Families Should Be Able to Afford Life Here

Carver County is a wonderful place to live, work, raise children, and build a future. But for too many families, maintaining that life is becoming harder every year.

Housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries, utilities, transportation, insurance, and education all cost more. Even families earning decent incomes are finding they have less room to save and less confidence about what comes next.

I want every family in Carver County to have a fair chance at a healthy, stable, fulfilling life.

That means creating the conditions in which people can prosper, not relying on short-term political promises while the underlying costs keep rising.

Building Prosperity From the Ground Up

I believe a strong economy begins with strong people.

When people have access to good schools, affordable healthcare, reliable childcare, secure housing, and useful career training, they are better able to work, start businesses, earn more, and contribute to their communities.

That is not a handout. It is an investment in people’s ability to succeed.

As Paul Wellstone said, we all do better when we all do better. I believe that is not only a moral principle. It is good economic policy.

Housing and Property Taxes

Young adults should be able to find a starter home. Seniors should be able to downsize without leaving the community they love. Working families should have access to housing that does not consume most of their income.

We need more housing choices, responsible growth, and infrastructure that keeps pace with development.

We must also address property-tax pressure honestly. State government should not balance its budget by shifting costs onto counties, cities, schools, and local taxpayers.

Property taxes support services people value, but families deserve transparency, efficiency, and state leaders who acknowledge the local consequences of their decisions.

Healthcare and Childcare

Healthcare should provide security, not prevent people from getting ahead.

When I started my own small business, I was able to do so because my wife had good health insurance through her union job. Without that coverage, starting a business would have been nearly impossible.

People should not have to remain in a job they dislike, avoid starting a business, or delay medical care because they are afraid of losing insurance.

Childcare is just as essential. Parents cannot work without reliable care, employers cannot retain workers without it, and providers cannot survive if the financial model does not work.

I will work to make healthcare and childcare more accessible, affordable, and dependable for families and small businesses.

Protecting Homeowners and Consumers

Businesses should be able to earn a fair profit by providing a good product or service. They should not be allowed to trap or exploit people.

I have seen what can happen when private equity firms purchase manufactured home communities, sharply raise lot rents, reduce services, and leave residents with few realistic choices.

I support stronger protections for manufactured homeowners and greater accountability when private equity controls housing, healthcare, nursing homes, or other essential services.

Education and Opportunity

Education is one of our most important affordability policies.

Strong public schools, career and technical education, apprenticeships, community colleges, and workforce training help people qualify for stable, good-paying careers.

Not every student follows the same path. I barely graduated from high school, and teachers and mentors helped me find mine.

We should make sure every student, and every adult looking for a new opportunity, has access to a pathway that matches their talents and goals.

Responsible Government

Affordability also requires responsible budgeting.

I will protect investments that produce real benefits, but spending money is not the same as solving a problem. Programs should have clear goals, strong safeguards, measurable results, and sustainable costs.

I do not support balancing the budget by raising taxes on middle-class Minnesotans. I also do not support tax policies that primarily benefit the wealthiest people while families pay more for local services.

A Future Our Children Can Afford

My children’s generation is delaying buying homes, starting families, and reaching other major milestones because life has become too expensive.

Every generation should try to leave the next one with greater opportunity and security.

I want our children to be able to imagine a future here; to buy a home, build a career, raise a family, and remain close to the community that raised them.

Affordability means giving people the stability, opportunity, and freedom to build the lives they want.