Candidate's viewpoint: Ann Marie Metzger

Thank you to the Woodbury Bulletin for providing a forum to let the voters know my priorities and values.

My name is Ann Marie Metzger, and I’m the DFL-endorsed candidate for the state House of Representatives for District 53B.

My family and I have lived in Minnesota for 15 years, all of them here in Woodbury. I am running because the Minnesota I have grown to love is going in the wrong direction. Like me, the people I speak with in our community are concerned that our quality of life we value is at risk.

And they should be concerned. My opponent and the Republican majority didn’t do their job. After shutting down the government, they didn’t even solve the state’s fiscal problems. They left us with a $3.5 billion deficit. With my 15 years experience in finance, I’ll focus on balancing our budget fairly, not on the backs of property taxpayers, our schools and seniors.

We can also find reforms and efficiencies in our budget. As a health care activist, I’ve already helped our state recover over $70 million in excess insurance company profits.

I want to do the hard work to put us back on track. As your representative I will focus on the right priorities: building a strong economy with a strong middle class. That means focusing on the practical concerns we all deal with, like educating our children and finding affordable health care.

I believe education is key to our long-term competitiveness. We will not improve education by attacking teachers and slashing programs. Rather, investing in our children’s education will help to secure their future and provide the educated workforce critical to business growth. Let’s invest in the future instead of borrowing from it. I will work to make sure our schools have what they need to prepare our children for 21st century opportunities.

In order to thrive, our families and our economy also rely on affordable access to quality health care. Making sure all Minnesotans have the health care they need is not only smart for our economy and our state, it’s the right thing to do. Our businesses and families deserve a health care system where insurance companies no longer decide who is worthy of health care. I will work to ensure no Minnesotan is denied the health care they need.

Thank you for your consideration, and I ask for your vote on Nov. 6.

Metzger is the Democratic candidate running in House District 53B

Tags: opinion, viewpoint, elections