Hopkins Leaders Share Their Goals for the Legislative Session

The state Legislature is a hive of activity that involves many more people than just the state representatives and senators who actually cast votes in the Capitol. Lobbyists, advocacy groups and officials from other levels of government try to convince legislators to take one course of action or another.

Patch asked several of Hopkins’ local leaders what they would like to see the Legislature accomplish this year.

Here’s what they had to say.

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My hopes/expectations for this legislative session center around financial stability and educational vision. In order for school districts to plan and best serve their students, we need a stable, reliable stream of funding that can inform our staffing and programs. We also need to embrace a strategic vision for education and resist piecemeal legislation.

• Betsy Tate (Scheurer) Anderson, School Board director and member of the school district's Legislative Action Coalition

Resolve the stadium issue once and for all—without using any of the Legacy Amendment funding.

• Amanda Birnstengel, director

The Southwest LRT line is a critical connection in the region’s light rail transit system–linking jobs and transit riders and allowing for economic growth. I would like to see the Legislature support the funding for SW LRT, that I hope is included in the Governors’ bonding bill. 

• Kersten Elverum, director of planning and development

My wish is for the Legislature to work together for the betterment of all Minnesotans, not just certain political parties. That means compromise in some areas when it is in the best for everyone. We can't see a repeat of the divisions that brought us to a halt last time. There are issues that need addressing to help our state and our cities cope with the financial struggles and being in a gridlock does not help. If they can do that, we will see great results from this session.

• Jason Gadd, Hopkins City Council

The first thing I want from the Legislature is common sense. And then (I want) them to direct the Legacy (Amendment) money to have real quality-of-life impact in Minnesota. The biggest chunk of the Legacy money is going to the sources that were losing money. … If (a program) is going to be supported by the state, it needs to be justified.

• Jimmy Longoria, Hopkins artist

Both parties (should) work together to make a better state of Minnesota.

• Gene Maxwell, mayor of Hopkins

I would like them to avoid the gridlock from previous years and come up with a plan for the benefit of the entire state. Something that focuses on the economy by creating jobs! 

• Mike Mornson, Hopkins city manager

My hope for the legislature and the State of Minnesota is that they develop a strong vision for educating the children of Minnesota and provide adequate resources based on that vision.

• John Schultz, Hopkins Public Schools superintendent

Since this is a non-funding year, I would say, "first, do no harm"—meaning do not place any new unfunded mandates on school districts. Second, I would want to see clear direction on the revised or restructured Integration funding, so that districts have plenty of lead time to adjust. Third, oppose Education Minnesota's request to have January 15th contract deadline reinstated. Fourth, support the funding for the Southwest Light Rail corridor.

• John Toop, Hopkins Public Schools director of business services