Category: SD44

Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: March 5, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’ll join me this Saturday at the Minnetonka Community Center for a town hall. Representative Ginny Klevorn, Senator Paul Anderson, and I will be discussing the progress that we’ve made at the Capitol and answer questions from community members.

At the Capitol

I recently attended my first meeting of the Clean Water Council. This coalition makes recommendations regarding the Clean Water Fund to the legislature and the governor. This fund restores and enhances water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams and protects our groundwater and drinking water sources. I’m honored to serve on the Clean Water Council and excited to work on these important issues. Read more about the Clean Water Council here.

Last Monday was STEM Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Robotics teams from all over the metro area were in attendance, including the Hopkins Technocrats! It was great to see their energy and enthusiasm.

Continue reading “Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: March 5, 2019”

Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: February 27, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you’re having a wonderful week. There was lots of activity at the Capitol last week, beginning with a historic Sovereignty Day on Monday and the first public hearing for one of my bills on Tuesday. I also had the opportunity to meet with several advocacy groups from our community.

At the Capitol

The first Sovereignty Day at the Capitol was held last Monday. Leaders from all 11 of Minnesota’s tribal nations came to give us a better understanding of their history and issues that are important to them. It was an informative and emotional day. I encourage you to watch the presentations here.

My Solar on Schools plan had its first public hearing last week. HF 1133 is a combination of two things that I’m passionate about: clean energy and schools! It would provide grants for installing solar energy systems on school buildings. Bringing solar to Minnesota schools would save school districts money and provide learning opportunities for students and community members. Continue reading “Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: February 27, 2019”

Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: February 18, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

As another week begins here at the Capitol, here’s a quick update on what I’ve been up to.

At the Capitol 
Jodi, one of my constituents, visited me at the Capitol to advocate for increasing regulations and improving the quality of life for those in assisted living facilities, especially those who need memory care services. I was happy to share that I’m a co-author of House File 649, a comprehensive reform of assisted living facilities.

I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to contact me. Connecting with constituents is my top priority and my favorite part of serving as your representative!

Continue reading “Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: February 18, 2019”

Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: February 8, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

Today marks the end of my first month as your representative! It’s an honor to serve as your voice at the Capitol. Here’s an update on the work that I’ve been doing.

At the Capitol
We had our first official floor vote on H.F. 51 this week! This legislation would allow homeowners to formally renounce restrictive covenants on their home titles. In the past, these covenants were used to prevent minority communities from moving into residential neighborhoods. While restrictive covenants are no longer legal, the language often remains on documents. The bill would permit homeowners to repudiate the racist language while preserving the title for future study of racist housing policies. We voted unanimously in favor of the bill, which gives me hope for more bipartisan legislation to come. Continue reading “Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: February 8, 2019”

Q&A with Rep. Patty Acomb: Her priorities as a first-term legislator

Minnetonka, Minnesota — Rep. Patty Acomb, D-Minnetonka, is serving her first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 44B.

Lakeshore Weekly News contacted Acomb to ask her a few questions about the legislative session, which began Jan. 8.

What are three of your goals this session?

As a new member, some key goals I have for early this session include:

  • Learning as much as I can about the state agencies, the issues, and potential legislation that are important to our community, so that I can be an effective representative. I am serving on four committees, including State Government Finance, Environment and Natural Resources Policy, Energy and Climate Finance and Policy, and Health and Human Services Finance.
  • Building relationships with my follow legislators — I am only one of 201 representatives and senators in the state Legislature, and will need to develop collaborative and bipartisan coalitions to address issues successfully.
  • And finally, I want to hear from constituents about their ideas, concerns, and feedback on what the state should be doing. Hearing from you allows me to be a better representative. I am also planning some town halls in my district, with the first one in early February.

View the complete January 28 article by Melissa Turtinen on The Lakeshore Weekly website here.

Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: January 29, 2019

 

Dear Neighbors,

I hope that you are staying warm and safe! Please remember to check in on senior citizens, vulnerable adults, and others who are especially at risk this week with the extreme cold.

At the Capitol
It’s starting to feel like I’m settling into a routine here at the Capitol. My days are filled with community hearings and meetings with constituents and organizations. I’ve also been catching up on the many emails and phone calls that I’ve received from constituents. Please continue to reach out!

Though it’s still early in the session, dozens of bills are being introduced at each House floor session. I introduced my own first bill last week! This proposal—House File 333—provides a sales tax exemption for the construction materials to be used for the new public safety facility in the city of Minnetonka. This combined with funding from the city will allow for improved police and fire protection in our community. You can read more about it here. Continue reading “Rep. Patty Acomb (HD44B) Update: January 29, 2019”

Situation with Minnetonka City Council Opening

Minnetonka will have a vacancy in the at-large City Council Seat B when Patty Acomb joins the Minnesota Legislature in early January. Three years remain in the seat’s four year term.
The City Council is now considering whether to hold a special election on April 9 to fill that seat for the remainder of the term, or to appoint an interim council member which does not require a competitive application process. If there is an interim appointment, the seat will be on the ballot in November (and if 3+ candidates file, it would also be on the primary ballot in August).

Minnetonka residents may contact the City Council to express their thoughts on the process for filling this vacancy before the January 7, 2019 meeting of the Minnetonka City Council.

For more information on this question, please review the Dec. 3, 2018 City Council meeting video for the Council Members’ comments (starting at timestamp 1:14), and the staff report below.  Continue reading “Situation with Minnetonka City Council Opening”

Strong suburban showing puts DFL in control of House

The DFL will control the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 2019-20 biennium.

Winning a number of key races in the Twin Cities suburbs, the DFL picked up 18 seats in Tuesday’s elections and will hold a 75-59 advantage when the House convenes Jan. 8, 2019.

Much of the change occurred in the Twin Cities suburbs, especially near and just off the Interstate 494-694 corridor, where DFL candidates beat incumbent Republicans in places like Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Edina, Lakeville, Plymouth, Rosemount, Stillwater and Woodbury.

Three races were within 250 votes: Rep.-elect Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie) beat Rep. Jenifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie) by 241 votes with 20,577 votes cast; Rep.-elect Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven) beat Rep. Cindy Pugh (R-Chanhassen) by 216 votes with 23,372 cast; and Rep.-elect Shelly Christensen (DFL-Stillwater) beat Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Stillwater) by 137 votes in a race where 22,630 votes were cast.

View the complete November 7 article by Mike Cook on the Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services’ website here.

Election Endorsement District 44B: Patty Acomb

Legislators with prior service in nonpartisan local government are often strong performers at the State Capitol. That’s the experience that three-term Minnetonka City Council member Patty Acomb would bring if she’s elected to an open Minnetonka seat. She gets our nod over Republican Gary Porterto succeed retiring DFL Rep. Jon Applebaum.

DFLer Acomb, 53, is knowledgeable not only about the many ways state and local governments interact, but also about natural resource management, environmental protection and the coming clean energy revolution. Her career included staff positions at the state Department of Natural Resources and Hennepin County Environmental Services; she has also worked on energy policy for the National League of Cities. As a breast cancer survivor, she also has a keen interest in health care policy.

Her candidacy was motivated by dismay over the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting. Acomb’s family owns guns and enjoys hunting. She aims to strike a balance between protection of recreational use of firearms and prevention of mass shootings.

View the complete October 30 endorsement on the Star Tribune here.