Why did I run for state representative:
For a long time, I have felt like my focus has been on changing things for the entire country. Since I became an adult and started working in immigration law, I've been trying to get politicians to make our immigration laws better. In 2020, I was feeling like this wasn't working very well. So when I heard that there was an opening here in our district to run for the State House, I decided that this was a great way to make a positive difference in my community in a way that I would be able to see and know truly helped people.
Luckily, that has happened! In my first year, I authored laws that were signed by the Governor that helped veterans and immigrant victims of crimes, as well as kids in schools who needed some extra emotional support from their teachers. I'm really happy that I made this choice!
What is my favorite part of the job?:
It's hard to choose! Here are a few things I love:
- I love meeting people who live in the community and hearing what they care about and answering their questions. I didn't realize how much time I would spend just on this part of the job, and how it is the most important thing I do.
- I love having conversations with my co-workers who don't agree with me on everything. In the laws I mentioned, I had many conversations with state representatives who had different concerns and beliefs than I do. We had really positive conversations about how we could make the laws better so that everyone would feel comfortable with them. These types of conversations can be tricky, and I like the challenge of having tough conversations in a polite, friendly way.
- I love being in a role where I can impact the lives of many Minnesotans. I care so much about our schools, about fairness and justice, and protecting the environment - being able to work on laws that will make a difference is a huge honor and joy for me.
- Lastly, I'm a super-nerd and I love working on the structure and language of the laws I want to see passed. I enjoy thinking about how to write really good laws that have a real chance of getting enough people to vote for them that they get signed by the Governor.
What are my hobbies?:
My biggest hobby is writing. I write novels about romance and friendship and music. I also love reading these kinds of books. We call them "upmarket women's fiction." I finished my last book that took me about seven years to write just before I decided to run for office. I'm going to make a few more edits to the last section and then I'm probably going to work with the MN Library Association to release it to everyone to read. They have a cool program to encourage hobby writers like me to share their books.
I also love to sing. I used to sing when I lived in New Orleans, and I don't have as much time anymore. Now I watch musicals with my kids and I sing a lot in the car.
I also love the Twins and my family and I go to a lot of baseball games each year.
Favorite color and animal:
I love green and I love tortoises. Our tortoise is 16 years old and we've had him since he was a baby. When we got him, he fit in my hand and would sit on my head while I studied. How he's too heavy for me to carry and he's about the size of a basketball-and-a-half.