Candidate profile: Kieffer keeps focus on business
Andrea Kieffer wants to keep it going.By: Mike Longaecker, Woodbury Bulletin
Andrea Kieffer wants to keep it going.
The Woodbury Republican said lawmakers made progress in the past two years since she was elected to the Legislature on a pro-business platform, and now is no time to stop.
“I want to mainly focus on staying true to the business growth,” Kieffer said.
The first-term legislator is seeking re-election in the newly drawn House District 53B against Democratic challenger Ann Marie Metzger. Kieffer was first elected to the Legislature in 2008 when she defeated two-term incumbent Rep. Marsha Swails, DFL-Woodbury.
The focus then was on business, and that hasn’t changed, Kieffer said.
“I want to continue the good work that we’ve been doing with commerce reform and redesigning government and streamlining,” she said.
Kieffer said her first term in office was “like drinking out of a fire hose – it’s a lot of information coming at you at first.” But once she learned to navigate the system at the Capitol, Kieffer said she was able to dig into issues like commerce reform. She said her legislative successes have included passing a consumer protection bill and education reform measures.
All of her successful bills have had Democratic authors and passed with bipartisan support, she said.
“I strive for consensus and movement,” Kieffer said. “I’m not interested in using the position as some kind of soapbox. I just want to get some work done.”
If re-elected, Kieffer said she would look at government redesign initiatives, like the Magic Act, which didn’t gain traction at the last legislative session – as well as funding issues and workers’ compensation legislation.
“I’ve got quite a few people that are hoping to start up some good reforms in the future,” she said.
Kieffer’s background includes work in the banking and insurance industries, as well as serving as a preschool and substitute teacher. Kieffer is a member of the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce, the Children’s Hospital Association-Woodbury, the Woodbury Community Foundation and the St. Paul Area New Resident’s Club.
She is a member of four House committees – including the Education Reform Committee and the Public Safety Police and Finance Committee.
“To me, this position – I take it very seriously,” she said. “I strive to find consensus and good common-sense solutions. I look at this as more of a public service.”
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