Candidate's View: Pick experience, relationships needed to hit ground running

I’ve had the privilege of representing Duluth for the past four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. This fall, I’m the DFL- and labor-endorsed candidate running for the open Minnesota Senate seat that encompasses much of Duluth.
Our city’s recovery from the recession has gone relatively well. Unemployment is low, home sales are increasing, and progress is evident on many fronts. But we have more work to do across our great state in order to improve opportunities for everyone, invest in critical infrastructure, create new employment prospects, reduce the opportunity gaps for minorities and continue efforts to reduce carbon emissions.During my terms in the House, I proudly supported increasing the minimum wage, legislation reducing local property taxes, decreasing access to synthetic drugs, and making historic and new investments in public education and affordable housing. I have built critical relationships across state government in order to be positioned to pass important legislation. No single legislator can be successful on his or her own; it takes a team approach.I helped to modernize the local government aid formula and supported the investments of new dollars into this program designed to help keep local property taxes low. We increased income taxes on the top 2 percent of wage earners in order to create a sustainable and structurally balanced state budget. The DFL proudly prioritized education, health care, veterans and senior care.So what will be different for 2017? For one, we have a lot of unfinished business from 2016 to complete. Our main task of passing a statewide infrastructure improvement bill was derailed in the waning moments by partisan gamesmanship. We need to look beyond party rhetoric in order to pass a comprehensive bonding bill early in 2017, a bill that is critical to Duluth and our region. Projects like the Duluth airport runway reconstruction and the St. Louis River Estuary cleanup are investments of state dollars that leverage tens of millions of dollars in federal funds. Projects like the new advanced science building at the University of Minnesota Duluth and the Hermantown Wellness Center have tremendous regional impacts. I want to see the Lake Superior Zoo, Glensheen and the Duluth Steam Plant upgrade funded within the bill. Bonding bills represent investments that return many times over in jobs provided, jobs created and the recurring use of public infrastructure.There will be additional work to do. Free public school opportunities are only helpful if there is transportation to get there. A strong workforce will depend on increasing graduation rates. And we absolutely have to find lasting solutions to our race and gender achievement and income gaps. A person’s ZIP code ought not dictate his or her future, and repairing community relationships has to be a priority.As your next Minnesota state senator, I will be your voice at the Capitol. I have the experience, the relationships and the determination to hit the ground running in January. As always, you have an open door - and a friendly ear to listen. I respectfully ask for your vote in November. Erik Simonson is the DFL candidate to represent Duluth’s District 7 in the Minnesota Senate. He wrote this at the request of the News Tribune Opinion page. About this raceThe race is to replace state Sen. Roger Reinert after Reinert decided not to seek re-election this fall in Minnesota Senate District 7. The district covers much of Duluth. Hear from the candidatesRepublican Donna Bergstrom and DFLer Erik Simonson faced off one-on-one in a News Tribune-sponsored candidate forum Sept. 27. It’s posted for viewing, on-demand, here. Deadline for lettersWeigh in on this race and others this fall by writing a letter to the editor. Letters endorsing or critical of specific candidates are limited to 200 words. Submissions can be directed to letters@duluthnews.com. The deadline for elections-related letters is Nov. 1. Remember to voteElection Day is Nov. 8. I’ve had the privilege of representing Duluth for the past four years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. This fall, I’m the DFL- and labor-endorsed candidate running for the open Minnesota Senate seat that encompasses much of Duluth.
Our city’s recovery from the recession has gone relatively well. Unemployment is low, home sales are increasing, and progress is evident on many fronts. But we have more work to do across our great state in order to improve opportunities for everyone, invest in critical infrastructure, create new employment prospects, reduce the opportunity gaps for minorities and continue efforts to reduce carbon emissions.During my terms in the House, I proudly supported increasing the minimum wage, legislation reducing local property taxes, decreasing access to synthetic drugs, and making historic and new investments in public education and affordable housing. I have built critical relationships across state government in order to be positioned to pass important legislation. No single legislator can be successful on his or her own; it takes a team approach.I helped to modernize the local government aid formula and supported the investments of new dollars into this program designed to help keep local property taxes low. We increased income taxes on the top 2 percent of wage earners in order to create a sustainable and structurally balanced state budget. The DFL proudly prioritized education, health care, veterans and senior care.So what will be different for 2017? For one, we have a lot of unfinished business from 2016 to complete. Our main task of passing a statewide infrastructure improvement bill was derailed in the waning moments by partisan gamesmanship. We need to look beyond party rhetoric in order to pass a comprehensive bonding bill early in 2017, a bill that is critical to Duluth and our region. Projects like the Duluth airport runway reconstruction and the St. Louis River Estuary cleanup are investments of state dollars that leverage tens of millions of dollars in federal funds. Projects like the new advanced science building at the University of Minnesota Duluth and the Hermantown Wellness Center have tremendous regional impacts. I want to see the Lake Superior Zoo, Glensheen and the Duluth Steam Plant upgrade funded within the bill. Bonding bills represent investments that return many times over in jobs provided, jobs created and the recurring use of public infrastructure.There will be additional work to do. Free public school opportunities are only helpful if there is transportation to get there. A strong workforce will depend on increasing graduation rates. And we absolutely have to find lasting solutions to our race and gender achievement and income gaps. A person’s ZIP code ought not dictate his or her future, and repairing community relationships has to be a priority.As your next Minnesota state senator, I will be your voice at the Capitol. I have the experience, the relationships and the determination to hit the ground running in January. As always, you have an open door - and a friendly ear to listen. I respectfully ask for your vote in November.Erik Simonson is the DFL candidate to represent Duluth’s District 7 in the Minnesota Senate. He wrote this at the request of the News Tribune Opinion page.About this raceThe race is to replace state Sen. Roger Reinert after Reinert decided not to seek re-election this fall in Minnesota Senate District 7. The district covers much of Duluth.Hear from the candidatesRepublican Donna Bergstrom and DFLer Erik Simonson faced off one-on-one in a News Tribune-sponsored candidate forum Sept. 27. It’s posted for viewing, on-demand, here.Deadline for lettersWeigh in on this race and others this fall by writing a letter to the editor. Letters endorsing or critical of specific candidates are limited to 200 words. Submissions can be directed to letters@duluthnews.com. The deadline for elections-related letters is Nov. 1.Remember to voteElection Day is Nov. 8.