William Johnston
Name: William Johnston
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 53A
Email: [email protected]
Phone:
Campaign website: www.williamjohnston.us
Twitter handle: @williamformn
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/William-Johnston-105103887907338/
Candidate Bio
William Johnston has worked as a software engineer for a decade, particularly focusing on the intersection of human issues and technology. He is passionate about supporting individuals who have the courage and ambition to start and build businesses, at considerable risk to themselves and their finances. He wants to enable anyone to pursue such a dream by reducing taxes and regulations which raise the baseline required for a business to be successful.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Education
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?
The overall economy has until recently been doing well, and this has benefited East Metro businesses. I am encouraged and excited to see how our small businesses give back to the community and take advantage of our improved economy to expand employment, thus benefiting even more people. I want to do what I can to allow businesses to bounce back after COVID-19 passes, not by directing their actions or funneling massive amounts of money their way, but by freeing them from regulations and allowing them to do what made them successful in the first place: innovate and offer products and services people love and buy.
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?
The state should work to make the legal and regulatory environment consistent and lightweight, so that businesses can easily understand the rules and then innovate within them, with minimal worry about the rules changing under them. The state should keep taxes low by working efficiently with the revenues to provide needed services, and by delegating such services to the private sector when practicable.
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 would like to see as few employment laws as reasonably possible, allowing employers to innovate to offer competitive benefit packages to their employees, and making it easier for employers to hire individuals without a ton of overhead.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
A strong, honorable police force is important to enforce the laws and provide a peaceful environment for our community. Good roads and public transit are also important infrastructure for commerce, allowing for goods and individuals to travel between home and business. I’ve commuted by driving and bussing over the years, regularly taking the 375 and formerly the 294 busses. Housing is too expensive, driven by, among other things, a high cost of construction. I would encourage less regulation of housing, allowing homeowners to improve their properties and new homes to be built, making housing more affordable for all.
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?
I’m not an expert on budget specifics. I would generally like to reduce regulation and the enforcement costs which come with it. I would like to see taxes simplified, and thus less money spent on tax preparation and processing. Generally, services and responsibilities should be pushed down to the local level instead of one-size-fits-all solutions implemented from Woodbury to Worthington.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
Reduce taxes and regulation such that 53A is a freer, more innovative, and more prosperous district, thus allowing local businesses to expand and attract talent.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Instead of a one-size-fits-all education system, I will advocate for school choice, allowing for parents to choose what form of education fits their children. I would encourage efficient use of resources by creating competition among schools for students.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
If we reduce taxes and regulation and make a freer, easier business environment, this especially benefits those without safety nets behind them as they start and grow businesses. It reduces the capital requirements and risk for everyone.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Reduce taxes and regulation to remove governmental overhead on businesses. Then step back and let them do what they do best: innovate and creatively rebuild.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Our incredible country, state, and district was founded on allowing individuals to be creative and innovative, not on top-down economic planning and design. I want to push regulatory decisions to those closest to those affected, such as local government. I want to help people see that they can create an incredible future for themselves, their children, and everyone around them, by building businesses. Immigrants especially come to this country and start businesses, improving their lives and those of everyone around them. I want to reward their contributions by staying out of their way and letting them continue to do the great work they are doing.
Public Office Sought: Minnesota State House of Representatives - District 53A
Email: [email protected]
Phone:
Campaign website: www.williamjohnston.us
Twitter handle: @williamformn
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/William-Johnston-105103887907338/
Candidate Bio
William Johnston has worked as a software engineer for a decade, particularly focusing on the intersection of human issues and technology. He is passionate about supporting individuals who have the courage and ambition to start and build businesses, at considerable risk to themselves and their finances. He wants to enable anyone to pursue such a dream by reducing taxes and regulations which raise the baseline required for a business to be successful.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Education
- Reducing regulation and corresponding taxes, freeing individuals to innovate.
- Expanding school choice, enabling parents to make the best decisions for their child, and allowing for more innovation in education.
- Safe communities, with police and citizens mutually creating an environment where we can live, work, and play at peace.
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?
The overall economy has until recently been doing well, and this has benefited East Metro businesses. I am encouraged and excited to see how our small businesses give back to the community and take advantage of our improved economy to expand employment, thus benefiting even more people. I want to do what I can to allow businesses to bounce back after COVID-19 passes, not by directing their actions or funneling massive amounts of money their way, but by freeing them from regulations and allowing them to do what made them successful in the first place: innovate and offer products and services people love and buy.
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?
The state should work to make the legal and regulatory environment consistent and lightweight, so that businesses can easily understand the rules and then innovate within them, with minimal worry about the rules changing under them. The state should keep taxes low by working efficiently with the revenues to provide needed services, and by delegating such services to the private sector when practicable.
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 would like to see as few employment laws as reasonably possible, allowing employers to innovate to offer competitive benefit packages to their employees, and making it easier for employers to hire individuals without a ton of overhead.
What is your strategy to address public safety, transportation, and housing issues?
A strong, honorable police force is important to enforce the laws and provide a peaceful environment for our community. Good roads and public transit are also important infrastructure for commerce, allowing for goods and individuals to travel between home and business. I’ve commuted by driving and bussing over the years, regularly taking the 375 and formerly the 294 busses. Housing is too expensive, driven by, among other things, a high cost of construction. I would encourage less regulation of housing, allowing homeowners to improve their properties and new homes to be built, making housing more affordable for all.
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?
I’m not an expert on budget specifics. I would generally like to reduce regulation and the enforcement costs which come with it. I would like to see taxes simplified, and thus less money spent on tax preparation and processing. Generally, services and responsibilities should be pushed down to the local level instead of one-size-fits-all solutions implemented from Woodbury to Worthington.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
Reduce taxes and regulation such that 53A is a freer, more innovative, and more prosperous district, thus allowing local businesses to expand and attract talent.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
Instead of a one-size-fits-all education system, I will advocate for school choice, allowing for parents to choose what form of education fits their children. I would encourage efficient use of resources by creating competition among schools for students.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
If we reduce taxes and regulation and make a freer, easier business environment, this especially benefits those without safety nets behind them as they start and grow businesses. It reduces the capital requirements and risk for everyone.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Reduce taxes and regulation to remove governmental overhead on businesses. Then step back and let them do what they do best: innovate and creatively rebuild.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
Our incredible country, state, and district was founded on allowing individuals to be creative and innovative, not on top-down economic planning and design. I want to push regulatory decisions to those closest to those affected, such as local government. I want to help people see that they can create an incredible future for themselves, their children, and everyone around them, by building businesses. Immigrants especially come to this country and start businesses, improving their lives and those of everyone around them. I want to reward their contributions by staying out of their way and letting them continue to do the great work they are doing.