Amáda Márquez Simula
Name: Amáda Márquez Simula
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-990-1330
Campaign Website: www.voteamada.com
Twitter handle: @AmadaMarquezS
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/voteamada/
Candidate Bio
I am a third-term Mayor of Columbia Heights with a proven record of getting things done. I have overseen a $53.3M operating budget, secured $29M in state and federal funding for infrastructure and housing, launched multilingual civic engagement initiatives, and organized the city's first Pride celebration. I hired our current Police Chief and City Manager, raised pay and benefits for our paid-on-call firefighters, and am moving forward a new soccer field and Parks Master Plan. I founded HeightsNEXT, a community nonprofit and work at Metro Transit, giving me hands-on experience with the transportation systems our region depends on.
As the child of an immigrant, I grew up knowing what it means to fight for belonging in spaces not built for you — and as the first person of color elected to office in Columbia Heights and only the second Latina mayor in Minnesota history, I've spent my career making sure others have that seat at the table too. I run because my community deserves leadership that fights for them at the Capitol the way I have fought for them at City Hall. The issues I've championed locally require state-level action, and I am ready to carry that fight forward.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
Affordable Housing and Economic Security — Families in District 39B are being priced out of the communities they built. I will fight for rent stabilization protections, expanded affordable housing production, and economic policies that center working families and small businesses.
Immigrant Rights and Inclusive Democracy — With a large and growing immigrant population in Columbia Heights and across the district, we need a state representative who will fight to protect immigrant families, expand language access, and ensure that every resident — regardless of status — can fully participate in civic life.
Environmental and Climate Justice — Frontline communities in our district face disproportionate environmental burdens. I will champion clean energy investment, environmental justice funding, and climate resilience policies that protect the people who have done the least to cause this crisis and the most to survive it.
Growing uncertainty around state and federal funding makes these priorities more urgent, not less. As federal support for housing, healthcare, and immigrant services becomes less reliable, Minnesota must be prepared to fill gaps with state-level investment and policy protections. I will advocate for budgeting that anticipates this uncertainty rather than reacting to it after the fact.
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
The East Metro's business climate is shaped by a mix of established corridors and emerging small business growth, particularly among immigrant and minority-owned enterprises along Central Avenue and similar commercial districts. These businesses are the backbone of our local economy, but many face real barriers — rising commercial rents, regulatory complexity, and a workforce that increasingly cannot afford to live where it works. As Mayor, I have worked directly with small business owners navigating permitting, infrastructure investment, and economic development, and I have seen both the resilience of our business community and the structural challenges holding it back. A strong East Metro economy requires public investment in transit, housing, and workforce development working hand-in-hand with the private sector.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges such as education, housing, workforce development, or other priority areas.
District 39B is home to a diverse and growing small business community, and I want to be a legislator who genuinely listens to and advocates for those businesses. I believe effective representation means building coalitions across sectors, and the businesses in Columbia Heights, New Brighton, and St. Anthony need a voice in the Legislature who understands the real-world impact of policy decisions. I may not agree with every business stakeholder on every issue, but I am committed to showing up, listening, and finding common ground wherever it exists — because durable solutions on education, housing, and workforce development require government and business working as genuine partners, not adversaries.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
The labor shortage many employers face is due to an affordability crisis. When workers can't afford to live in the communities where they work, businesses suffer. I will champion policies that increase housing supply and affordability across the metro.
Supporting reasonable limits on rent increases and ending rent price-fixing by corporate landlords will help stabilize housing costs for working families. Further investments in public education and support for the Minnesota Health Plan will ensure that our state remains a desirable location for workers to live and raise their families.
The Legislature enacted several new workplace mandates in recent years, including Paid Family and Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification standards. If elected, how would you evaluate the impact of these policies on the East Metro economy and workforce, and what principles would guide any changes you'd seek to make?
I believe a thriving business community and strong public investment are not opposites but are interdependent. Businesses across Minnesota need reliable infrastructure, a healthy and educated workforce, and stable communities to succeed. I will ensure that every tax dollar is spent efficiently and that the return on public investment is visible and real. I am committed to honest conversations that balance fiscal responsibility with the public services that make Minnesota a place where businesses want to locate and grow.
I am open to implementation refinements on these policies that reduce administrative burden on small businesses — particularly around phased timelines and technical assistance for small employers — without reducing worker protections or benefit access. I believe we can make these programs work better for both employees and employers, and I would engage directly with small business owners in my district to understand their specific concerns before supporting any structural changes.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Real public safety requires both responsible enforcement and upstream investment. As Mayor, I hired a Police Chief who reflects our community's values and worked to build trust between law enforcement and our diverse neighborhoods. I support funding mental health crisis response teams, investing in youth programming and violence prevention, and ensuring law enforcement has the training and resources to serve effectively. I will also fight for legislation banning assault weapons, gun modifications, and ghost guns, and will support repealing the 1985 preemption law that prevents cities from enacting their own local gun safety measures. Safety also means protecting families from fear — including keeping immigration enforcement away from schools, hospitals, and community spaces.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
As a Metro Transit employee, I understand transportation infrastructure from the inside in reliable, frequent transit service that connects workers to jobs across the East Metro. I support expanding safe pedestrian and bike infrastructure, including protected bike lanes and safer crossings near schools and transit stops, and will push for transit safety investments that protect riders and operators alike. Reliable, safe transportation isn't just a convenience — it's economic development, environmental policy, and public safety rolled into one, and it deserves to be treated that way in the Legislature.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing affordability is one of my key policy priorities if elected. In addition to supporting construction of new homes, I will support reasonable protections against excessive rent increases and work to end rent price-fixing, so working families aren't priced out of the communities they call home.
Minnesota's current two-year budget shows a surplus, but state forecasters project a significant structural imbalance beginning in the 2028-2029 biennium. What steps would you take to address this long-term challenge? Please include specific ideas for reducing spending, increasing revenue, or reforming state programs.
On the structural budget imbalance, I will prioritize three areas: workforce and transit investment, because reliable public transit reduces turnover and expands the labor pool for employers; small business support, including streamlined permitting and access to capital for small and minority-owned businesses; and housing affordability, because the workforce shortage many businesses face is fundamentally a housing problem. On the revenue side, I will look closely at ensuring large corporations and high earners pay their fair share before considering cuts to programs that working families depend on. Long-term fiscal responsibility means investing now in housing, transit, and workforce development to grow the tax base — not just cutting services when times get tight.
Workforce and transit investment. As a Metro Transit employee and Mayor, I know that reliable public transit is an economic development tool. Getting workers to jobs reliably reduces turnover and expands the labor pool for employers.
Small business support. I will advocate for streamlined permitting, access to capital for small and minority-owned businesses, and technical assistance programs that help entrepreneurs navigate state systems.
Housing affordability. The workforce shortage many businesses face is a housing problem. When workers can't afford to live in the communities where they work, businesses suffer. I will champion policies that increase housing supply and affordability across the metro.
Minnesota has faced several high-profile fraud cases involving public programs in recent years. The Legislature recently passed a new Office of the Inspector General on a bipartisan basis. Beyond this new office, what additional steps would you support to strengthen fraud prevention and rebuild public trust in how the state manages taxpayer-funded programs?
Fraud in public programs is a betrayal of the people those programs are meant to serve, and it undermines public trust in the very investments I'm fighting for. I will support strong, proactive oversight — including regular third-party audits of high-risk program areas, clear whistleblower protections for state employees and contractors who report misconduct, and data-sharing improvements between state agencies to catch fraud patterns earlier. I also believe transparency is part of prevention: publishing regular public reporting on program spending and outcomes builds trust and makes fraud harder to hide. Accountability and access to vital services are not in conflict — done right, they reinforce each other.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-990-1330
Campaign Website: www.voteamada.com
Twitter handle: @AmadaMarquezS
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/voteamada/
Candidate Bio
I am a third-term Mayor of Columbia Heights with a proven record of getting things done. I have overseen a $53.3M operating budget, secured $29M in state and federal funding for infrastructure and housing, launched multilingual civic engagement initiatives, and organized the city's first Pride celebration. I hired our current Police Chief and City Manager, raised pay and benefits for our paid-on-call firefighters, and am moving forward a new soccer field and Parks Master Plan. I founded HeightsNEXT, a community nonprofit and work at Metro Transit, giving me hands-on experience with the transportation systems our region depends on.
As the child of an immigrant, I grew up knowing what it means to fight for belonging in spaces not built for you — and as the first person of color elected to office in Columbia Heights and only the second Latina mayor in Minnesota history, I've spent my career making sure others have that seat at the table too. I run because my community deserves leadership that fights for them at the Capitol the way I have fought for them at City Hall. The issues I've championed locally require state-level action, and I am ready to carry that fight forward.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
Affordable Housing and Economic Security — Families in District 39B are being priced out of the communities they built. I will fight for rent stabilization protections, expanded affordable housing production, and economic policies that center working families and small businesses.
Immigrant Rights and Inclusive Democracy — With a large and growing immigrant population in Columbia Heights and across the district, we need a state representative who will fight to protect immigrant families, expand language access, and ensure that every resident — regardless of status — can fully participate in civic life.
Environmental and Climate Justice — Frontline communities in our district face disproportionate environmental burdens. I will champion clean energy investment, environmental justice funding, and climate resilience policies that protect the people who have done the least to cause this crisis and the most to survive it.
Growing uncertainty around state and federal funding makes these priorities more urgent, not less. As federal support for housing, healthcare, and immigrant services becomes less reliable, Minnesota must be prepared to fill gaps with state-level investment and policy protections. I will advocate for budgeting that anticipates this uncertainty rather than reacting to it after the fact.
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro? Please elaborate on your answer.
The East Metro's business climate is shaped by a mix of established corridors and emerging small business growth, particularly among immigrant and minority-owned enterprises along Central Avenue and similar commercial districts. These businesses are the backbone of our local economy, but many face real barriers — rising commercial rents, regulatory complexity, and a workforce that increasingly cannot afford to live where it works. As Mayor, I have worked directly with small business owners navigating permitting, infrastructure investment, and economic development, and I have seen both the resilience of our business community and the structural challenges holding it back. A strong East Metro economy requires public investment in transit, housing, and workforce development working hand-in-hand with the private sector.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges such as education, housing, workforce development, or other priority areas.
District 39B is home to a diverse and growing small business community, and I want to be a legislator who genuinely listens to and advocates for those businesses. I believe effective representation means building coalitions across sectors, and the businesses in Columbia Heights, New Brighton, and St. Anthony need a voice in the Legislature who understands the real-world impact of policy decisions. I may not agree with every business stakeholder on every issue, but I am committed to showing up, listening, and finding common ground wherever it exists — because durable solutions on education, housing, and workforce development require government and business working as genuine partners, not adversaries.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
The labor shortage many employers face is due to an affordability crisis. When workers can't afford to live in the communities where they work, businesses suffer. I will champion policies that increase housing supply and affordability across the metro.
Supporting reasonable limits on rent increases and ending rent price-fixing by corporate landlords will help stabilize housing costs for working families. Further investments in public education and support for the Minnesota Health Plan will ensure that our state remains a desirable location for workers to live and raise their families.
The Legislature enacted several new workplace mandates in recent years, including Paid Family and Medical Leave, Earned Safe and Sick Time, and Worker Misclassification standards. If elected, how would you evaluate the impact of these policies on the East Metro economy and workforce, and what principles would guide any changes you'd seek to make?
I believe a thriving business community and strong public investment are not opposites but are interdependent. Businesses across Minnesota need reliable infrastructure, a healthy and educated workforce, and stable communities to succeed. I will ensure that every tax dollar is spent efficiently and that the return on public investment is visible and real. I am committed to honest conversations that balance fiscal responsibility with the public services that make Minnesota a place where businesses want to locate and grow.
I am open to implementation refinements on these policies that reduce administrative burden on small businesses — particularly around phased timelines and technical assistance for small employers — without reducing worker protections or benefit access. I believe we can make these programs work better for both employees and employers, and I would engage directly with small business owners in my district to understand their specific concerns before supporting any structural changes.
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your district and the state?
Real public safety requires both responsible enforcement and upstream investment. As Mayor, I hired a Police Chief who reflects our community's values and worked to build trust between law enforcement and our diverse neighborhoods. I support funding mental health crisis response teams, investing in youth programming and violence prevention, and ensuring law enforcement has the training and resources to serve effectively. I will also fight for legislation banning assault weapons, gun modifications, and ghost guns, and will support repealing the 1985 preemption law that prevents cities from enacting their own local gun safety measures. Safety also means protecting families from fear — including keeping immigration enforcement away from schools, hospitals, and community spaces.
How would you work to improve transportation options in the district/state, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
As a Metro Transit employee, I understand transportation infrastructure from the inside in reliable, frequent transit service that connects workers to jobs across the East Metro. I support expanding safe pedestrian and bike infrastructure, including protected bike lanes and safer crossings near schools and transit stops, and will push for transit safety investments that protect riders and operators alike. Reliable, safe transportation isn't just a convenience — it's economic development, environmental policy, and public safety rolled into one, and it deserves to be treated that way in the Legislature.
What ideas do you have to address housing shortages and affordability?
Housing affordability is one of my key policy priorities if elected. In addition to supporting construction of new homes, I will support reasonable protections against excessive rent increases and work to end rent price-fixing, so working families aren't priced out of the communities they call home.
Minnesota's current two-year budget shows a surplus, but state forecasters project a significant structural imbalance beginning in the 2028-2029 biennium. What steps would you take to address this long-term challenge? Please include specific ideas for reducing spending, increasing revenue, or reforming state programs.
On the structural budget imbalance, I will prioritize three areas: workforce and transit investment, because reliable public transit reduces turnover and expands the labor pool for employers; small business support, including streamlined permitting and access to capital for small and minority-owned businesses; and housing affordability, because the workforce shortage many businesses face is fundamentally a housing problem. On the revenue side, I will look closely at ensuring large corporations and high earners pay their fair share before considering cuts to programs that working families depend on. Long-term fiscal responsibility means investing now in housing, transit, and workforce development to grow the tax base — not just cutting services when times get tight.
Workforce and transit investment. As a Metro Transit employee and Mayor, I know that reliable public transit is an economic development tool. Getting workers to jobs reliably reduces turnover and expands the labor pool for employers.
Small business support. I will advocate for streamlined permitting, access to capital for small and minority-owned businesses, and technical assistance programs that help entrepreneurs navigate state systems.
Housing affordability. The workforce shortage many businesses face is a housing problem. When workers can't afford to live in the communities where they work, businesses suffer. I will champion policies that increase housing supply and affordability across the metro.
Minnesota has faced several high-profile fraud cases involving public programs in recent years. The Legislature recently passed a new Office of the Inspector General on a bipartisan basis. Beyond this new office, what additional steps would you support to strengthen fraud prevention and rebuild public trust in how the state manages taxpayer-funded programs?
Fraud in public programs is a betrayal of the people those programs are meant to serve, and it undermines public trust in the very investments I'm fighting for. I will support strong, proactive oversight — including regular third-party audits of high-risk program areas, clear whistleblower protections for state employees and contractors who report misconduct, and data-sharing improvements between state agencies to catch fraud patterns earlier. I also believe transparency is part of prevention: publishing regular public reporting on program spending and outcomes builds trust and makes fraud harder to hide. Accountability and access to vital services are not in conflict — done right, they reinforce each other.