Get Out the Vote

I want to highlight a couple of things for you this week. First, in case you missed it in the Pioneer Press print or online edition, I submitted an op-ed opposing St. Paul’s ballot initiative to partially fund early childcare through mandator property tax increases. At the November election, St. Paul voters face a crucial decision: whether to approve a mandatory property tax increase for the next 10 years to fund early-childhood care and education initiatives. While I believe the goal of this ballot measure is commendable, its implementation raises serious concerns regarding prioritization of pressing municipal issues and fiscal responsibility. As part of my own due diligence, I spent a good deal of time studying the initiative. The importance of this topic warrants serious consideration. I listened to the City Council presentation in September of this year; I read the 48-page report summarizing the plan and reviewed overviews of both the need as well as proposed financial projections; we invited Councilmember Noecker (the plan sponsor) to present the program to our Public Affairs Issue Forum; I spoke with Art Rolnick, whose professional work in the area of economics and early childhood development (and his support for this program) are very well known and respected. I do agree that investing in our children is critical to our future. And, at the same time, I can’t support the proposed program on Election Day.​

Second, and continuing with the election theme, we’re one week away from election day. Which has me thinking about the importance of elections to our democracy. The most important: make your voice heard and vote!

​I don’t know if Winston Churchill said it best, but he provides a clear statement of the significance of each individual’s participation in our democracy and their contribution to our Republic. “At the bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into a little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper—no amount of rhetoric or voluminous discussion can possibly diminish the overwhelming importance of that point.” Mr. Churchill sure had a way with rhetoric. I encourage you all to vote. No matter who you’re going to vote for, please take the time to cast your ballot on or before Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Your vote, and our collective votes, will shape the future for the business community in the East Metro, the state, and the nation. Your vote - and our elections - matter. Make sure you are registered, visit the East Metro Voter Guide to learn about candidates, find your polling station, and get a plan in place to vote on Election Day.