Ken Kelash on the Issues
Government should work to improve peoples’ lives, to make communities great places to live, work, learn and play, to build on the successes of the past and prepare for the community of the future.
Jobs
Jobs in Minnesota are my first priority. Minnesota is a leader in the research for the jobs of the future. We lead in alternative energy, green technology, medical devices and healthcare. Minnesota can develop these jobs if we have the foresight to invest in the research, the education of the workforce and the infrastructure required to be competitive in the global economy.
My job and public service included helping men and women find better jobs with decent healthcare and pensions. My work on the Workforce Investment Boards provided funding and review of quality non-profits that helped people with barriers to employment, find the training and job skills they needed to find a job.
I’ve worked so that neighbors can work with their neighborhood organizations to choose the most critical issues in their neighborhood and have the funding to fix those problems. They worked to improve housing, schools, parks, public safety and the environment. The most creative solutions are not confined to City Hall.
I grew up in Richfield, at a time when large families were common and one income was enough to make ends meet. The community had enough revenue to build new schools, freeways, bridges, and city water and sewer systems to prepare for a growing population. The university system expanded, Community colleges were built and the tuition didn’t limit access to education. The educated workforce that came out of these investments helped Minnesota become a leader in healthcare, computer science, agriculture and more. For thirty years our unemployment rate was consistently lower than the national rate.
Transportation
We need to prioritize the maintenance and upgrades of our existing transportation infrastructure. That should include new modes of affordable public transportation, including light rail on the 494/694 corridor and high speed trains to our regional cities.
Health Care
Health care needs to include everyone. We need to find cost savings in the delivery and administration of healthcare. The States are taking the lead on Healthcare because the Federal Government has dropped the ball.
Energy
The energy crisis needs government leadership to jumpstart the green technology for future needs. Communities need help to make their buildings and fleets more energy efficient. Wind farms are great, but we need to generate more energy near our homes and businesses with wind and solar technologies developed for this urban environment.
At a very early age, I learned that if I make a mess, I better clean it up. That is how I view environmental cleanup. If a business is producing waste as a by-product of their manufacturing process, safely disposing that waste is part of the cost of production. We also need to reduce our carbon footprint, recycle more of our waste and develop alternatives to fossil fuel.
League of Women Voters Questions and Answers
The following are some questions asked of Ken by the League of Women Voters, and his answers.
What is the impact of Minnesota's aging population and how would you address it?
Minnesotans are living longer healthier lives. They have benefited from high quality healthcare, medical innovation and long-term health care facilities. The State's costs for healthcare, home care and nursing home care will continue to rise. As we all age, we require more doctor visits, medical tests and treatments. We’ll need more medical professionals and will have to find cost savings in the delivery and administration of healthcare. Now is the time to start investing in senior housing, support staff and the medical needs of our growing population of seniors. We need to provide better support for those seniors that wish to stay in their homes at a lower cost than nursing homes.
Minnesota needs to prepare for the aging “Baby Boomers” retirements. There will be more people retiring in the next ten years than there are people of working age to replace them. We need to invest in our workforce to increase their productivity in order to meet the demands of the jobs of the future.
How would you propose to address the significant financial difficulties of many school districts?
Let’s face the fact, our school districts have been losing state funding for years. Major expenses for districts have all been rising faster than the rate of inflation. All we have to do is look at our own finances to see why. Teachers, administrators, janitors and cooks all require health care insurance. Those insurance rates have increased at many times the rates of inflation. The cost to heat schools and put gas in the buses has sky-rocketed just like it has for all of us. Text books, technology and all the other school supplies are up. We don’t have enough money in the system to provide our children the great education that we had. Referendums for school operating expenses are starting to seem like an annual vote. Residential property taxes for county, city and school districts are already a burden on us, but especially on our neighbors that live on a fixed income.
Commercial property taxes have been reduced too far. Businesses that require an educated workforce should be willing to pay more for that education. We need a thoughtful tax increase dedicated to education funding. It is the right thing to do for kids.
Pro-Choice
I support a woman’s freedom to choose whether she wishes to have a child. I will not support any restrictions on that right.
Sexual preference
It is not up to the Government to decide what forms the pursuit of happiness should be for individuals. Restrictions on same sex unions and reduced access to partner benefit rights is discrimination and the State should recognize these unions.
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