| Name: | Steve Simon |
Other candidates in this race:
|
| Office: |
Minnesota District 44A State representative |
| Party: |
DFL |
| Incumbent: |
Yes |
| City of residence: |
St. Louis Park |
| Website: | http://www.stevesimon.net |
| Age: | 36 |
| Background: |
Raised in St. Louis Park and Hopkins; graduate of Hopkins High School, Tufts University and University of Minnesota Law School; attorney in private practice; former Minnesota assistant attorney general; Temple Israel congregation; board of Jewish Community Relations Council, Lenox Foundation and Hiawatha Leadership Academy |
| Endorsements: | Democratic Party; Education Minnesota; AFL-CIO; Police Officers Alliance of Minnesota; TwinWest Chamber of Commerce PAC; TakeAction Minnesota; Minnesota Farmers Union; Building and Construction Trades Council; AFSCME; Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis. |
| Most important issue: |
Education is the passport to prosperity. Student achievement should be Minnesota’s top priority. In my opinion, that means lowering class sizes, hiring and retaining excellent teachers, measuring outcomes fairly, experimenting with new approaches to learning, and adopting accountability measures to ensure maximum value for our public investments. We’ll be even more successful if we start earlier. Strong early childhood services increase the odds that kids will start school ready to learn. And all-day kindergarten should be available for kids (regardless of family income) whose parents choose that option. Overall, I’ll continue to be a strong voice on education issues. |
| Views: |
Candidates were asked to respond to statements on five policy issues. They were given seven options: "Strongly agree", "Somewhat agree", "Have mixed feelings", "Somewhat disagree", "Strongly disagree", "Have no opinion" and "Do not wish to respond."
| The state Constitution should be amended to define marriage and its legal equivalent as the union of one man and one woman. |
Strongly disagree |
| Minnesota should guarantee that every resident has health insurance, even if it means providing new or additional subsidies for individuals and businesses. |
Somewhat agree |
| Legislators should rule out tax increases during the next session |
Somewhat disagree |
| The state should provide more funding for K-12 education, even if it means reductions in other areas of the state budget or raising taxes. |
Strongly agree |
| The state Constitution should be amended to dedicate a portion of the sales tax to fund natural resources conservation. |
Somewhat agree |
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