Karla Bigham
Name: Karla Bigham
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-212-5276
Campaign Website: www.karlabigham.com
Twitter handle: @karlabigham
Facebook Page: @bighamforwashingtoncountycommissioner
Candidate Bio
Karla was elected to the Washington County Board of Commissioners in 2022. Karla is in her second tenure on the board, having previously served on the Washington County Board of Commissioners from 2015 to 2018. Karla served 5 years in the Minnesota State Senate after being elected in a Special Election in February of 2018 and re-elected in 2020. Karla served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007 until 2011. From 2005 until 2007, Karla served on the Cottage Grove City Council. Before serving on the city council, she chaired the Cottage Grove Public Safety, Health, and Welfare Commission. Additionally, Karla served as chair of the Cottage Grove Charter Commission and as a member of the Cottage Grove Environmental Commission.
Karla is a lifelong resident of Washington County; she was born in Newport and grew up in Cottage Grove. She is a proud graduate of Park High School. Karla continued her education and received her Bachelor's Degree in paralegal studies, with minors in sociology and political science, from Winona State University. Karla obtained a Master of Public Affairs Degree from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Karla and her husband, John, live in Cottage Grove.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
Karla brings a focused, determined, and collaborative leadership style to the Washington County Board. Experience matters during these times, when the services counties are mandated to provide to help people live their everyday lives are being eliminated or reduced by the federal and state governments. Washington County is increasingly diverse in demographics, economic opportunities, and needs. Across the county, Karla will continue to ensure decisions are made transparently and that all voices are heard in the decision-making process. Karla is responsive to the needs of the growing communities in District 4. She will dig into the issues to ensure the best possible outcome for residents.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
Karla’s top three priorities are ensuring safe communities, continuing to invest in the county’s infrastructure, and prioritizing responsible spending to deliver efficient services. Karla is preparing for the challenging shifts in federal and state funding that could affect the county’s budget and property taxes, while continuing to prioritize delivering efficient services. The pressure from eliminating funding for mandated state and federal spending results in longer wait times for necessary services, people not receiving vital services, and increased property taxes.
What is the biggest challenge facing the county right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Over 80% of the county’s budget is mandated spending by the federal and state governments. Services the county provides to help residents live their daily lives are being cut or eliminated. As long as counties are required to provide these vital, unfunded programs, the federal and state governments should cover the costs. Counties rely solely on property taxes to make up the difference and maintain the level of service or the existence of the programs. The current funding mechanism, property taxes, is not sustainable for taxpayers. Karla will continue to advocate for taxpayer dollars to be spent wisely and transparently. The county will continue to prepare for shifts in federal and state funding that could affect the county’s budget and property taxes, while prioritizing responsible spending and delivering efficient services.
How would you characterize the business climate in Washington County, and what role should the county government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
The business climate in Washington County is strong, with diverse commercial and industrial businesses across the county. There are opportunities for the county to partner with local businesses to train and help recruit to fill workforce needs. Additionally, the transit options throughout the county should include circulator service so that workers can commute to their workplaces and residents can more easily patronize local businesses.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
The mental health crisis that our communities are experiencing is falling on law enforcement to respond. Washington County, including Cottage Grove, uses a co-response model in which a county social worker and law enforcement respond to crisis calls together to provide appropriate services. The social worker follows up with the person to ensure they have a continuum of care. This program has led to fewer repeat response calls and hospitalizations for our neighbors experiencing a mental health crisis. Ensuring this program remains funded is a priority.
Many unfunded state mandates affect Washington County’s public safety budget. Additionally, the reduction or elimination of grant funding has affected victim services, task force operations, and equipment procurement for departments. Efficient and wise appropriations of funds would involve regionalizing and modernizing some of the activities public safety departments perform.
Law enforcement is facing a workforce recruitment and retention problem. Karla’s commitment is to make sure that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has the tools, team, and technology to keep our communities safe.
What role should the county play in addressing housing shortages and affordability, and what would you prioritize?
The middle class is increasingly having difficulty accessing housing in the most desirable county in the metro area. The county has active plans to address housing shortages and affordability issues in Washington County. First, the Washington County Community Development Agency preserves the existing affordable housing stock within the county. This preservation includes the CDA housing properties and offers loan funding options to qualifying homeowners. Second, the CDA (and some communities in Washington County) offers grants to first-generation homebuyers in the county and downpayment loans for first-time homebuyers in Woodbury. Additionally, the CDA offers home improvement loans to repair or update housing, helping retain property value. Finally, the CDA needs to continue its public-private partnership to build new affordable senior and workforce housing options across the county.
South Washington County has seen significant activity in partnerships aimed at expanding the workforce and senior housing options. Bluestem (affordable senior housing) and Red Rock II in Newport were opened in the last couple of years. Additional workforce housing properties are opening in Cottage Grove and Newport in the coming year.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Washington County is completing its comprehensive transportation plan and transit needs study, which will provide data on county road infrastructure and inform decision-making. The county needs to prepare for growth that has put pressure on our infrastructure. Reallocating the local option sales tax so the appropriate amount of funding is dedicated to roads to improve safety and meet capacity is smart planning by the county. The comprehensive transportation plan, transit needs study, and our Capital Improvement Plan all incorporate additional trails and pedestrian options across the county.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the county levy?
Karla would consider collaborating with regional and local partners to improve the efficiency of the delivery of mandated services and projects. Washington County is a fiscally responsible organization. Karla will work with state and federal government partners to continue advocating for relief from mandates that increase property taxes. Additionally, Karla will continue to discuss the true cost of mandated services by state and federal governments, so that additional non-levy funding would cover the costs.
What are the two or three issues where you believe county government is best positioned to lead — and why the county rather than the state or a municipality?
Government redesign is an area counties can lead. Counties are the administrative level of government, commonly the appropriate level for providing mandated services. Due to federal government cuts and shifts, counties must fundamentally change how they deliver services. If there is a desire to consolidate or coordinate the services to increase efficiency, then the counties should lead that effort.
Transit planning is an area where counties appropriately lead. Planning effective and reliable transit across communities and regions is best left to the counties. Transit does not look or work the same in Cottage Grove as in Minneapolis, but that does not mean that Washington County should not have reliable transit options. Counties understand the local workforce and population needs across multiple communities to meet the area's goals.
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
Transparency in practice means access to information and data to understand how Washington County makes decisions on behalf of residents. The county’s website has budget documents, meeting minutes, board meeting recordings, and data for residents to access. The county frequently hosts in-person open houses for projects, inviting the public to engage. The board begins every meeting with an opportunity for the public to comment on whatever is on their minds.
Financial transparency is top of mind in Washington County, and we have the awards to prove the practice. For 39 years, Washington County has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. For 28 years, Washington County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, and for 6 years, it has received the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This “Triple Crown” for financial reporting demonstrates Washington County's transparency, accountability, and budgeting consistency.
Additionally, Washington County has held an AAA bond rating from both bond rating agencies for many years, saving taxpayers money on projects financed with bonds on their behalf.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-212-5276
Campaign Website: www.karlabigham.com
Twitter handle: @karlabigham
Facebook Page: @bighamforwashingtoncountycommissioner
Candidate Bio
Karla was elected to the Washington County Board of Commissioners in 2022. Karla is in her second tenure on the board, having previously served on the Washington County Board of Commissioners from 2015 to 2018. Karla served 5 years in the Minnesota State Senate after being elected in a Special Election in February of 2018 and re-elected in 2020. Karla served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007 until 2011. From 2005 until 2007, Karla served on the Cottage Grove City Council. Before serving on the city council, she chaired the Cottage Grove Public Safety, Health, and Welfare Commission. Additionally, Karla served as chair of the Cottage Grove Charter Commission and as a member of the Cottage Grove Environmental Commission.
Karla is a lifelong resident of Washington County; she was born in Newport and grew up in Cottage Grove. She is a proud graduate of Park High School. Karla continued her education and received her Bachelor's Degree in paralegal studies, with minors in sociology and political science, from Winona State University. Karla obtained a Master of Public Affairs Degree from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Karla and her husband, John, live in Cottage Grove.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
Karla brings a focused, determined, and collaborative leadership style to the Washington County Board. Experience matters during these times, when the services counties are mandated to provide to help people live their everyday lives are being eliminated or reduced by the federal and state governments. Washington County is increasingly diverse in demographics, economic opportunities, and needs. Across the county, Karla will continue to ensure decisions are made transparently and that all voices are heard in the decision-making process. Karla is responsive to the needs of the growing communities in District 4. She will dig into the issues to ensure the best possible outcome for residents.
What are your top three priorities if elected, and how might they be affected by growing uncertainty around state and federal funding?
Karla’s top three priorities are ensuring safe communities, continuing to invest in the county’s infrastructure, and prioritizing responsible spending to deliver efficient services. Karla is preparing for the challenging shifts in federal and state funding that could affect the county’s budget and property taxes, while continuing to prioritize delivering efficient services. The pressure from eliminating funding for mandated state and federal spending results in longer wait times for necessary services, people not receiving vital services, and increased property taxes.
What is the biggest challenge facing the county right now, and where do you see the greatest opportunity?
Over 80% of the county’s budget is mandated spending by the federal and state governments. Services the county provides to help residents live their daily lives are being cut or eliminated. As long as counties are required to provide these vital, unfunded programs, the federal and state governments should cover the costs. Counties rely solely on property taxes to make up the difference and maintain the level of service or the existence of the programs. The current funding mechanism, property taxes, is not sustainable for taxpayers. Karla will continue to advocate for taxpayer dollars to be spent wisely and transparently. The county will continue to prepare for shifts in federal and state funding that could affect the county’s budget and property taxes, while prioritizing responsible spending and delivering efficient services.
How would you characterize the business climate in Washington County, and what role should the county government play in partnering with the business community to attract jobs, develop the workforce, and address shared challenges?
The business climate in Washington County is strong, with diverse commercial and industrial businesses across the county. There are opportunities for the county to partner with local businesses to train and help recruit to fill workforce needs. Additionally, the transit options throughout the county should include circulator service so that workers can commute to their workplaces and residents can more easily patronize local businesses.
What do you view as the most pressing public safety challenges in your community, and how would you address them?
The mental health crisis that our communities are experiencing is falling on law enforcement to respond. Washington County, including Cottage Grove, uses a co-response model in which a county social worker and law enforcement respond to crisis calls together to provide appropriate services. The social worker follows up with the person to ensure they have a continuum of care. This program has led to fewer repeat response calls and hospitalizations for our neighbors experiencing a mental health crisis. Ensuring this program remains funded is a priority.
Many unfunded state mandates affect Washington County’s public safety budget. Additionally, the reduction or elimination of grant funding has affected victim services, task force operations, and equipment procurement for departments. Efficient and wise appropriations of funds would involve regionalizing and modernizing some of the activities public safety departments perform.
Law enforcement is facing a workforce recruitment and retention problem. Karla’s commitment is to make sure that the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has the tools, team, and technology to keep our communities safe.
What role should the county play in addressing housing shortages and affordability, and what would you prioritize?
The middle class is increasingly having difficulty accessing housing in the most desirable county in the metro area. The county has active plans to address housing shortages and affordability issues in Washington County. First, the Washington County Community Development Agency preserves the existing affordable housing stock within the county. This preservation includes the CDA housing properties and offers loan funding options to qualifying homeowners. Second, the CDA (and some communities in Washington County) offers grants to first-generation homebuyers in the county and downpayment loans for first-time homebuyers in Woodbury. Additionally, the CDA offers home improvement loans to repair or update housing, helping retain property value. Finally, the CDA needs to continue its public-private partnership to build new affordable senior and workforce housing options across the county.
South Washington County has seen significant activity in partnerships aimed at expanding the workforce and senior housing options. Bluestem (affordable senior housing) and Red Rock II in Newport were opened in the last couple of years. Additional workforce housing properties are opening in Cottage Grove and Newport in the coming year.
How would you improve transportation infrastructure and safety for drivers, transit riders, cyclists, and pedestrians in your community?
Washington County is completing its comprehensive transportation plan and transit needs study, which will provide data on county road infrastructure and inform decision-making. The county needs to prepare for growth that has put pressure on our infrastructure. Reallocating the local option sales tax so the appropriate amount of funding is dedicated to roads to improve safety and meet capacity is smart planning by the county. The comprehensive transportation plan, transit needs study, and our Capital Improvement Plan all incorporate additional trails and pedestrian options across the county.
Residential property owners across the region are feeling significant strain from rising property tax bills. How would you approach balancing fiscal responsibility with the demand for services when setting the county levy?
Karla would consider collaborating with regional and local partners to improve the efficiency of the delivery of mandated services and projects. Washington County is a fiscally responsible organization. Karla will work with state and federal government partners to continue advocating for relief from mandates that increase property taxes. Additionally, Karla will continue to discuss the true cost of mandated services by state and federal governments, so that additional non-levy funding would cover the costs.
What are the two or three issues where you believe county government is best positioned to lead — and why the county rather than the state or a municipality?
Government redesign is an area counties can lead. Counties are the administrative level of government, commonly the appropriate level for providing mandated services. Due to federal government cuts and shifts, counties must fundamentally change how they deliver services. If there is a desire to consolidate or coordinate the services to increase efficiency, then the counties should lead that effort.
Transit planning is an area where counties appropriately lead. Planning effective and reliable transit across communities and regions is best left to the counties. Transit does not look or work the same in Cottage Grove as in Minneapolis, but that does not mean that Washington County should not have reliable transit options. Counties understand the local workforce and population needs across multiple communities to meet the area's goals.
What does real taxpayer transparency look like to you, and what specific steps would you take to achieve it — both in terms of financial reporting and public engagement?
Transparency in practice means access to information and data to understand how Washington County makes decisions on behalf of residents. The county’s website has budget documents, meeting minutes, board meeting recordings, and data for residents to access. The county frequently hosts in-person open houses for projects, inviting the public to engage. The board begins every meeting with an opportunity for the public to comment on whatever is on their minds.
Financial transparency is top of mind in Washington County, and we have the awards to prove the practice. For 39 years, Washington County has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. For 28 years, Washington County has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, and for 6 years, it has received the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This “Triple Crown” for financial reporting demonstrates Washington County's transparency, accountability, and budgeting consistency.
Additionally, Washington County has held an AAA bond rating from both bond rating agencies for many years, saving taxpayers money on projects financed with bonds on their behalf.