Hanna Valento
Name: Hanna Valento
Public Office Sought: Forest Lake City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-245-2557
Website: hannavalento.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: Hanna Valento for Forest Lake City Council
Candidate Bio
I have lived in Hugo for over twenty years and I just recently moved to Forest Lake. I graduated from Forest Lake High School, the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and went on to graduate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2019.
During law school, I was the floating Law Clerk at the Ramsey County Courthouse, I clerked for over twenty-seven judges, teaching me how to work hard and fast for a variety of strong personalities.
Currently, I am a Legislative Staff Attorney for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. I draft statutes for the Band through communication with elected officials, Band employees, and Band members. During that process, I research federal, state, and tribal law to ensure legal compliance.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
How would you characterize the business climate in Forest Lake and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Forest Lake has been a slow growth. There are vacant lots, land for sale, and buildings that need tenants and Forest Lake has the potential to host a variety of businesses.
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, Forest Lake?
I would see what the City currently does, research best practices, talk to constituents and stakeholders, and then decide how we could improve.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Forest Lake (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 Forest Lake and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
If such proposal came forward I would be open-minded to both employers and employees, research best practices, and talk with constituents and stakeholders to ensure I am well informed.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Regarding public safety, I would ensure the annual budget would protect our police department and fire department as they are very important to the community. As our school is growing, I want to ensure that sidewalks are made available to students walking to and from school, and that crosswalks signs have the capability of alerting drivers when pedestrians are on a crosswalk.
Regarding housing, I would ensure the growth and development for housing especially as our City continues to grow. We need to look at zoning and keep in mind the future growth of Forest Lake.
Regarding transportation, I would like to see roads improved, more sidewalks to encourage walking, and proper crosswalks with alerts. We need to communicate with our state legislators to promote transportation efforts in Forest Lake and make those transportation efforts safe and practical.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
I would ensure that the we connect the budget to a City vision, staying responsible so as our future constituents of Forest Lake have a beautiful place to call home.
It’s important that local government constantly plans and re-evaluates the budget because poor budgeting can lead to city employee turnover and burnout and low levels of citizen engagement and involvement, and the City government needs both in order to generate a prosperous city.
What will you do to expand Forest Lake tax base?
Creating Forest Lake to be an attractive place for businesses, such as revitalizing downtown Forest Lake, which would generate revenue and increase property values.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I attended Forest Lake public schools and saw first-hand many ways a school system can impact a student’s life. I believe public and private schools of a city can greatly enhance the city for generations to come.
For example, when I was in high school, one of my classes didn’t have enough desks for the 35+ students in the classroom. Renovations to a school can greatly increase the chances of growth because a family is more likely to move to a city where they have robust educational opportunities, creating more growth and revenue through community involvement, shopping, starting a business, and more.
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?
Currently, I am unaware of services that should be cut-back or eliminated. I would love to hear from constituents.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Forest Lake?
Currently, I am unaware if the City Council has a role in fostering minority- and women-owned businesses in Forest Lake. I would support the City Council to foster and grow such relationships within our community.
What further policies can Forest Lake adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
First, the City Council should research best practices regarding policies for business growth in unprecedented times. Second, the City Council should reach out to businesses and potentially make a subcommittee with Forest Lake business owners, employees working at a business in Forest Lake, and community members to discuss steps moving forward.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
If you would like to support my campaign, I am giving constituents FREE yard signs. Feel free to email me at [email protected] for a sign.
Thank you for your time!
Public Office Sought: Forest Lake City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-245-2557
Website: hannavalento.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: Hanna Valento for Forest Lake City Council
Candidate Bio
I have lived in Hugo for over twenty years and I just recently moved to Forest Lake. I graduated from Forest Lake High School, the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and went on to graduate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2019.
During law school, I was the floating Law Clerk at the Ramsey County Courthouse, I clerked for over twenty-seven judges, teaching me how to work hard and fast for a variety of strong personalities.
Currently, I am a Legislative Staff Attorney for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. I draft statutes for the Band through communication with elected officials, Band employees, and Band members. During that process, I research federal, state, and tribal law to ensure legal compliance.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- Growth of the city and opportunities – creating a strong and resilient economy;
- Transparent government, including communication with constituents; and
- A sustainable environment and infrastructure for future generations to come.
How would you characterize the business climate in Forest Lake and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The business climate in Forest Lake has been a slow growth. There are vacant lots, land for sale, and buildings that need tenants and Forest Lake has the potential to host a variety of businesses.
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, Forest Lake?
I would see what the City currently does, research best practices, talk to constituents and stakeholders, and then decide how we could improve.
Do you support any other specific employment-related proposals in Forest Lake (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 Forest Lake and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
If such proposal came forward I would be open-minded to both employers and employees, research best practices, and talk with constituents and stakeholders to ensure I am well informed.
What are your strategies to address public safety, housing, and transportation issues facing your community?
Regarding public safety, I would ensure the annual budget would protect our police department and fire department as they are very important to the community. As our school is growing, I want to ensure that sidewalks are made available to students walking to and from school, and that crosswalks signs have the capability of alerting drivers when pedestrians are on a crosswalk.
Regarding housing, I would ensure the growth and development for housing especially as our City continues to grow. We need to look at zoning and keep in mind the future growth of Forest Lake.
Regarding transportation, I would like to see roads improved, more sidewalks to encourage walking, and proper crosswalks with alerts. We need to communicate with our state legislators to promote transportation efforts in Forest Lake and make those transportation efforts safe and practical.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
I would ensure that the we connect the budget to a City vision, staying responsible so as our future constituents of Forest Lake have a beautiful place to call home.
It’s important that local government constantly plans and re-evaluates the budget because poor budgeting can lead to city employee turnover and burnout and low levels of citizen engagement and involvement, and the City government needs both in order to generate a prosperous city.
What will you do to expand Forest Lake tax base?
Creating Forest Lake to be an attractive place for businesses, such as revitalizing downtown Forest Lake, which would generate revenue and increase property values.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
I attended Forest Lake public schools and saw first-hand many ways a school system can impact a student’s life. I believe public and private schools of a city can greatly enhance the city for generations to come.
For example, when I was in high school, one of my classes didn’t have enough desks for the 35+ students in the classroom. Renovations to a school can greatly increase the chances of growth because a family is more likely to move to a city where they have robust educational opportunities, creating more growth and revenue through community involvement, shopping, starting a business, and more.
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?
Currently, I am unaware of services that should be cut-back or eliminated. I would love to hear from constituents.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Forest Lake?
Currently, I am unaware if the City Council has a role in fostering minority- and women-owned businesses in Forest Lake. I would support the City Council to foster and grow such relationships within our community.
What further policies can Forest Lake adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
First, the City Council should research best practices regarding policies for business growth in unprecedented times. Second, the City Council should reach out to businesses and potentially make a subcommittee with Forest Lake business owners, employees working at a business in Forest Lake, and community members to discuss steps moving forward.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
If you would like to support my campaign, I am giving constituents FREE yard signs. Feel free to email me at [email protected] for a sign.
Thank you for your time!