District 6 candidate Q&A: Heather Edelson

Biography

Heather Edelson was elected to three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives, serving Edina and part of Bloomington. Earlier in her career, she worked as a mental health therapist.

She has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree from Hamline University. She and her husband, Brett, have three sons who all attend Edina Public Schools.

More information on Edelson and her candidacy can be found on her campaign website: heatheredelson.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?

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 

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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.  

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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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.