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It’s a Matter of |
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PRIORITIES |
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DISTRICT 49B - Coon Rapids - Andover |
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Jake Cimenski |
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For State Representative |
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Prepared and paid for by Jake Cimenski Campaign Committee; Ben Riechers, Treasurer 2650 130th Cir NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 763-516-0041 jake@jake08.net
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1. Biography (born, raised, educated; career; political involvement; community activities; family).
I was born in 1973 and raised in Royalton, MN where I graduated from Royalton High School. I joined the US Air Force and currently work as an IT Professional at a small software company. I am married to my wife Nicole with whom I have two young daughters—Isabelle and Abigail. I am an avid hunter and angler. I am a member of The Church of the Epiphany. Like many of you, I have an interest in the direction of our government and holding our elected officials accountable to the people. I am frustrated that the legislature has not set priorities, let our most important needs go unaddressed, and raised our taxes by the largest amount in history to do what should have been done in the first place. I felt it was time that we stop sending career politicians to the capitol and lend a voice to the average family. As a first-time candidate for public office, I am running for State Representative to put government back to work for us instead of the other way around. Our family must live within its means and I believe the state should set priorities to do so as well.
2. Why would you make an effective legislator? I think our family is similar to a lot of families in district 49B. We are a two income family with young children who care very deeply about quality education, safe neighborhoods, low taxes, and building a life for our family. Like most, we live here for the access to the jobs the metro area offers, but far enough out to enjoy a quiet and safe neighborhood. Unlike my opponent, I don’t want to make a career out of politics. I entered this race as a citizen who is concerned that government spending has become out of control. Also, I see the tax dollars we give to the state are going to fund other communities and are not being used in our community to support schools, roads, and create jobs. I want government to set priorities that reflects the needs of the average citizen in 49B. I feel government should be transparent and the elected officials accountable to the people they are supposed to represent. If elected, I will work to find solutions to the problems we face in this district and not repeat the mistakes of the current Minnesota Legislature that confuses spending money with real solutions.
3. What are the major issues of your campaign? I believe people in the district can look at their bank statement, open their bills, measure their commutes and understand the major challenges we experience. People in this district need a legislature that will keep spending in check so they can keep more of their hard earned money. They need incentives for businesses to grow so they will have jobs to support their family. They need increased capacity on our major roads and bridges so they can get to work. People need a quality education system and affordable healthcare so their children can grow to have a better quality of life. The community needs a welfare system that is focused on empowering people and does not provide incentive to people in other states to move to Minnesota in order to live in government dependency. As part of a two-income working family that lives within its means, I believe the state should properly set its priorities to do so as well. Unfortunately, many state legislators are pre-occupied with political posturing and keeping their jobs instead of doing their jobs. We need transparency, accountability, and priorities. Our community cannot continue to wait for solutions as career politicians seek their next job.
4. The state is expected to face a significant budget shortfall in the next biennium. What proposals would you make to fix it? Please be specific. I would first look to solve the projected deficit by advocating for reductions in government spending before tax increases. This past year the Minnesota Legislature passed the largest tax increase in history and still spent nearly a billion dollars over its budget. Government expenditures must be carefully scrutinized. I believe that we must not waiver in our commitment to Veterans’ benefits; however, other expenditures should be reviewed for waste and inefficiencies. We need to reform our welfare system into one that gives a hand up instead of a handout. At a minimum, we can make our welfare system comparable to neighboring states to reduce the incentive of leaving other states for Minnesota, which funded over $10 million of purchases in all 50 states last year. The state also paid for almost 4,000 abortions last year at the cost of $1.6 million. I’d support a ban on public subsidized abortions. I’d vote against giving local government aid to sanctuary cities and vote for English as the official state language so all of our students are prepared to enter the workforce. The state should lower one of the highest business tax rates. Businesses are leaving the state or curbing hiring because of our high tax environment.
5. How would you address K-12 education issues - funding, test scores, accountability?
Providing adequate and fair funding to K-12 education has to be a priority of state government. District 11 receives over $4000 less per student than do schools in Minneapolis. Equitable funding would help lower class sizes and hire more teachers/staff. Underperforming schools in Minneapolis are hurting Anoka schools and ultimately our children, and this must change.
There should be an emphasis on the basics of reading, writing, science and math. I think courses along the lines of bio-ethics and interpretive dance should be something a person takes and pays for in college, not in K-12 education. We must prepare our children for the need to learn and compete against a now global workforce. Our kids will compete against those in Asia and Europe for jobs. We do them a disservice when we don’t teach them the fundamentals.
As I previously stated in regards to state government, transparency and accountability in the local schools and district are paramount to ensuring that taxpayer money isn’t being wasted on a bloated administrative bureaucracy. Bottom line is that our money should stay here and support our programs so that our kids can compete globally. |
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Below is the complete submission to the Coon Rapids Herald’s Voter Guide survey, without the Editorial Board edits |