District 6 candidate Q&A: Patrick Gage

Biography

Patrick Gage, of Edina, says District 6 is “my home.” He has spent most of his childhood in Shorewood and played hockey for Minnetonka and Orono.

After graduating from Georgetown University, he joined a Catholic nonprofit and raised $1.6 million for refugees and migrants. He’s since worked at a nonprofit that funds Holocaust research and education and organized three Democratic campaigns, including the Senate DFL Caucus in 2022. He most recently served as an advisor to Gov. Tim Walz.

More information on Gage and his candidacy can be found on his campaign website: patrickforcommissioner.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?

Gage: I’m running for Hennepin County commissioner because I want to build a safer, healthier future for District 6. We need a new voice with fresh ideas who will speak for all of us. This community is my home, from Eden Prairie to Edina, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather represent on the County Board.

We’re facing real challenges. The county sheriff’s office is underfunded and understaffed, which makes our community unsafe. We have to take decisive climate action on waste reduction, shutting down the HERC garbage incinerator, and protecting our water. We’re failing nurses and frontline workers at HCMC. They’re saving lives while Hennepin Healthcare cuts their benefits. That’s not right. Nurses know I’ll fight for them, which is why the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) endorsed my campaign. I’ll also be a champion for their colleagues, from doctors to custodians. All healthcare workers deserve better.

I’m running to meet these challenges head-on and build a safer, healthier future for District 6.

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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?

Gage: Hennepin County does so much for District 6. County roads like Minnetonka Boulevard form the backbone of our community. Hennepin EMS provides ambulance services to most of our large cities, including Eden Prairie. We have eight county libraries in District 6, and funding for mental health services saves lives. I’m determined to protect and expand the incredible work Hennepin County does for us every day.

I’m also committed to being a thoughtful steward of our tax dollars with more oversight and accountability for how our money is spent. The Southwest Light Rail Transit project (SWLRT) is a perfect example. I’m a vocal champion of public transportation in the metro area and I look forward to using the Green Line myself, but when Hennepin County invests $1 billion in something, I expect our money to be well managed. I’ll work hard to ensure our tax dollars from District 6 are spent effectively in the future with an emphasis on programs that are proven to work.

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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?

Gage: Improving public safety in District 6 starts with a fully funded and well-staffed county sheriff’s office. Hennepin law enforcement and correctional officers serve vital roles in our community.

They run the county jail, provide investigational support and officers to local police departments, and manage water patrol. We depend on the county sheriff’s office in District 6, and I’m committed to giving them the resources they need to do their job. That could include increasing entry-level salaries to boost hiring or offering existing deputies retention bonuses to keep them from retiring early.

It’s also critical that we build trust between police and the community by supporting new engagement programs, pushing for more diverse recruitment, and delivering justice to the victims of crimes and their families, who have lost faith in our system.

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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?

Gage: I’m a proud DFLer with an emphasis on labor. Sustainable development in District 6 is only possible with county support for union jobs, especially around infrastructure and affordable housing, which are key to economic growth. I’ll fight to make sure all Hennepin County-funded projects are staffed by union workers with Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). Creating new, well-paying union jobs in District 6 will spur development, grow the small businesses those workers rely on, and encourage more people to live and invest here.

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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?

Gage: Climate change has never been more apparent, and development can’t come at the cost of our environment. Green space should be maximized in all Hennepin County-funded projects, especially affordable housing. We should protect our existing parks and trails and expand where we can.

Housing is a human right and I’m committed to ensuring everyone is able to live in Hennepin County affordably. Rising costs are especially tough on seniors with fixed incomes. As commissioner, I would explore ways to expand the state’s Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral program at the local level, potentially offering similar county property tax benefits to low-income seniors. I would also address unfair property tax assessments. Assessed values too often exceed what owners paid by so much that they can’t afford to stay in their homes. The county could address this in part by extending its market value exclusions program for veterans to low-income seniors.

We also need to tackle housing for our neighbors suffering from addiction and chronic mental illness, some of whom effectively live at hospitals that aren’t equipped to treat them. Streamlining permitting processes for new group homes would be a start. I’ll also support continued direct investments in effective local organizations building affordable housing in District 6 and throughout Hennepin County.

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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?

Gage: I support expanding public transportation in District 6, including the Green Line extension, future light rail projects, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). I’ve also personally knocked on over 10,000 doors in our community and I’ve heard genuine concerns about cost overruns, delays, and public safety. The Metropolitan Council deserves the criticism it has received for mismanaging the SWLRT project. All future investment from Hennepin County should come with significantly more oversight and depend on a fully funded Metro Transit Police force that is capable of maintaining safety and fare enforcement on the light rail throughout District 6.