District 6 candidate Q&A: Marisa Simonetti

Biography

Marisa Simonetti is a businesswoman and mother who resides in Edina. She is the managing owner of the Simonetti Real Estate Team and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota.

More information on Simonetti and her candidacy can be found on her campaign website: marisasimonetti.com.

Question 1

Introduction and priorities: Why are you running for the Hennepin County District 6 seat, and what are the main issues you are focusing on in your campaign?

Simonetti: My background is business in the private sector. However, I see public financial issues and rising crime that need to be addressed. As the only conservative candidate, my values and vision will be different from the other candidates. Commissioner is primarily a financial job, which is why it’s critical for someone with business experience to fill the role. My No. 1 priority is to cut taxes and wasteful spending. We need to “do more, with less.” Taxpayers feel burdened enough with inflation and overall costs rising. Second, the push for Hennepin to become a sanctuary county is something I vehemently oppose. Third, the SW light rail, and the bonds (debt) we’ve taken on need serious triage. The current administration is spending us into oblivion. It’s unsustainable. Finally, I believe it is imperative to prioritize funding for caring professions such as teachers and nurses. 

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Question 2

Fiscal management: How do you intend to balance fiscal responsibility with the need to invest in community services and infrastructure?

Simonetti: I will balance fiscal responsibility the same way someone who runs a successful business and hardworking families operate. Some expenditures, such as roads, bridges, and libraries, are non-negotiable. However, as with all ventures, there are efficient and inefficient ways to complete projects. There is currently no incentive to be efficient because the establishment operates as if the taxpayers’ pockets are endless sources of ever-increasing revenue. We need accountability. Families do not operate as if there is endless revenue, and if they do, it’s not for long before the consequences of their own actions catch up with them. On a positive note, Hennepin also has projects, such as HERC, that claim to generate revenue for the county. Projects like these should be optimized for maximum efficiency or replaced with other more sustainable options such as those proposed by the Zero Burn Coalition, which also proposes added benefits of reducing pollution in the minority communities that HERC currently affects. Whoever can best solve the problem of waste removal in a way that is a net positive to the community should be the direction we move. 

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Question 3

Public safety: Can you outline your strategies for improving public safety and enhancing trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve?

Simonetti: The county commissioner funds district court, the sheriff’s office, and community corrections. This creates vast opportunity for input. I spoke to a retired police officer recently who noted that Minneapolis PD cannot pay people enough bonuses or salary to stay. What this tells us is that a threshold has been reached where officers feel their safety and support is so at risk that you cannot monetarily incentivize them to do the job. This is unsustainable and creates a snowball of problems. Less officers, more crime. More crime, less officers. As crime increases, businesses will leave and residents will also look elsewhere. Property values will drop as people leave, creating a crime-ridden area with low occupancy prices. Ultimately, this hurts those who are struggling financially as the demand and price or housing in safer areas will increase. 

Officers need to know they will not be thrown under the bus for doing their jobs, and people need to feel that they are safe. When people feel they are treated fairly, even if they may not agree with the outcome, they can usually make peace with it. Action is what counts, and fair and respectful treatment is the start to reestablishing trust. There also has to be accountability for crime. When crime runs rampant people feel unsafe. We need to hold crime accountable so people can feel safe going to the grocery store again.

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Question 4

Economic development: What plans do you have to support small business growth, ensure fair labor practices, and encourage sustainable development in our district?

Simonetti: Small businesses have a chance to grow when they are not overburdened with taxes. By nature, a good business is a maker, not a taker. This principle is highly sustainable, and includes treating your people well. Hennepin’s 2024 budget included a pay increase for employees. This is one area I would be highly unlikely to touch. Hardworking people need to be able to provide for their families. 

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Question 5

Land use and development: How will you approach the challenges of development, including managing green spaces and promoting affordable housing?

Simonetti: Homes are purchased and financed based on the monthly payment affordability. The payment includes PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance). The principal is based on the loan amount, and the Federal Reserve controls the interest rates. Hennepin controls property taxes directly. Homeownership is made possible by making property taxes fair, and by not constantly raising to cover other fruitless and wasteful endeavors. Insurance, both home and auto, is also partially within our control. Rampant crime drives up insurance costs. When more claims are made in an area, overall premiums increase. During the George Floyd riots, many North Minneapolis and Uptown business owners who were looted and/or destroyed were afraid that their insurance coverage would be canceled. Crime hurts us all, whether or not we are primary victims. Finally, it is important to care for our planet so that our children and grandchildren have a beautiful place to live.

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Question 6

Southwest Light Rail Transit Project: What is your position on the 14.5-mile extension of the current Green Line to Eden Prairie, and how will you address the community and financial concerns brought by some residents and legislators related to this project?

Simonetti: The SW Lightrail has become a fool’s errand. It does not help that we have paid in GO (general operation) bonds (loans), which means we owe money on a project that is unlikely to ever reach completion. If it does reach completion, the cost will be so far outside the bounds of reason that a return on investment is unlikely. A financial triage needs to happen. A leader has the courage to make tough decisions and problem-solve creatively. Kicking the can down the road will delay and amplify the disaster, for which the taxpayer will be on the hook. While we are discussing GO bonds, I would love to see someone break down who the biggest investors are for Hennepin’s bonds. GO bonds are tax-exempt, and any candidate, or their donors, who own these have vested economic interest in seeing the county overextend itself, as they would be printing tax-free money for themselves.