Who’s Running for MN State Representative of District 49A?
June 22, 2018
The latest election cycle is already racing towards the finish line; candidates have about four months to campaign before election day on November 6. With two candidates running for Minnesota State Representative in District 49A, Edina is already feeling the heat. District 49A encompasses the vast majority of Edina; its borders run along Highway 169 to the west and Xerxes Avenue to the east. The northern boundary is just past Interlachen Boulevard, while its southern borders are 70th Street and Braemar Blvd. Parts of Hopkins are also included in its boundaries.
The candidates, Heather Edelson (Democrat) and incumbent Dario Anselmo (Republican), have been neck-and-neck—and the race is expected to be a close one. However, if you’re still deciding who to vote for; Zephyrus has got you covered:
Heather Edelson
Education:
- Supports investing in schools and increasing school funding
- Institute universal and voluntary preschool education throughout the district
- Wants to cap tuition at Minnesota public universities and advocates for loan forgiveness for students
Environment:
- Supports the use of renewable energy
- Supports investing in infrastructure that can protect Minnesota’s natural resources
- Encourages investment in businesses with environmentally friendly practices
Economy:
- Aims to prevent tax increases on small businesses
Gun Control:
- Supports a ban on assault-style weapons
- Wants to get rid of any background check loopholes
- Desires partnering with law enforcement in schools and other public spaces to ensure the safety of citizens
- Supports initiatives to increase access to student mental health services in school and wants to increase mental health awareness
Dario Anselmo
Education:
- Supports investing in schools and increasing school funding
- Wants to increase opportunities for all students to attend their city’s public schools
- Supports affordability of public university tuition and a tax break for students with education loans
Environment:
- Supports conserving natural resources and energy independence, specifically, reducing dependence on fuel sources such as petroleum
- Wants to invest in the protection of Minnesota’s water quality
- Supports affordable energy solutions that will benefit consumers and businesses
Economy:
- Aims to reduce taxes on citizens and businesses
Gun Control:
- A prominent advocate for gun regulation—a more contemporary Republican view
- Supports strengthening background checks and common sense gun control legislation (such as background checks and age restrictions)
- Has supported a bill enforcing universal background checks in order to purchase a gun