Candidate's view: Cast vote for refreshing, effective leadership

As a candidate for 7th District St. Louis County commissioner, I am ready to represent you. I have the experience, skills and dedication needed to be a refreshing and effective leader for you.
As the leader of a local nonprofit, I nearly tripled the agency’s budget, led the agency to become a national-model program, developed innovative programming, advocated for those we served and provided sound fiscal management. I am responsible for administering a budget of over $5 million of private, county, state and federal funds.I am committed, skilled and tenacious and will continue this as your next St. Louis County commissioner.My longstanding experience with state and federal officials positions me well to advocate for you. I earned a master’s degree in public administration, worked for the state of Minnesota in an executive branch agency, partnered in cooperative agreements with the federal government, and participated in federal executive branch initiatives through the United States Department of Justice.As stated recently by the leadership of St. Louis County, the county will have a greater focus on public health and human services in coming years. I have spent most of my career addressing the human service and public safety issues facing us all. For every one dollar of your property taxes, 61 cents is spent on health and human services and public safety, according to the county’s 2016 property tax levy. I am the candidate most qualified to address these issues and am ready to serve you as your next leader.Economic development is about more than just attracting jobs to our area. It requires us to sustain and develop a great place to live. Most potential business owners also have families. They want to make sure our communities are safe and have quality schools, housing options and recreational opportunities.As a community leader, I have contributed to economic development by working to create a safe and vibrant community and by advocating for our schoolchildren. One way I did this was organizing the Hibbing Coalition for Safe and Accountable Schools. One of the first comments potential business owners with families make is, “Tell me about your schools.” My skills in community organizing compelled me to lead and organize parents, community members and teachers to work to advance and carry forward the history of being proud of our area schools as pillars in our community.I invite the voters of the 7th District of St. Louis County to cast a vote for me. When you vote for me I will work for you. Your vote for Melissa Scaia means a vote for refreshing and effective leadership for St. Louis County commissioner. Melissa Scaia of Hibbing is a candidate for St. Louis County Board. She wrote this at the invitation of the News Tribune.As a candidate for 7th District St. Louis County commissioner, I am ready to represent you. I have the experience, skills and dedication needed to be a refreshing and effective leader for you.
As the leader of a local nonprofit, I nearly tripled the agency’s budget, led the agency to become a national-model program, developed innovative programming, advocated for those we served and provided sound fiscal management. I am responsible for administering a budget of over $5 million of private, county, state and federal funds.I am committed, skilled and tenacious and will continue this as your next St. Louis County commissioner.My longstanding experience with state and federal officials positions me well to advocate for you. I earned a master’s degree in public administration, worked for the state of Minnesota in an executive branch agency, partnered in cooperative agreements with the federal government, and participated in federal executive branch initiatives through the United States Department of Justice.As stated recently by the leadership of St. Louis County, the county will have a greater focus on public health and human services in coming years. I have spent most of my career addressing the human service and public safety issues facing us all. For every one dollar of your property taxes, 61 cents is spent on health and human services and public safety, according to the county’s 2016 property tax levy. I am the candidate most qualified to address these issues and am ready to serve you as your next leader.Economic development is about more than just attracting jobs to our area. It requires us to sustain and develop a great place to live. Most potential business owners also have families. They want to make sure our communities are safe and have quality schools, housing options and recreational opportunities.As a community leader, I have contributed to economic development by working to create a safe and vibrant community and by advocating for our schoolchildren. One way I did this was organizing the Hibbing Coalition for Safe and Accountable Schools. One of the first comments potential business owners with families make is, “Tell me about your schools.” My skills in community organizing compelled me to lead and organize parents, community members and teachers to work to advance and carry forward the history of being proud of our area schools as pillars in our community.I invite the voters of the 7th District of St. Louis County to cast a vote for me. When you vote for me I will work for you. Your vote for Melissa Scaia means a vote for refreshing and effective leadership for St. Louis County commissioner.Melissa Scaia of Hibbing is a candidate for St. Louis County Board. She wrote this at the invitation of the News Tribune.