Edelson, Simonetti vie for District 6 seat on Tuesday

A special election on Tuesday will determine the new commissioner for District 6 of the Hennepin County Board, a seat vacated by Chris LaTondresse last September.

The candidates, state Rep. Heather Edelson and businesswoman Marisa Simonetti, both from Edina, were the top vote-getters among six candidates in the April 30 primary, securing their spots in Tuesday’s election.

District 6 encompasses 66 precincts, six of which (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8) are located in northern Eden Prairie. Voters are encouraged to visit the Secretary of State’s website to find their specific polling locations.

The election is officially nonpartisan, yet the two candidates present differing political viewpoints.

Edelson, a Democrat in her third term in the state Legislature, stated her “strong passion for serving people.” Having received the most votes in the April 30 primary, she discussed her strategy for the upcoming May 14 election, emphasizing her focus on issue-based campaigning to ensure voters fully understand her platform.

“I’m interested in doing the job in terms of my background and experience not only as a clinical social worker working on health and human service policy and mental health, but also a range of things from the environment to public safety,” Edelson said.

Simonetti, a Republican making her first run for political office, emphasizes the need to tackle public financial issues and escalating crime rates. Simonetti’s website emphasizes “rebuilding safety through family values one step at a time” and advocates for the approach to “do more, with less.”

“I knew red was silent but strong, but I had no idea!” she wrote after finishing second in the primary and advancing to the May 14 election. “This tells me that people are ready for change.”

The Hennepin County Board, composed of seven commissioners, sets policies, manages the county budget, and oversees essential public services such as health, safety, housing, public works, and libraries.

A subsequent election in November will fill the District 6 seat for a full four-year term beginning January 2025. The filing period for this and other primary-required offices is from May 21 to June 4.

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Eden Prairie Local News (EPLN) asked the original six candidates five questions about key county issues to clarify their priorities and policy proposals. The responses from Heather Edelson and Marisa Simonetti are presented below, arranged in alphabetical order.

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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?

Edelson: As a child, my grandfather instilled in me that helping others and building community is about finding shared values and collaborating with everyone, including those who you may not agree with. 

The work of the Hennepin County Board complements my professional experiences in the Minnesota House of Representatives and as a trained mental health therapist. Equally important is my personal experience using Hennepin County services as a child growing up in poverty. From rental and heating assistance to food supports, Hennepin County social services were a lifeline for my family, helping me to be the first person in my family to graduate college.

As a resident, I have a deep appreciation for Hennepin County maintaining our roads, renewing our driver’s licenses and supporting our seniors and people with disabilities. Simply put, the county is pivotal for every one of us. 

I can make the most impact in the 60% of the Hennepin County budget that is invested in human services, where the county provides a critical safety net for our community. I have served on the Health & Human Services Committee for the past six years at the Capitol, working to improve disability services and the overall mental health system in our state. 

As commissioner, I would build on this experience by:  

• Continuing to build our mental health support systems
• Prioritizing services for people with disabilities
• Working to address climate change
• Ensuring roads are maintained and support multimodal transportation
• Invest in keeping our community safe 

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?

Edelson: Minnesota counties, like the state government, have an obligation to balance their annual budget. At the same time, the county has a responsibility to continue to invest in community services and infrastructure. I believe that both can be accomplished.

I would like to see Hennepin County be a leader in its commitment to environmental sustainability, which has positive impacts on both the climate and public health. Examples of this are investments in deeply affordable and supportive housing that is green, and building sustainable county roads and bridges. 

All of this must be thoughtfully balanced – partnering with state, federal and municipal governments and ensuring we do not overburden property taxes that could lead to pricing residents out of their homes. As an experienced lawmaker, I have learned a lot in my service about how to balance competing priorities to come up with policy and legislation that works. I am looking forward to building on that experience as a Hennepin County commissioner.  

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?

Edelson: I have served on the Minnesota House Public Safety Committee during some of Minnesota’s most challenging times over the past six years. It has taught me a great deal about the importance of community engagement and always seeking to evolve and improve when it comes to any policy area, especially when it comes to public safety. 

When I decided to run for county commissioner, one of the first things I did was reach out to the mayors and police chiefs of all 16 cities so I could learn from them about what is working and where they need support. I want the mayors, police chiefs and residents to know I will be their partner just as I have been Edina’s partner at the Capitol. Our Edina police chief and police department have done a great job partnering with the community to meet the needs of an evolving city. What I have found with these discussions with police chiefs and mayors from across District 6 is that this is very true across all 16 cities.

I have been a proud member of the Edina Crime Prevention Fund for nearly a decade, working closely with our police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Listening and learning from them during ride-alongs and conversations has helped me to be a better lawmaker, as I can relate to what our first responders face on the job each day.

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 of 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?

Edelson: Hennepin County has been creative in its work to help small businesses. The county understands that healthy businesses promote a strong and successful community. I will continue to work to support and build on efforts like Elevate Hennepin that includes initiatives such as free start-up business consultation, connecting businesses to grants and capital, guidance with budgets and business financial literacy and access to business legal advice.

I have been a strong partner to the small business community during my time at the Capitol. The work that I am most proud of was partnering with businesses to thoughtfully reopen during the pandemic – recognizing that we could keep the community safe, while also supporting our small business owners.

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?

Edelson: Sustainability, green space and protecting our water quality has been a top priority for me at the Capitol, and it will continue to be if elected to be your next Hennepin County commissioner. My specific focus would include land protection, restoration and conservation of green spaces.

On the issue of affordable housing, we need to build on existing infrastructure like Avivo Village and continue to invest in supportive housing to meet the needs of all Hennepin County residents regardless of their stage in life.

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?

Edelson: Hennepin County has exceeded its expected financial commitment to build the Green Line. At this point, with about two-thirds of the project built, we need to get to the finish line, but I do have concerns with how much this project has cost – Hennepin County and the Federal Transit Authority have each committed more than $1 billion to the nearly $2.9 billion project – and that it had a multi-year delay. There is a lot to learn from this project that we should apply to other infrastructure investments in the future.

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.