Last night we had a great turnout at our Town Meeting in West St Paul. Senator Klein and I worked with about 100 people from the District talking about a wide variety of issues. Thank you to everyone who participated. There was a wide variety of questions ranging from opioid responses, transit, health care, pollinators, state employee contracts and sewers. We look forward to more public meetings.
ELECTION DAY TODAY
Here is the Secretary of State's web page for voting information, finding your polling place and more: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/
VETERAN'S DAY
On Friday, we take special opportunity to honor the Veterans who have served our country. Here are two Veterans Day events that might interest you:
MN Veterans Day Warriors Hockey Showcase at Doug Woog Arena: The Warriors hope is to help each other and Veterans get through the rough times with the bond that is built on and off the ice through Hockey. http://www.mnwarriors.com/
Blacksmithing for Veterans: Blacksmithing can be a form of mental and physical therapy and provide a creative outlet for many people, including disabled Veterans and Veterans with PTSD. This event is open to all military personnel, past and present. Whether you have never swung a hammer before, have some experience, or have a disability that prevents you from enjoying hobbies like blacksmithing. https://mn.gov/mdva/news/events/?id=1066-313310
MN.IT / REAL ID IMPLEMENTATION
I received this news this morning from Jon Eichten of MN.IT:
On behalf of Commissioner Baden, I am pleased to inform you that Dana Bailey will be joining Minnesota IT Services as Executive Director of Projects & Initiatives. She will manage the growing number of large and complex projects at MN.IT, starting with leading the implementation of our new driver’s license system and REAL ID for the State of Minnesota.
Dana will also work to improve our partnerships with other state agencies and stakeholders, in an effort to deliver major projects on time and on budget. Dana’s first priority upon assuming the responsibilities of the position will be to work as a liaison between IT and stakeholders to successfully implement REAL ID. Commissioner Baden and Commissioner Dohman have charged her with reassigning responsibilities and changing our reporting structure to better prioritize goals, increase accountability, and better communicate with our project partners and the public.
Dana has over fifteen years of experience in community and stakeholder engagement and public policy implementation. She comes to MN.IT most recently from the role of Chief of Staff to St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, and she previously served as a Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith, where she oversaw some of the Administration’s top priorities and numerous complex projects. She is an experienced problem solver who has delivered results, and we are thrilled she is joining our team.
Dana’s first day will be December 1st. In the meantime, please let us know if you have any questions or would like additional information.
Best regards,
Jon
What is MN.IT? https://mn.gov/mnit/
LEGISLATIVE AUDIT COMMISSION - Nov 9
We have an Audit Commission meeting on Thursday. Here is a link to information about the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s Special Review Authority.