Letter to the editor: Ward ‘gets it’

What an honor it has been to represent the residents of Maplewood, Oakdale, and Woodbury in the Minnesota House of Representatives over the past 16 years. We’ve made significant strides in furthering Minnesota core principles like quality schools, good roads, and good-paying jobs. We have further to go on property tax reform and restoring Minnesota to sound economic footing — but we can get there by electing new leaders like JoAnn Ward.

While I am sad to leave the Legislature, I am completely convinced that JoAnn Ward — the DFL-endorsed candidate for my seat — will be an outstanding state representative, and I wholeheartedly endorse her. JoAnn will represent the views and values of east suburbanites on key issues like job creation, quality education, affordable health care, and environmental protection.

JoAnn is an excellent communicator and perhaps more importantly, an excellent listener. JoAnn’s open, collaborative personality is a fresh change from the extreme, rigid partisanship that has stalled our state’s progress over the past few years. JoAnn really “gets” that in order to move forward we must balance competing interests and put partisan ideology aside for the good of our state.

With her unique combination of public and private sector experience — JoAnn is a former teacher and realtor — JoAnn has the tools and perspective to hit the ground running when the legislative session convenes in January. Please join me in sending JoAnn Ward to the Minnesota House to represent Woodbury, Maplewood, Oakdale, and Landfall at the State Capitol.

Rep. Nora Slawik - Maplewood

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, elections, updates