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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.
Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten
Incumbent 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: St. Paul
Occupation: Senator
I’m a mom, organizer, public servant and District 66’s State Senator. I serve as an Assistant Majority Leader and Vice Chair of the Judiciary & Public Safety Committee.
I grew up in Roseville, graduated from Roseville Area Public Schools, and now live in the beautiful Como neighborhood in Saint Paul with my husband Garrison and our son Leo.
Prior to getting elected, I was a political and labor organizer and worked in local government. I’m also the former Chair of the Roseville Area Schools Foundation, where I raised money for our schools.
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?
Fraud is unacceptable. It steals resources from the people who need it the most. Minnesotans deserve confidence that the government is responsible, transparent and accountable with taxpayer dollars. Last session, we created an Independent Office of Inspector General to investigate and prevent fraud across state programs. We added more investigators and prosecutors to stop criminals, upgraded our systems to detect fraud, required more verification for people getting government money and overhauled training and oversight. I will continue to support legislation to stop fraud, protect taxpayer dollars and hold bad actors accountable.
Given the current economic situation, what ideas do you have to to help with affordability issues?
Everything is too expensive right now— rent, groceries, healthcare and childcare. Those at the top are taking from all of us to enrich themselves. What’s worse is Republicans scapegoat immigrants and our LGBTQ+ community while literally cutting healthcare and food assistance to fund billionaire tax breaks.
Minnesotans deserve a fair economy. I support closing loopholes to ensure the wealthiest corporations and Minnesotans pay their fair share. I’ve also introduced legislation to keep big corporations from unfairly raising your grocery bill and undermining small businesses. I support universal healthcare, childcare and college.
We also deserve safe and affordable housing. I created a first generation homeowners fund to help families afford their first homes. I authored the strongest tenant protections this state has seen in decades and I will continue to protect renters from predatory landlords. We also need more resources to increase shelter beds and transition our unhoused neighbors to permanent housing.
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?
We need to protect our neighbors from ICE and prevent gun violence. Senate DFLers passed a ban on agents wearing masks to hide their identities, pathways to justice for civil rights violations and support for small businesses devastated by Operation Metro Surge. We also passed comprehensive gun violence prevention that included an assault weapons ban, stronger crisis intervention tools and improved safety in our schools. Unfortunately, House Republicans blocked these bills.
I am still committed to finding common ground where I can. After being kicked off the Senate floor while caring for my infant son, a bipartisan group of moms came together to eliminate this archaic rule and allow children on the floor.
I am now championing a “momnibus” legislative package. My goal is to again inspire moms on both sides of the aisle to join together and pass meaningful legislation to improve maternal and infant health across Minnesota.
Read from the other Senate District 66 candidate here:
