As she prepares to leave public service to continue her important work with affordable housing as director of Habitat for Humanity, I would like to thank Sue Haigh for her leadership in a wide-range of issues; most notably in the areas of transit, affordable housing, children's issues and solid waste management.
With her departure, I would also like to take this opportunity to briefly introduce myself as a candidate that will carry on Sue's legacy and build the progressive vision of how St. Paul and Ramsey County can lead Minnesota. As we move forward in a time of increasing demand on public resources, we need a commissioner willing and able to stand up for our shared, progressive values. These are the values that call us to hold out our hand to those in the darkest time of their lives. The values that demand we prepare all our children for success. The values that require dignity and respect for all of our neighbors. The values that insist we can do more together than we can alone. Over the next couple of months, I will introduce myself in more detail and discuss how my experience working on affordable housing, homelessness, water quality, open space protection, mental health, vulnerable adults, land use and economic development has prepared me to match my progressive values with a strategic vision for the future of Ramsey County. I will formally announce in January. Until then, I offer a brief background. Many of you know my work reinvigorating the St. Paul DFL and helping to bring together the broad spectrum of St. Paul progressives in campaigns throughout our area. You may also be familiar with my recent leadership of the Minnesota Voter Protection Project, a massive statewide program to educate voters, encourage turnout and prevent voter fraud and intimidation. We put over a thousand lawyers and voter advocates on the ground, and successfully prevented efforts to harass and disenfranchise voters throughout the state (and in St. Paul). Finally, members of this list will likely recall my service as president and board member of the Lex-Ham Community Council, my participation with economic development issues along University Avenue and my work developing a Transit-Oriented Development framework for the Snelling and Lexington intersections of University Ave. What you may not know is that I have carried my progressive values into my professional life where I have: * worked with the Ramsey County mental health and public safety systems, protecting mentally ill and developmentally disabled residents from hurting themselves or others; * lobbied the state legislature for housing, homeless prevention, gun control, vulnerable adults, health care coverage, employee protections and personal privacy; * built public campaigns for clean water, open public spaces and protected habitat for wildlife; * enforced prevailing wage and workplace safety laws; * represented non-profits and small businesses as they developed and grew; and * served the public in local, regional and state agencies and the state legislature. With Commissioner Haigh's departure in February, St. Paul has a challenge and an opportunity to continue the momentum, to improve the responsiveness of county government to the needs of those most at risk and to take the lead with the progressive values of our neighborhoods and communities. As a community activist, a DFL campaigner, an advocate for individuals and non-profits and a public lawyer, you know that I will bring the same energy and innovative leadership to this campaign and, more importantly, to the County Board. You also know you can trust me to stick to my ideals, take the tough vote and protect the progressive values that make Ramsey County great. It is with this challenge in mind that I write to ask for your thoughts on the values you would like to see discussed in the upcoming special election, and to seek your support. Please feel free to contact me at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED] or stop by to have a cup of coffee at these great neighborhood coffee spots on December 29th and 30th. If we don't have an opportunity to talk next week, we will set up other times in the New Year. DECEMBER 29th - 4pm-5:30pm Brewberry's-The Coffee Place 475 Fairview Av. DECEMBER 30th - 8-9:30am Golden Thyme Coffee 921 Selby Av. DECEMBER 30th - 5:30-7pm Ginkgo's Coffeehouse 721 Snelling Av. I hope you are having a safe and fun holiday season, and a Happy New Year. If you wish to contact me, please send mail to Mogen for Ramsey County, 1132 Dayton Av., St. Paul, MN 55104, or call me at 651-261-2774. Jim Mogen Ramsey County District 4 St. Paul _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
