Keeping District 54B and its communities - Affordable and Safe for everyone
Housing, Cost of Living, and Community Stability
District 54B should be one of the best places in Minnesota to live, work, raise a family, and retire. That’s the lens I use when I think about housing, cost of living, and neighborhood safety in Prior Lake, Shakopee, Jordan, and our surrounding townships.
When neighbors talk with me about rising housing costs, healthcare bills, and childcare, I hear a common theme: they want to stay here, close to family, schools, and work. Our challenge is simple and serious—making sure they can.
Why Housing and Affordability Matter Now
Housing and cost of living are deciding whether people can put down roots in 54B.
I’ve heard stories from:
Young families wondering if they’ll be priced out of their first home.
Seniors unsure they can afford to retire in the neighborhood they love.
Small business owners struggling to find workers who can afford to live nearby.
These aren’t partisan issues. They’re community issues. If we want 54B to remain a place our kids can come back to and our parents can stay, we must take housing and affordability seriously.
What’s on the Agenda in Minnesota
At the Capitol, housing, infrastructure, and city budgets are front‑and‑center this year. Bonding bills, housing and water projects, and local government funding all shape what families see in taxes, rent, and services.
Advocates and city leaders are pushing for more housing options at different price points. At the same time, changes in state and federal programs around health care and basic needs can make it harder for families already stretched thin.
My responsibility, if I’m elected, is to look past party lines and ask:
Does this help our neighbors stay and thrive in District 54B, or does it make that harder?
Safe, Healthy, Connected Communities Start at Home
I’ve said I want safe, healthy, connected communities in 54B. That includes:
Safe neighborhoods and strong relationships with law enforcement and first responders.
Reliable roads, bridges, and water systems.
Thoughtful land use that respects farmland and open space while allowing smart growth.
Stable, affordable housing supports all of this. When people can keep a roof over their heads, kids do better in school, businesses have dependable workers, and communities are more resilient. When housing breaks down, everything else gets more fragile.
Cost of Living: Housing, Healthcare, Childcare
Most families don’t experience the cost of living as one bill. It’s housing, healthcare, and childcare combined.
If housing takes half a paycheck and healthcare and childcare take most of the rest, there’s little left for savings, emergencies, or starting a business. That reality hits young families and seniors especially hard, and it affects our workforce and our main streets.
We can’t claim to value families, workers, and seniors while ignoring the bills that are pushing them to the edge.
The Questions I’ll Ask on Your Behalf
For any housing, infrastructure, or cost‑of‑living proposal, I plan to ask a few practical questions:
Does it help working families stay in District 54B?
Does it give seniors a fair chance to remain in the community they built?
Does it respect farmland and open space while allowing responsible growth?
Does it support safe neighborhoods and trust with law enforcement?
Does it help small and mid‑sized businesses by making it possible for workers to live close to where the jobs are?
If the answers are “yes,” I’ll take a hard look and try to move it forward. If not, I’ll push for something better—grounded in facts and in our community’s values.
What I’ll Work For at the Capitol
I’m interested in practical outcomes you can see, not party points. On housing and cost of living, that means:
Supporting responsible investments that improve local infrastructure and housing without wasting your tax dollars.
Backing policies that expand housing options for families and seniors, so there’s more than “take it or leave it.”
Taking seriously how healthcare and childcare costs interact with housing, instead of pretending they’re separate problems.
I’ll keep listening carefully, weighing the facts, and making decisions that reflect the values of our neighbors—not the loudest voices at the Capitol.
I Want to Hear Your Housing Story
Reports and forecasts matter, but they don’t replace what I hear directly from you. If you’re worried about finding or keeping housing, if you’re unsure whether you can afford to stay in District 54B, or if you’ve seen these pressures affect your business or neighborhood, I’d like to know.
Your stories help me see past party talking points and stay focused on what really matters: whether our decisions are making life better or worse for real people in Prior Lake, Shakopee, Jordan, and our townships.
Please reach out and share your experience and ideas. Together, we can work toward a future where staying in 54B is not just a dream—it’s a realistic, affordable choice.
