(Editor’s Note: The following column was submitted by Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer.)

Our state has always been known for its accessibility throughout rural Minnesota, safe streets for our families, and a legislature that truly represents its people. In recent days, weeks, months, and years, some of that has come into question. Over the course of the pandemic, new issues have arisen that have been in need of attention for quite some time and now we have the task of fixing it to keep our state running properly, safely, and in an effective manner for each unique area. 

Public Safety and Criminal Accountability 

At this point, we have all heard of the tragedy that occurred in St. Paul and there have been many reactions from everyone ranging from scared, to angry, to concerned, and everything in between. Frankly, I am upset. This was preventable because the shooter who took the life of one innocent Minnesotan should have been in jail at the time of the shooting for driving while impaired, which was also a break of his conditional probation. The suspect was armed with a gun he illegally acquired while on probation for breaking the terms of his probation, after being given numerous chances to change his behavior dating back to 2007.  

The issue the legislature needs to be focusing on and cracking down on the sentencing guidelines – keeping repeat offenders off the street. Currently, sentencing guidelines are just that: guidelines for prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges can use at their discretion. This involves deciding whether the crime is dangerous enough, combined with a criminal history, to put them in jail. In Hennepin County, for example, 51% of criminals received stayed sentences and were sent back to our communities even though the guidelines recommended prison time. 

At the end of the day, this tragedy has unfortunately highlighted the many issues with our judicial system. These failures have resulted in a horrific tragedy forever changing the lives of families, friends, and communities. This could have been prevented and as a State Senator on the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, I am absolutely dedicated to ensuring this does not happen again. 

This week, the Judiciary and Transportation Committees will have an informational hearing on the escalation of violent crime in Minnesota. This event can be viewed at the link here (www.Senate.mn/media/media_coming_up.html). 

Legislative Residency Issues

Since July, a DFL House Representative has been dodging questions about his residency since he was pulled over and presented a Wisconsin driver’s license. This called into question where he truly lives, if he resides in the district he represents, and whether or not he is even qualified for his elected position. When a civilian goes to vote in any type of election, they must provide proof of residency before they are allowed to engage – why does this not apply to those seeking election to represent the people voting for them? 

Representative John Thompson, the man entangled in this debate, opted out of listing his home address and instead listed a PO Box. This is allowed for the safety of our legislative members and up until this point, has essentially been enforced on an honor system with an affidavit. At this point, the system of being Minnesota Nice and trusting a checked box has become obsolete and we need to make a change. This issue truly comes down to the voters. The voters deserve to have representatives who have good intentions for their communities and ties to local leaders. I am committed to making changes to ensure our districts are being properly represented. 

Reopening Rural Services

Throughout the pandemic, services such as Department of Vehicle Services (DVS) locations were shut down, inherently impacting rural districts the most. Last week, my colleagues and I sent a letter to the Commissioner of Public Safety to demand a series of locations be reopened. During Session, the legislature appropriated millions of dollars for a dedicated account to cover the costs of providing these services, and our taxpayers deserve to conveniently use what they are paying for. Members of the legislature and Minnesotans across the state are waiting eagerly to hear from the Department of Public Safety on when these locations will reopen and why it has taken so long to get to this point.

I would be happy to hear from you on these or any other legislative issues you have. I am always available through email at Sen.Mary.Kiffmeyer@Senate.MN or you can call me at 651-296-5655.