Recap: Virtual Town Hall on Accountability, Education, and Minnesota’s Future

This evening, I hosted a virtual town hall to share where this campaign is headed and to begin an open conversation with Minnesotans about accountability, affordability, and trust in government.

This meeting was not a polished presentation or a final rollout of legislation. It was a working discussion — an opportunity to explain my thinking, hear feedback, and begin putting ideas on the table publicly.

Below is a clear summary of the key topics we discussed.

Campaign Announcement and Independence

I discussed my candidacy for Governor of Minnesota and explained why I am running as a centrist Democrat independent of political establishment funding and obligations.

A central theme of the conversation was independence. I am not running with political debts to donors, consultants, or special interests. That independence allows me to focus on fixing systems instead of protecting political relationships, and to speak honestly about problems that often go unaddressed.

Moving Toward a Self-Sustaining Minnesota

I shared my long-term vision for transitioning Minnesota from a tax-dependent model of government toward a more self-sustaining system.

Rather than repeatedly asking working families to cover the costs of inefficiency, I believe Minnesota should explore responsible, revenue-generating strategies that allow the state to better pay its own bills. This includes examining state-owned or state-partnered ventures that can reinvest profits into priorities like housing, education, and infrastructure.

This is a long-range conversation, not an overnight change, but one I believe Minnesota must begin.

Accountability and Financial Responsibility

Accountability was a recurring focus throughout the discussion.

I emphasized that fraud, misuse of public funds, and systemic financial mismanagement — regardless of political affiliation — must be addressed directly. Too often, when systems fail, the public is handed the bill. I believe that approach is backwards.

Minnesotans deserve a government that identifies where costs come from and holds the appropriate parties accountable, rather than automatically shifting the burden to taxpayers.

Immigration: A Framework for Discussion, Not a Final Proposal

We also discussed immigration and the financial impact of current enforcement practices, including “catch and release” policies. I raised concerns about the cost to taxpayers and the lack of transparency around those expenses.

It is important to be clear: what was discussed was not a finalized immigration proposal, but a framework for discussion meant to encourage honest, good-faith dialogue.

As part of that conversation, I outlined one possible accountability-based framework that could include:

• A defined registration period to bring individuals into the system

• Financial accountability measures intended to offset public costs

• Temporary work authorization tied to compliance

• Continued adherence to existing federal immigration law and visa processes

Any final policy must be developed collaboratively with legal experts, community leaders, educators, law enforcement, and affected families. This issue requires compromise, clarity, and humanity — not slogans.

Strengthening Minnesota’s Education System

I discussed my background in education and my concern that Minnesota’s education system is being held together by short-term fixes rather than long-term planning.

Educators, parents, and students are not the problem — systems are. As Governor, my focus would be on creating stability, transparency, and accountability so schools can prepare students for real life, not just the next budget cycle.

Education should be treated as a core investment in Minnesota’s future, not a flexible line item during fiscal stress.

Grassroots Campaign Approach

I also discussed how this campaign is being built.

This is a grassroots effort focused on direct communication with voters, not traditional, high-dollar fundraising. While financial support is necessary to run a campaign, my priority is sharing ideas openly, listening to feedback, and earning trust through transparency and follow-through.

The campaign website will continue to serve as a living platform where policies, updates, and public responses are posted as ideas are refined.

Next Steps

• Upload the completed Minnesota education questionnaire to the campaign website

• Continue rebuilding and updating the campaign website with platform details

• Host additional forums to refine ideas and hear directly from Minnesotans

Closing

This virtual town hall is part of an ongoing effort to build this campaign in the open. Ideas shared here will continue to evolve through conversation, research, and collaboration.

I appreciate everyone who took the time to participate and engage, and I look forward to continuing the work ahead.