Bettison seeks balance in swing district, emphasizing moderation, fiscal restraint in 49A House bid

In Minnesota’s 49A House District – a former Republican stronghold now held by Democrats – Stacy Bettison sees an opportunity to reintroduce balance and practicality to state politics.

Running as a first-time Republican candidate against DFLer Alex Falconer, Bettison, 54, aims to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Laurie Pryor, who has held the seat since 2017. The stakes are high in a district that includes northern Eden Prairie and southern Minnetonka, areas with shifting political allegiances that Bettison believes call for a more moderate approach.

“My priority is to bring a balanced, measured voice to our district,” Bettison said. “There’s an appetite for representatives who are practical and truly bipartisan in addressing local issues.”

A 15-year resident of Eden Prairie, Bettison’s background blends legal practice, communications consulting, and a part-time role as a public defender, focusing on veterans’ treatment court.

She describes her campaign as a steep learning curve – “like drinking from 10 fire hoses” – but remains undeterred, seeing this moment as an ideal time to use her skill set for public service. Her involvement with state legislation around the Predatory Offender Registry, including testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped cement her decision to run.

“It felt natural,” Bettison recalled of her committee appearance. “I came home, looked at who was running, and realized it was the right time.”

A swing voter’s Republican stand

Though Bettison has historically been a swing voter, her decision to run as a Republican comes from concerns over the state’s fiscal path, which saw an $18 billion budget surplus spent amid a 40% budget increase.

“We have to balance growth with sustainability,” she explained. “Our spending approach now isn’t sustainable.”

While Bettison aligns with Republican fiscal conservatism, she leans moderate on social issues, describing herself as a “Jim Ramstad Republican” – socially liberal but fiscally cautious. (Ramstad, a longtime Minnesota congressman, was known for his centrist views and bipartisan approach.) Her environmental stance also plays a role, having often guided her voting in the past.

“Clean air and water are fundamental,” she noted, adding that her commitment to responsible growth balances environmental stewardship with economic sustainability.

Bettison says she’s committed to state issues over national debates. If asked about former President Donald Trump, she explained, “I’d say that’s a national election; I’m focused on state issues.” She hopes voters judge her on the practical concerns she’s addressing over party labels.

Connecting with voters and prioritizing education, fiscal responsibility

Bettison says the most rewarding part of her campaign has been connecting with residents at their doors. “You really hear what matters to people,” she said, noting that taxes, rising living costs, and public safety are common concerns.

Education also tops her list of priorities. Bettison notes Minnesota’s drop to 19th in national education rankings, attributing this decline to misplaced priorities and excess mandates.

“We need to focus on the basics – reading, writing, math, and science,” she said. She has met with local superintendents, including in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, to discuss funding strains and concerns over recent legislative changes, like unemployment benefits for seasonal school employees, which she argues increase pressure on school budgets.

Public safety and bipartisanship

Bettison is vocal about her support for law enforcement, criticizing rhetoric like “defund the police” as reckless.

“It’s easy to say until you’re a victim or need help,” she remarked.

Bettison said she would work to support police while ensuring balanced accountability measures, noting that anti-police rhetoric has had a real impact on victims reliant on police services.

While Bettison is running in a district that has leaned Democratic in recent years, she remains optimistic about her chances.

“People have more in common than we think. The divide isn’t as wide as social media makes it seem,” she said.

She believes that a divided legislature can be beneficial, emphasizing the importance of checks and balances. “Balance is good for government,” she said, “and for the people it serves.”

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Learn more about House District 49A candidates

Voters can learn more about the candidates for Minnesota House District 49A in multiple ways: the Eden Prairie Local News 2024 Voters Guide, the League of Women Voters of Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and Hopkins House Districts 49 A/B candidate forum, and through EPLN’s additional questions with Republican Stacy Bettison and additional questions with Democrat Alex Falconer.