• Who I Am.
• My View of St. Louis County
• Rights of the People
• Labor vs Business
• Economic Diversity
• Environmental Issues
• Welfare Reform
• Foster Care Reform
• Juvenile Reform
• Elderly Issues
• College Students in our area
• Emergency Services
• My volunteer work and advocacy

• Map of District 1

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My View of St. Louis County.

We never locked our doors when I was growing up. The garages and the barns were never locked; a neighbor might need to borrow something while we were gone. Especially during haying season when we were all out in the fields you never knew if the neighbor might stop by and need something. The community raised the kids and you were just as scared of Mrs. Jones down the road catching you doing something you knew you shouldn't do as you were of your own parents catching you. I know you are probably thinking how old fashioned, but it really wasn't that long ago here in St. Louis County. Even though some of you reading this might think 25-30 years ago was ancient history.

Respect your elders, your word is your bond and tell the truth even if you know its going to hurt. I could go on and on about these things but I think you get the drift. I know we can't go back that far in time but we can make a difference in what we do today.

I see drugs, alcohol, and abuse more now than I have ever seen here. I see seniors afraid to go out at night because of what's going on in the streets. I see children on the streets and wonder where their parents are. I talk to juveniles who say they feel safer on the streets than in their own homes. I talk to people about the problems they are facing and listen as they tell me there stories. I observe things as I do my job and have to wonder what has happened here.

We have gang problems in our streets, we have homeless people being killed and we need changes made. We as a community throughout St. Louis County need to make changes. We need to stop thinking it can't happen to us or it doesn't happen here. Believe me it happens here and it can happen to any of us.

Two years ago in August I started driving a taxi cab here in Duluth. It was supposed to be a short term job but over two years later I am still at it. Some people ask why and that is a long answer to a short question. I like what I do for the most part and I also have the opportunity to see what is really going on and hear from the average person on the street what they think. I also carry telephone numbers with me for all kinds of situations I run into. Such as domestic violence where the person doesn't want to call the police, Juveniles with no place to go, people who have mental health issues and are in crisis, and the list goes on. I feel that maybe in some way I make a difference in someone's life. I feel good about that within myself.

I know that the county government is on a tight budget and we can't pay for everything, but I believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When it comes to our future here we have to look at the whole picture not just the short term.