Karla Bigham (DFL-57A)
Nearing the end of her first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Karla has focused her attention on education and healthcare. She supported an increase in state funding for Minnesota schools and a health care reform package to lower the cost of health care. The co-author of numerous environmental policies, Representative Bigham continuously supports initiatives to ensure environmental sustainability.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.karlabigham.com
Audrey Britton (DFL-43A)
After seven years with the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Audrey expanded her interests into the corporate world. Working for three Fortune 500 companies and also owning a small business for five years, accredited Audrey with exceptional experience in communication and public relations. Audrey is most passionate about three key issues: fiscal responsibility, jobs and the economy, and education. Audrey believes that a “test of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable, its sickest and its poorest”, and is heavily influenced by the power of individuals to make a difference. As an active community member, Audrey knows the importance of listening to citizens needs and working to do what’s right.
Contact: E-mail
Website:www.brittonforhouse.org
Robin Brown (DFL-27A)
An art and photography teacher originally from Austin, MN, Representative Brown spent her first term in the House authoring bills concerning Health Care and Education. Most recently, Brown voted in favor of Minnesota’s withdrawal from No Child Left Behind.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=15261
Julie Bunn (DFL-56A)
Representative Bunn is running her campaign on the platform to make high-quality education a top priority in Minnesota. She supports programs to provide stable funding for public education, keep public higher education costs down, and demand accountability in the public school system. Representative Bunn also continues to work to insure accessible and affordable health care statewide and to keep taxes down.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.juliebunn.com
Meg Bye (DFL-4B)
Having spent 12 years as a member of Duluth City Council, and an active member of the community through various positions such as President of the League of MN Cities, Director of Woodland Hills Treatment Agency, and Founding Director of SHARE Food Drive, Meg Bye is prepared to serve the State of Minnesota. Meg’s key issues are fair education funding, a sustainable environment, health care for all, and a government that works. As a former City Council member, Meg has the knowledge base of local laws, and the experience needed to attain her goals.
Contact: Email
Website: www.megbye.org
Cindy Erickson, Candidate for MN House District 17B
Erickson is a first time candidate running for the Minnesota House of Representatives. She was the founder of the North Branch PTA and has been engaged with education issues for nearly twenty years. She is a small buisness owner and a long time resident of North Branch. If elected, Cindy will priortize creating Jobs, Education, Property Taxes, and the environment.
Contact: Email
Website: www.CindyforHouse.com
Marion Greene (DFL-60A)
Marion is a first time candidate running for the MN House. She has previous campaign and political experience, including working as campaign manager for Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Greene is a manager for Health Policy and Reimbursement at St. Jude Medical and hopes to bring her financial know-how and knowledge of health care to the House.
Contact: E-mail
Website: www.mariongreene.org
Mindy Greiling (DFL-54A)
Running for her 9th term in the Minnesota House, Mindy Greiling’s focus is education. Awarded Legislator of the Year in 2008 by the Minnesota School Boards Association, she seeks to ensure adequate funding and demands accountability through meaningful academic standards. She has also been a leader in the improvement of Minnesota’s mental health system, authoring mental health reform legislation in 2007 that resulted in the single best funding year for mental health in the state’s history.
First Elected: 1992 Term: 9th
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.mindygreiling.org
Melissa Hortman (DFL-47B)
Nearing the end of her second term in the Minnesota House, Representative Hortman’s priorities are education and the environment. She supports an increase in stable K-12 education funding, and urges state investment in higher education that will keep tuition affordable. A long outspoken advocate for the Northstar Commuter Rail Line, Rep. Hortman believes 25% of Minnesota’s energy can and should be renewable by 2025.
First Elected: 2004 Term: 3rd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=12266
Sigrid Iversen, Candidate for MN House District 36B
As a hi story teacher, Sigrid Iverson talks about the struggles that have and continue to plague women, as well as the many accomplishments of women. Working as an educator, as well as a role model for many young women, Sigrid strives to empower her students to use their energy in positive ways as a key to their success. Education is Sigrid’s motivation, and knows the importance of a child's education and the enormo us pote ntial that knowledgeable citizens bring to the community. Sigrid strongly believes in the power of community collaboration, and is dedicated to investing in the education of our families and children.
Contact: Email
Website: www.sigridiverson.org
Phyllis Kahn (DFL-59B)
Serving her 18th term in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Representative Kahn has over three decades of experience in Minnesota politics. Her legislative interests include issues dealing with pension and investment policy, science and technology information policy, natural resources and women’s rights. The chief author of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, she is also an outspoken advocate for park, trail, and historic preservation funding.
First Elected: 1972 Term: 19th
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.phylliskahn.com
Kim Kang (DFL-33B)
Kim Kang’s previous campaign for the Minnesota State House of Representatives gained her 41% of the vote. For the past 5 years, Kang has worked in the capitol with legislators and professional lobbyist for people with disabilities. Last year, Kim chaired the Orono Planning Commission refining her leadership skills and revealing her passion for community activism. If elected, Kang would prioritize more affordable child care.
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.electkang.org/
Kate Knuth (DFL- 50B)
Representative Knuth holds a Masters in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Management from Oxford University and puts it to good use as she makes Environmental sustainability her number one issue. This last session she authored the legislation which gave Minnesota the nation’s leading Renewable Energy Standard. She also authored a bill for Minnesota to adopt a regional cap and trade agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 1st
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.kateknuth.org
Gail Kulick-Jackson (DFL- 16A)
A practicing attorney in Milaca, Representative Kulick-Jackson’s agenda focuses on healthcare and education. She supports the use of health savings accounts, but argues the state needs to supplement these accounts with increased funding for MinnesotaCare.
First Elected: 2008 Term: 1st
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.gailKulickjackson.com
Jannaya LaFrance (DFL-35B)
Jannaya LeFrance is challenging a six term anti-choice Republican incumbent for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 35B. This district includes Savage, Jordan, Credit River, Spring Lake, and New Market. She sees a need in her district for innovative and visionary leadership. If elected she will prioritize equal pay and promote women’s entrepreneurship.
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://jannayalafrance.com/
Carolyn Laine (DFL-50A)
An advocate for universal healthcare, Representative Laine authored a bill requiring the provision of healthcare services to all Minnesota residents. As a former teacher and School Board Member, she supports an increase in funding for schools through income tax revenue and supports the withdrawal Minnesota from No Child Left Behind.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.carolynlaine.com
Tina Liebling Asst. Majority Leader (DFL- 30A)
As a member of two committees focusing on Health Care, Representative Tine Liebling strongly supports providing Health Care insurance to all Minnesota residents. She believes this will hold down costs in the long run by aiding small businesses and increasing preventative care.
First Elected: 2004 Term: 3rd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.tinaliebling.org
Diane Loeffler (DFL- 59A)
Moving into her third term as a Representative for Minneapolis’ NE district, Diane Loeffler’s top priorities include providing property tax relief and assuring access to affordable healthcare. In the last session, Representative Loeffler passed a bill to increase subsidies for federally qualified health centers, which provide services for low income populations.
First Elected: 2004 Term: 3rd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.dianeloeffler.com
Sandra Masin (DFL- 38A)
Representative Masin is currently serving her second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Telecommunications Regulation and Infrastructure Division, as well as the Public Safety Policy and Oversight, State Government Finance Division, Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division. Masin’s priorities include Transportation, Health Care, and Education. She has been a staunch advocate of women’s rights in the House, and continues to champion women’s health and safety as well as pay equity.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.masin4rep.com
Rena Moran (DFL-65A)
Ten years ago, Rena moved to the Twin Cities in search of a better life for her kids. Homeless, she and her children stayed in a shelter for several months. In record time she found a job, an apartment and her calling as a community organizer. Rena became a Wellstone Organizing Fellow and was quickly hired on by Urban Embassy, where she would go on to lead the efforts to engage the African-American community during the 2008 election. If elected, Rena would only be the second African American woman in the History of the Minnesota Legislature.
Contact: E-mail
Website: www.RenaforRep.org
Erin Murphy (DFL- 64A)
With healthcare as her number one priority, Representative Murphy passed reform legislation to slow the growth of healthcare costs. She also sponsored legislation which standardized the training of long term care workers and is a member of the Governor’s Commission on long term care for Veterans and the Minnesota Veterans Home.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.neighborsformurphy.com
Kim Norton (DFL- 29B)
A former school teacher, Representative Norton places education at the forefront of her priorities. She supports comprehensive reform to dramatically increase funding from the state in order to fulfill Minnesota’s constitutional obligation and once again make Minnesota schools the best in the nation.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.kimnorton.org
Laurie Olmon, House of Representatives 48A
Laurie Olmon was elected to the Nowthen City Council in 2008 and is a candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives District 48A, which includes Elk River, Burns, Oak Grove and East Bethel counties. Olmon has participated in collaborative candidate training with womenwinning, The White House Project, Wellstone Action! and Progressive Majority. Olmon is a strong advocate for public policy supporting survivors of domestic violence and for equal pay. If elected Olmon would like to prioritize policy supporting women veterans.
Contact: E-mail
Website: www.laurieolmon.com
Jen Peterson, MN House of Representatives 57A
Jen Peterson seeks office in the Minnesota House of Representatives. She currently holds office on the Cottage Grove City Council and serves on two Washington County Citizen Advisory Committees. Peterson founded and ran a non-profit advocacy group for single moms called ACES and chaired the board of the Minnesota Women’s Consortium in 2005. If elected she will prioritize paid leave, child support, and pay equity.
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://jenpeterson.org/
Sandra Peterson (DFL- 45A)
Rep. Peterson has quickly become a very powerful leader in education, particularly early childhood education. She led an effort to create a State Advisory Board on Early Childhood, ensuring all children in Minnesota attend kindergarten by 2020. She also co-authored a bill to stabilize and increase the Governor’s education funding suggestions.
First Elected: 2004 Term: 3rd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.sandrapeterson.org
Jeanne Poppe (DFL- 27B
Representative Poppe is a strong advocate for rural Minnesota, arguing what is good for the rural areas is good for Minnesota as a whole. She believes farms are often taken for granted and need to be supported more by balancing agricultural prosperity and environmental health.
First Elected: 2004 Term: 3rd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.jeannepoppe.org
Katie Rodriguez (DFL- 32B)
Katie is a first-time candidate and hopes to be elected to the MN House representing Maple Grove and Osseo. She worked for 14 years in public finance and has been elected Precinct Chair, Director and Treasurer in SD32. Using her financial experience she hopes to make a difference in solving the state’s budget. Top issues include forming good schools, creating good jobs and working harder to provide fiscal responsibility.
Website: http://www.katie4house.com/
Maria Ruud (DFL- 42A)
Representative Rudd focuses on guaranteeing health care for all children. She was a strong supporter of the smoking ban and works as a nurse practitioner in women’s health care when the House is not in session.
First Elected: 2004 Term: 3rd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.maria4rep.com
Bev Scalze (DFL- 54B)
Representative Scalze is a strong supporter of environmental issues. She co-authored the nation’s strongest agreement that will reduce mercury pollution from coal-fired plants by 90%. She also advocates open space planning as the state makes alternative transportation plans.
First Elected: 2004 Term: 3rd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.bevscalze.org
Nora Slawik DFL-Dist. 55B
Representative Slawik has accomplished a great deal in her long standing position as a State Representative. In the 2008 session, she introduced significant transportation and health care reforms, and helped resolve the budget deficit without raising taxes. In addition, she authored multiple bills funding early childhood education and health care.
First Elected: 1996 Term: 6th (not consecutive)
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=10622
Linda Slocum DFL-Dist. 63B
This session, Representative Slocum authored a major bill requiring large airline corporations to fulfill financial obligations to state tax-payers. She also co-authored a bill establishing reproductive privacy rights for women, ensuring the rights of all women to choose or refuse birth control and prohibiting state interference with women's reproductive choice.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=63B
Marsha Swails DFL-Dist. 56B
As a life long teacher, Representative Marsha Swails is committed to providing excellent education to students in the Woodbury and Landfall area. She introduced multiple bills concerning education, such as funding voluntary full-day kindergarten and programs for gifted and talented students.
First Elected: 2006 Term: 2nd
Contact: E-mail
Website: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?district=56B
