Hometown: Duluth, MN (Born in Norfolk, VA while my father was in the Navy)

Education/experience: Drake University B.A. Sociology/Psychology, 1983; Arizona State University M.Ed. Counselor Education, 1986; William Mitchell College of Law J.D. Cum Laude, 1992

National Co-Chair, Jobs21!, Blue Green Alliance 2011-Present; Minnesota State Senator, 2005-2011, the Assistant Majority Leader 2006-2011; Executive Director, Minnesota Community Action Partnership 1998-2006; Associate Chair, Minnesota DFL Party 2003-2005; Public Policy Director, Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota 1995-1997; Legislative and Senior Law Attorney, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid 1992-1995; Affirmative Action Officer and Teen Outreach Volunteer Director, Land of Lakes Girl Scout Council 1988-1994; Founding Director, Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity, 1988-1989; Program Director, YWCA 1987-1988; Young Adult Program Coordinator, Center for youth Resources 1983-1987

1. What would you bring to Washington D.C. that would contribute to the success of Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District?

I am the only candidate in this race who has produced results for our families and communities in an environment as partisan and polarized as Congress is right now. As a legislative leader, I worked across the aisle to pass a balanced budget that didn’t compromise the priorities of middle class families or seniors. In an environment like this if you want to get anything done, and we need to get a lot done, you must find common ground with people who come at problems with different perspectives than your own.

I am also the only candidate in this race who has worked all across this district over the last 24 years. As a youth minister, nonprofit senior citizen attorney, executive director of Minnesota’s Community Action Partnership, and a legislative leader, I worked across central and northeast Minnesota on behalf of our children, seniors, veterans and families. That’s why President Clinton endorsed me, and I am proud to have his support. His record of creating jobs and opportunity for the middle class is unparalleled.

2. What have you been hearing from constituents as the most important issues facing our country? And what would you do about them?

We need to make creating and protecting jobs our top priority. Since getting elected to office, Congressman Cravaack has done little to encourage job growth in northeast Minnesota, and has even voted repeatedly to continue rewarding companies that are shipping jobs overseas. For the last sixteen months I’ve been promoting growing good, sustainable jobs in our region, state, and country as national co-chair of the Jobs21! initiative, continuing the work I did as a legislative leader. This is why the United Steelworkers support me. The best way to grow local jobs is building our infrastructure and retooling manufacturing to compete in the 21st century economy.

Cravaack is out pushing a plan to end Medicare, forcing seniors to pay over $6,000 more each year. Seniors earned Medicare over a lifetime of hard work, we must work to strengthen Medicare, and preserve the benefits that they have earned.

People are also concerned that our Congressman has voted to cut funds for women’s health services. This would make it much harder for women in rural areas to get access to basic healthcare like annual checkups, cancer screenings and birth control.

3. What are the best investments we can make to create more and better-paying jobs for Minnesota’s 8th District?

Whether it is for roads, rail, broadband internet access or increased cell coverage, any money invested in building infrastructure will put people to work now and bring good jobs to our region for years to come.

We should incentivize the retooling of our current manufacturing by providing accelerated depreciation and other tax benefits. This will create good jobs in the short term and increase our economic competitiveness well into the 21st century.

Our workers must continue to be well-educated and well-trained for the jobs that we are creating. Investing in education and job training programs will make sure that our workers are able to compete globally.

It is critical that we fight harder to protect American jobs. Congressman Cravaack has voted repeatedly to continue rewarding companies that send our jobs overseas. Instead of subsidizing companies that outsource our neighbors’ jobs, we should use those funds to help small businesses create jobs right here in Minnesota.