The Minnesota Senate is the upper chamber of the State Legislative Branch. Composed of 67 members from across the state there approval is needed for any new law, tax change, or budget allocation. The State Senate is currently made up of 34 Republicans and 31 Democrats.
Senate District 58 Includes all of Northfield, Dundas, Bridgewater TWP, Northfield TWP, Greenvale TWP, Waterford TWP, Lonsdale, and the Northern half of New Prague. View a map here
Candidates:
Clarice Grabau – DFL
Bill Lieske – R
Find all the 2022 Election Results Here
Candidate forum from the League of Women Voters of Northfield & Cannon Falls:
Clarice Grabau
Q. Please list any current political offices you hold. Please list any previous political office you've held.
A. Northfield City Council Member At-Large, since 2018
Q. Please list any civic, community, or professional organizations/clubs your a part of.
A. Current:
Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Northfield Promise
Farmington Education Association
Employment Policy Committee
Northfield Racial and Ethnic Equity Collaborative
Recent:
Police Policy Review Task Force
Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee
Human Rights Commission
Q. What qualifies for the office your running for?
A. I’m a mother, a teacher, and a City Councilor, and I care deeply about my community and this district. I’ve raised my family here and my children attended public school. I taught public school and held elected office throughout the pandemic, and am very familiar with the issues that affect folks in our area. I’ve also been active in numerous community organizations. In addition to the above, I’ve been a part of Rotary, the United Methodist Church, the Northfield Historical Society, and the Cannon Valley Youth Orchestra.
Q. What inspired you to run for office?
A. I’m running because I want to be a voice for thoughtful, compassionate decision-making, and to bring my perspective as an educator and a local elected leader to the legislature. I want to work on issues that will improve the lives of everyday people, like access to housing, healthcare, strong schools, climate resilience, and support for greater Minnesota cities.
Q. What is something that you would like to accomplish while in office?
A. In addition to the above, I would like to work to make healthcare more affordable, to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to lower drug costs, increase access to MN Care, help family farmers adapt and prepare for extreme weather, repair our state’s aging infrastructure, increase support for special education, increase Local Government Aid to bring property tax relief to homeowners, to protect owners of manufactured homes, expand the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit, and improve access to mental health services.
Q. What does being a leader mean to you?
A. Being a leader means listening. It means working for the common good, studying, and making decisions that are rooted in compassion and reason. It means using science and data to inform decisions, speaking out against misinformation, and being willing to make difficult decisions that are fair and just. It means being in relationship with your neighbors, engaging in conversation and always seeking to learn.
Bill Lieske
Logan Wells is the Election Guide Editor. You can contact him here.
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