Photo by Pa Chia Xiong
Leading up to the Nov. 3 General Election, the Roseville Reporter will publish Q&A responses from candidates on the ballot. Readers can get to know the candidates and learn about their goals and stances on current issues to make an informed decision come Election Day.
Candidates sent their responses to the Roseville Reporter via email. The Roseville Reporter remains neutral and publication of a candidate’s responses does not indicate endorsement.
Kathleen Bart
Candidate for Senate District 66
Senate District 66 represents the cities of Falcon Heights and Lauderdale, Roseville precincts 08 through 10 and St. Paul precincts W-4 P-01 through W-4 P-03, W-4 P-08 through P-10, W-4 P-11 and P-13; W-5 P-01 through P-10; and W-6 P-06.
Find your representative here.
Background
City of Residence: Roseville
Occupation: Registered nurse
I have been a public servant most of my life by volunteering at my children’s schools and sports teams. As a Registered Nurse I have learned to work with and for people of diverse backgrounds to solve problems and get work done. We need to stop thinking that throwing more money at problems is our only solution.
Minnesota has experienced fraud. What specific safeguards and checks and balances do you intend to develop and support to see that this does not continue?
We need to stop fraud at its source by making sure all businesses are checked on site initially and randomly before any money is given to an organization. This is already in the law but the people not doing their job need to be held accountable. We also need to put into law higher barriers to entry for government funded businesses. For instance, with the housing stabilization program, we could have required that a licensed social worker be hired by each business before giving it any money.
Given the current economic situation, what ideas do you have to help with affordability issues?
To make Minnesota more affordable we need to reduce property, income and small business taxes. People are being taxed out of their homes, small businesses cannot thrive and people are not able to afford the basics in life due to high taxes. We need to reduce unnecessary government spending by focusing government’s role on the essential services for which it was intended which includes public safety, education and maintaining safe roads and bridges. Superfluous spending should be reduced or eliminated. The most vulnerable among us, elderly, people with disabilities and low-income earners need to be prioritized for government assistance.
Identify and expand on three major initiatives you would like to work on in the upcoming session. How do you plan to work across the aisle to gain support for your ideas?
My three major initiatives will be: ending the fraud at its source and reducing taxes, both of which I have discussed in previous questions; and improving K-12 educational outcomes. In education we need to return to the basics and make sure children can read by 3rd grade following the Mississippi model. Reading at grade level is essential for future educational success.
Working across the aisle is achieved by developing relationships with people who have the same goals in mind but come from different perspectives. By taking the time to understand each other and work together to create bills that are acceptable to both parties, I am confident I will be able to gain bipartisan support to get the work done for Minnesotans.
Read from the other Senate District 66 candidate here:
