Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul, is seeking a third term representing Minnesota House District 66B and faces Republican Greg Copeland in the November election. District 66B includes the Como Park, North End and Payne-Phalen neighborhoods in north-central St. Paul.

General information about the Nov. 5, 2024, election is online at twincities.com/news/politics/elections including information on candidates for races in Ramsey, Dakota and Washington counties. To find out what’s on your ballot, where to vote and other election information, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s elections page at sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting.

Greg Copeland

Undated courtesy photo, circa Oct. 2020, of Greg Copeland, candidate for Minnesota Senate, District 66 in the Nov. 2020 election.

Party: Republican

Age: 70

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Legislation to Reduce Property Taxes for Senior, Working Families and others whose incomes fall below 50% of the median income; approximately $35,800 for a single person, $46,800 for a couple, $68,845 for a family of four; which would provide for Property Tax Reduction of 50% on a Homestead . Local Government’s are literally taxing low income people out of their homes as they have increased property taxes far in excess of wage and social security increases, while at the same time the assessed value of homes has doubled for homes below the median sales prices. We must extend the same protections to low income homeowners as we do to help those who use the same 50% of Median Income standard to provide public housing assistance. Local governments spending should not be allowed to exceed the financial capacity of taxpayers to pay for it. Public Education Reform of our Saint Paul Public Schools is required to provide each student with an Individual Education Success Plan. No longer can we as citizens allow students to proceed without reading and math skills that are below their grade level. Education is about acquiring new skills and insights, not a sentence to time in classrooms where the State Tests indicate a majority of poor and students of color are performing below State Standards. Parents must have the Right to Choose where their children will get the Best Education, and if that is a Public Charter School or Private School, the decision is the parents and the public education dollars should go with the student to the school of the parents choice. Vocational and college education loans as they are repaid should qualify for up to a $10,000 tax credit for students as they annually make repayment. Let’s reward our students by helping them get a head start by staying in Minnesota after college graduation to help our state meet our skilled labor shortages with this financial incentive.

What qualifies you to hold this position?

My hands-on record of Public Service: Saint Paul’s CIB, Capital Improvements Budget Committee for 6 years where led the fight to replace the Earl Street Bridge, Edgerton Street Bridge & Arcade Street Bridge, as well as the development of Phalen Blvd. I Served on the Saint Paul Charter Commission for 12 years and on the Payne Phalen D5 District Council. I served the Maplewood City Council as City Manager where I proposed a successful reorganization of city government that reduced Administrative Costs by $750,000, and reduced overall spending by another $1.4 mlllion; and I hired four new police officers, and several additional emergency medical Technicians, EMTs; and Froze City Property taxes, and Cut Taxes in the next year! Two years of Reduced Spending & Lower Taxes, a Minnesota Miracle!

What do you think is the primary role of government?

Providing for the Public’s Safety is the First Duty of Government; Fund The Police! Citizens and Businesses also want Firefighters and Emergency Medical Service Personnel properly funded, equipped and staffed! Public Officials must set Priorities and limit the size and scope of government. Citizens must heard before government acts; it is a First Amendment Right of Citizens to Petition their government, and a Transparent Government is required to maintain the trust of the Citizens. Minnesota State, County, City and School Boards need to all do a better job of Listening to The People! of

How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you?

In my many years of Public service I have found understanding comes from listening to people, and then asking questions that clarify what is in dispute, to specify as fully as possible the issues where agreement has not been reached. People also need time and space to consider offers to resolve the matter. I have negotiated labor contracts with unions, law suit settlements, budget disputes, land use conflicts, employment issues successfully by build or rebuilding trust and relationships to advance mutual respect to resolve differences successfully. You have to be positive and work at finding agreement .

Website or contact information:

gregcopeland911.Wordpress.com; gregcopeland911@gmail.com

Athena Hollins (did not respond to questionnaire)

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

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