Growth and Community Investment; Safety and Justice; and Information and Public Records.
As part of the reorganization work, the Racial Equity and Community Engagement Response Team (RECERT) was established to develop and implement a comprehensive countywide approach to advance racial and health equity by being fair, inclusive and transparent in how we serve and engage residents and communities. On June 16, 2020, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners unanimously confirmed the appointment of nine community members to be the founding governance body for Transforming System Together (TST)
Because of the reorganization work, we were prepared to pivot when COVID-19 hit to provide services with little or no personal contact, at a time when more safety net services were needed because of unemployment, food insecurity, isolation, and housing, and made the needed changes within days. We did not shut down, rather we opened-up in different ways, and are making adjustments along the way.
And, when George Floyd was killed, the harsh reality of inequities and disparities in the way people are treated and live, especially people of color, was brought front and center. Because we had a Racial and Health Equity Administrator in place, we were able to respond quickly. The Ramsey County Virtual Town Hall meetings, “Recovery and Rebuilding Listening Sessions” have been well attended.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
My top three goals to provide quality public services equitably and cost-effectively, to provide good roads and transportation/transit options and to maintain our bond rating, have not changed significantly, but the global pandemic and civil unrest has had an impact on the best ways to achieve them.
When we talk about wanting to get to “normal”, it is important to realize that the old normal did not work for everyone. We must strive for a better, more equitable normal. Both COVID-19 and our justice system disproportionately impact people of color and those living in poverty. Our TST work is sharply focused on changing this disproportionate impact in provision of public services to address health, justice, housing, and safety concerns, while opening-up access to opportunities to prosper. Finally, as Chair of the Budget Committee for Ramsey County, I am working diligently to bring forth a revised 2021 budget to achieve our priorities, while retaining our triple A bond rating and our top GFOA awards for Excellence in Budgeting for the 20th year in a row.
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. Although the role of county government is not the primary catalyst for attracting and retaining jobs, it definitely has a role. Ramsey County, through infrastructure projects and bonding priorities, including Rush Line BRT and Riverview Corridors, Riversedge Deck, and the Recycling and Energy Center improvements, will provide many construction jobs. Creating good paying, permanent jobs on the 427 acre TCAAP site, now known as Rice Creek Commons, was a requirement in the RFP for the Master Developer.
As an employer, Ramsey County must be an organization that attracts, retains, and promotes a diverse and talented workforce. A focused effort is being implemented through Talent Attraction, Retention and Promotion (TARP) efforts.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
One of the primary responsibilities of the Economic Growth and Community Investment Team is to play a role in economic development, and a critical part of being successful is working with our partner organizations. The current Ramsey County development opportunities include: Rice Creek Commons, Riverfront Property, Boys Totem Town, and the Rice-Larpenteur Gateway Area. On a regional level, I was a founding Board of Directors member for GreaterMSP.
The director of Community and Economic Development for Ramsey County is Kari Collins. The primary programs and incentives are the federal Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnerships Program; Environmental Response Fund; Property Assessed Clean Energy Program; Rental rehabilitation; Opportunity Zones; and the Corridor Revitalization Program. These and other opportunities are detail on the Ramsey County website or by calling 651-266-8010
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
COVID 19 and the civil unrest in response to the killing of George Floyd were each declared emergencies by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. In the past, approximately half of the county budget is for health and human services, which provides services to families in crisis, vulnerable children and adults, individuals facing mental health, physical disability, or chemical dependency issues, and senior citizens. The next largest area of the budget is for public safety. Keeping our communities and neighborhoods safe is good for families, individuals, and businesses. Public health and safety and the social services safety net are essential as they literally save people’s lives. The cost of providing the essential services has increased dramatically during these challenging and difficult times.
About 85% of county services are mandated, which means the federal and state governments have determined those services as essential. Although not mandated services, I believe there is a role for counties in economic development, roads/transit/transportation options, and that public libraries and parks and recreational opportunities are important to the quality of life in Ramsey County.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
No.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Our outcome-based budget provides input on what is or is not working effectively for the County. In essence, our budget is an ongoing review of what we may change or eliminate to be more cost effective, while meeting mandates.
Again, our budget is being impacted, both from lost revenue and increased costs for mandated services because of COVID 19 and civil unrest. As we begin our budget deliberations for 2021, there will need to be adjustments. I will continue to work at the State and Federal levels to assist with the unexpected costs of additional service and to allow counties to save taxpayers money through flexibility in meeting the mandates.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I believe the business climate in Ramsey County is as good as can be expected during the current turmoil. I will continue to work with businesses and business and non-profit organizations, such as the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, to assist with rebuilding or re-establishing businesses and organizations impacted by COVID 19 and the destruction that followed the death of George Floyd, and to promote economic development, expand the tax capacity, assist with attracting and retaining jobs, retain the county’s triple A bond rating, and keep the county portion of the property tax levy as low as possible.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
Ramsey County was in the process of revamping our entire procurement system to make it easier for equitable access to government contracts when COVID-19 required redeployment of staff to emergency response. That work will continue and recommendations to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners are expected later this year. I am committed to making the necessary changes to our procurement process to allow easier access to minority- and women-owned businesses.
In addition, Ramsey County is a member of the Central Certification Program (CERT), along with Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and the City of St. Paul. The collaboration was created to promote market growth and increase the competitiveness of qualified small businesses.
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?
Ramsey County has been a leader in collaborative efforts. Ramsey County is active in many joint activities, which leverage taxpayer dollars to meet mandates by avoiding duplication. Examples of joint efforts upon which I serve include the: Recycling and Energy Center Board, Partnership on Waste and Energy, Rush Line Corridor and Gateway Corridor Commissions, MetroGIS Policy Board, State MnGEO Advisory Council, and Minnesota’s Clean Water Council, to name only a few. In addition, we share costs for services such as property taxes, elections, and public health inspections. Examples of services which have been combined or merged include: St. Paul/Ramsey County Public Health, the Workforce Investment Board, and the Emergency Communications Center. Expansion of sharing of services is always something I pursue.
In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
To compete in a global economy, we must attract, retain and promote talented and diverse individuals to live and work in the metro area. Transit and transportation options are an important part of getting the work done and producing goods and services to be marketed around the world. Retention of employees also relies on the quality of life and the ability to access quality healthcare, entertainment and recreational venues, educational facilities and our natural environment.
In Ramsey County, our top transportation priority is to build a healthy transportation system, including for biking and walking, a positive transit option and to maintain county roads. Our 2020 transportation-related bonding proposals include: Rush Line BRT and Riverview Corridors, the Kellogg Avenue-Third Street bridge, a second train from the Twin Cities to Chicago, the Interstate 35E/County Road J Interchange, and the Lake Links Train connection.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
In addition to the Small Business Relief Fund ($15 million), Workforce Assistance ($15 million) and deferral of the first half of 2020 property taxes to July 15, we are also gathering information through the COVID-19 Racial Equity and Community Engagement virtual town hall meeting. Some of the business-related issues covered to date include Business and community restoration, Voting and the 2020 Census, Housing stability services and response, Employment programs and assistance, and Contractor and provider services. The purpose of the virtual town halls is to hear directly from those impacted on what is needed and how Ramsey County policies can assist with recovery.
Ramsey County has consolidated the resources to help businesses recover from the impacts of COVID 19 on the webpage: https://www.ramseycountymeansbusiness.com/covid-19. The COVID-19 Business Recovery Guide includes a Recovery Dashboard, Federal, State and Local Resources, Provider, Workforce and additional Business Resources, Webinars, Executive Orders and COVIC-19 Inquiries.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I take pride in the work that I have done to make Ramsey County an extremely well run and nationally recognized County. My work focuses on safe neighborhoods, a clean environment, good roads and transit options, caring services for seniors and children, and quality parks and libraries for all to enjoy.
I want to continue my record of providing quality public services cost-effectively, and to strive for a better, more equitable “normal” than existed before COVID 19 and civil unrest.
Public Office Sought: Ramsey County Commissioner - District 7
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-271-6950
Website: www.VictoriaReinhardt.com
Twitter Handle: @CommVReinhardt
Facebook Page: Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt
Candidate Bio
A lot has changed in our county, state and national since earlier this year. We are faced with the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic and civil unrest in our communities. These add to the call to action on the complex issues facing Ramsey County. As in the past, I dig in and work hard to get the best outcomes for all who live, work, and do business here. I am an experienced, nationally recognized, leader and tireless advocate, who will continue to work with partnerships I have formed in the public, private and non-profit sectors at the local, state and national levels to keep our community safe and support our neighbors as we address the global pandemic and equity issues head on.
I earned a Doctorate of Public Administration, which focused on taxpayer costs avoided through preventing juvenile crime, and I have a Masters of Business Administration degree.
Why are you running for this seat?
I am running for re-election because I want to continue being a tireless advocate for Ramsey County with state and federal legislators, and to collaborate with private, public and non-profit sector partners to find innovative solutions to the complex issues facing Ramsey County. Now, more than ever, we need to work together to get through the pandemic and provide equitable opportunities and prosperity for all.
What is the biggest challenge facing your district and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing my district is the same as it is for Ramsey County as a whole – balancing needs with limited resources as we deal with providing public services during a global pandemic.
Within my district, which includes White Bear Lake, Maplewood, North St. Paul, and the Hillcrest neighborhood in St. Paul, there are a variety of issues. In addition to providing support and resources regarding the pandemic and civil unrest, some of the for each community are:
- White Bear Lake: Station area planning and downtown routing of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line along the Rush Line Corridor; Economic development on the west side of Highway 61 , especially as the new school district buildings are renovated/constructed; the Lake Links Trail about White Bear Lake; South Shore Blvd road and trail design.
- Maplewood: Redevelopment of two properties in south Maplewood, adjacent to the Ramsey County Correctional Facility on Century Avenue, including the Ponds of Battle Creek Golf Course as a golf course or new use; Finalizing our work with the St. Paul Police Department to mitigate the noise at the firing range near the Ponds of Battle Creek; Rush Line Corridor, which will run from the Union Depot to White Bear Lake.
- North St. Paul: Community conversation about transportation and development issues along Trunk Highway 120 (Century Ave); Partnership with North St. Paul and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions on students and home construction on tax forfeited properties.
- St. Paul - Hillcrest neighborhood: Redevelopment of the Hillcrest Golf Course site; Sheltering the unsheltered.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole and how would you address it?
As stated above, the biggest challenge facing Ramsey County as a whole is balancing needs with limited resources as we deal with providing public services during a global pandemic.
Ramsey County began reorganizing our structure to provide better public services in 2014. The purpose of the reorganization is to align resources to strengthen our work and more effectively advance our goal of providing prosperity, opportunity, and well-being for all. Ramsey County ties it’s budget decisions directly to outcomes. Therefore, our two-year budget (to more closely fit with the State of Minnesota cycle) is outcome based by Teams. The four teams include: Health and Wellness; Economic Growth and Community Investment; Safety and Justice; and Information and Public Records.
As part of the reorganization work, the Racial Equity and Community Engagement Response Team (RECERT) was established to develop and implement a comprehensive countywide approach to advance racial and health equity by being fair, inclusive and transparent in how we serve and engage residents and communities. On June 16, 2020, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners unanimously confirmed the appointment of nine community members to be the founding governance body for Transforming System Together (TST)
Because of the reorganization work, we were prepared to pivot when COVID-19 hit to provide services with little or no personal contact, at a time when more safety net services were needed because of unemployment, food insecurity, isolation, and housing, and made the needed changes within days. We did not shut down, rather we opened-up in different ways, and are making adjustments along the way.
And, when George Floyd was killed, the harsh reality of inequities and disparities in the way people are treated and live, especially people of color, was brought front and center. Because we had a Racial and Health Equity Administrator in place, we were able to respond quickly. The Ramsey County Virtual Town Hall meetings, “Recovery and Rebuilding Listening Sessions” have been well attended.
What would be your top three priorities if elected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners?
My top three goals to provide quality public services equitably and cost-effectively, to provide good roads and transportation/transit options and to maintain our bond rating, have not changed significantly, but the global pandemic and civil unrest has had an impact on the best ways to achieve them.
When we talk about wanting to get to “normal”, it is important to realize that the old normal did not work for everyone. We must strive for a better, more equitable normal. Both COVID-19 and our justice system disproportionately impact people of color and those living in poverty. Our TST work is sharply focused on changing this disproportionate impact in provision of public services to address health, justice, housing, and safety concerns, while opening-up access to opportunities to prosper. Finally, as Chair of the Budget Committee for Ramsey County, I am working diligently to bring forth a revised 2021 budget to achieve our priorities, while retaining our triple A bond rating and our top GFOA awards for Excellence in Budgeting for the 20th year in a row.
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. Although the role of county government is not the primary catalyst for attracting and retaining jobs, it definitely has a role. Ramsey County, through infrastructure projects and bonding priorities, including Rush Line BRT and Riverview Corridors, Riversedge Deck, and the Recycling and Energy Center improvements, will provide many construction jobs. Creating good paying, permanent jobs on the 427 acre TCAAP site, now known as Rice Creek Commons, was a requirement in the RFP for the Master Developer.
As an employer, Ramsey County must be an organization that attracts, retains, and promotes a diverse and talented workforce. A focused effort is being implemented through Talent Attraction, Retention and Promotion (TARP) efforts.
What role should county government play in economic development, and how should the county work with partner organizations?
One of the primary responsibilities of the Economic Growth and Community Investment Team is to play a role in economic development, and a critical part of being successful is working with our partner organizations. The current Ramsey County development opportunities include: Rice Creek Commons, Riverfront Property, Boys Totem Town, and the Rice-Larpenteur Gateway Area. On a regional level, I was a founding Board of Directors member for GreaterMSP.
The director of Community and Economic Development for Ramsey County is Kari Collins. The primary programs and incentives are the federal Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnerships Program; Environmental Response Fund; Property Assessed Clean Energy Program; Rental rehabilitation; Opportunity Zones; and the Corridor Revitalization Program. These and other opportunities are detail on the Ramsey County website or by calling 651-266-8010
What do you believe are the most essential services provided by county government?
COVID 19 and the civil unrest in response to the killing of George Floyd were each declared emergencies by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. In the past, approximately half of the county budget is for health and human services, which provides services to families in crisis, vulnerable children and adults, individuals facing mental health, physical disability, or chemical dependency issues, and senior citizens. The next largest area of the budget is for public safety. Keeping our communities and neighborhoods safe is good for families, individuals, and businesses. Public health and safety and the social services safety net are essential as they literally save people’s lives. The cost of providing the essential services has increased dramatically during these challenging and difficult times.
About 85% of county services are mandated, which means the federal and state governments have determined those services as essential. Although not mandated services, I believe there is a role for counties in economic development, roads/transit/transportation options, and that public libraries and parks and recreational opportunities are important to the quality of life in Ramsey County.
Are there any services that the county does not provide that you believe it should?
No.
Are there any services currently provided by the county that you believe should be cut back or eliminated?
Our outcome-based budget provides input on what is or is not working effectively for the County. In essence, our budget is an ongoing review of what we may change or eliminate to be more cost effective, while meeting mandates.
Again, our budget is being impacted, both from lost revenue and increased costs for mandated services because of COVID 19 and civil unrest. As we begin our budget deliberations for 2021, there will need to be adjustments. I will continue to work at the State and Federal levels to assist with the unexpected costs of additional service and to allow counties to save taxpayers money through flexibility in meeting the mandates.
How would you characterize the business climate in Ramsey County? What, if anything, would you do to change it?
I believe the business climate in Ramsey County is as good as can be expected during the current turmoil. I will continue to work with businesses and business and non-profit organizations, such as the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, to assist with rebuilding or re-establishing businesses and organizations impacted by COVID 19 and the destruction that followed the death of George Floyd, and to promote economic development, expand the tax capacity, assist with attracting and retaining jobs, retain the county’s triple A bond rating, and keep the county portion of the property tax levy as low as possible.
What is the role of the Board of Commissioners in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Ramsey County?
Ramsey County was in the process of revamping our entire procurement system to make it easier for equitable access to government contracts when COVID-19 required redeployment of staff to emergency response. That work will continue and recommendations to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners are expected later this year. I am committed to making the necessary changes to our procurement process to allow easier access to minority- and women-owned businesses.
In addition, Ramsey County is a member of the Central Certification Program (CERT), along with Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis and the City of St. Paul. The collaboration was created to promote market growth and increase the competitiveness of qualified small businesses.
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?
Ramsey County has been a leader in collaborative efforts. Ramsey County is active in many joint activities, which leverage taxpayer dollars to meet mandates by avoiding duplication. Examples of joint efforts upon which I serve include the: Recycling and Energy Center Board, Partnership on Waste and Energy, Rush Line Corridor and Gateway Corridor Commissions, MetroGIS Policy Board, State MnGEO Advisory Council, and Minnesota’s Clean Water Council, to name only a few. In addition, we share costs for services such as property taxes, elections, and public health inspections. Examples of services which have been combined or merged include: St. Paul/Ramsey County Public Health, the Workforce Investment Board, and the Emergency Communications Center. Expansion of sharing of services is always something I pursue.
In your view, what is Ramsey County’s top transportation priority and how would you advance it?
To compete in a global economy, we must attract, retain and promote talented and diverse individuals to live and work in the metro area. Transit and transportation options are an important part of getting the work done and producing goods and services to be marketed around the world. Retention of employees also relies on the quality of life and the ability to access quality healthcare, entertainment and recreational venues, educational facilities and our natural environment.
In Ramsey County, our top transportation priority is to build a healthy transportation system, including for biking and walking, a positive transit option and to maintain county roads. Our 2020 transportation-related bonding proposals include: Rush Line BRT and Riverview Corridors, the Kellogg Avenue-Third Street bridge, a second train from the Twin Cities to Chicago, the Interstate 35E/County Road J Interchange, and the Lake Links Train connection.
What further policies can Ramsey County adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
In addition to the Small Business Relief Fund ($15 million), Workforce Assistance ($15 million) and deferral of the first half of 2020 property taxes to July 15, we are also gathering information through the COVID-19 Racial Equity and Community Engagement virtual town hall meeting. Some of the business-related issues covered to date include Business and community restoration, Voting and the 2020 Census, Housing stability services and response, Employment programs and assistance, and Contractor and provider services. The purpose of the virtual town halls is to hear directly from those impacted on what is needed and how Ramsey County policies can assist with recovery.
Ramsey County has consolidated the resources to help businesses recover from the impacts of COVID 19 on the webpage: https://www.ramseycountymeansbusiness.com/covid-19. The COVID-19 Business Recovery Guide includes a Recovery Dashboard, Federal, State and Local Resources, Provider, Workforce and additional Business Resources, Webinars, Executive Orders and COVIC-19 Inquiries.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I take pride in the work that I have done to make Ramsey County an extremely well run and nationally recognized County. My work focuses on safe neighborhoods, a clean environment, good roads and transit options, caring services for seniors and children, and quality parks and libraries for all to enjoy.
I want to continue my record of providing quality public services cost-effectively, and to strive for a better, more equitable “normal” than existed before COVID 19 and civil unrest.