Category: SD48

‘Real Talk with Rick’: City of Eden Prairie joins the podcast wave

Eden Prairie City Manager Rick Getschow lets his guests’ experience guide the podcast. Credit: Eden Teller

Newsletters and social media are great for sharing information, but when Eden Prairie City Manager Rick Getschow wants to get real, he turns to his podcast.

“Real Talk with Rick” is the city’s first foray into the world of sound. Hosted by Getschow, every episode blasts to life with an energetic guitar riff and features a different guest who lives, works or leads in Eden Prairie.

Most recently, Getschow and State Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, D-Eden Prairie, hit the airwaves with a conversation ranging from the senator’s nickname, “Cwod,” to his childhood and teaching career. Other guests have shared their knowledge about the city’s 911 dispatch system (city IT systems engineer James Goldenstein) and the joys and challenges of running a business in Eden Prairie (Chamber of Commerce President Pat MulQueeny).

View the complete January 22 article by Eden Teller on The Eden Prairie News website here.

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: January 18, 2019

Dear Neighbors,

The first two weeks of the legislative session are behind us. It’s great getting to visit with members of the community and advocates on a wide variety of issues. This week, these meetings included one in the State Capitol rotunda with some Eden Prairie students, and one with Lyle Goff, Board Chair of the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, working to deliver the gift of sight to Minnesotans.

Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: January 18, 2019”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: January 18, 2019

Week of January 14th – 18th

Legislative Preview on AM 950

I had the opportunity to speak with Brett Johnson from AM 950 on his radio show. It was a gratifying and insightful discussion about the responsibilities I have as a state senator and what to expect form the upcoming legislative session. I was also able to answer questions from those who called in. Thanks to Brett for having me. You can listen to our conversation by clicking HERE.

Catching up with former students

While at Eden Prairie High School, I got to see my former student Aubrey Sebastian, who is now attending the University of Minnesota and working as an undergraduate researcher. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: January 18, 2019”

Starting Line: First bills of the 2019 Legislative Session

From the Minnesota House Public Information Service:

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: January 11, 2019

Week of January 7th – 11th

Kicking off 2019 with constituent engagement

Last weekend, Representative Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, Representative Laurie Pryor, and myself got together with our shared constituents to host a town hall meeting. It was a great way to start the year.

Our discussion included nearly two dozen topics, which are listed below. Continue reading “Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48) Update: January 11, 2019”

Health care, gun control top residents’ concerns at Eden Prairie town hall

Sen. Steve Cwodzkinski with Reps. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn and Laurie Pryor at Eden Prairie High School for the first town hall of the new legislative session. Credit: Eden Teller, Eden Prairie News

Before legislators return to St. Paul for the start of the new session on Jan. 8, Eden Prairie’s representatives sought the advice of their community in what they said was the best-attended town hall of their careers.

State Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, D-Eden Prairie and state representative Laurie Pryor, D-Minnetonka, and Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, D-Eden Prairie, spoke to about 150 people at Eden Prairie High School Saturday, Jan. 5 — the largest group that Pryor or Cwodzinski, on their second terms, had ever seen at a town hall.

“You’re making my heart sing, putting this thing called ‘we the people’ into action,” Cwodzinski told the crowd.

View the complete January 7 article by Eden Teller on The Eden Prairie News website here.

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: January 8, 2019

Dear Deb,

The 2019 Minnesota Legislative Session gets underway at noon today. I’m so honored and fortunate to be serving a second term

and I look forward to the work ahead. Here’s the view from my new office, room 571 of the State Office Building.

If you ever make your way to Saint Paul, I’d love for you to swing by and visit.

Town Hall Meeting

Thanks to all who attended the Town Hall Meeting on Saturday with Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, Rep.-elect Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn and myself. We had close to 200 engaged community members attend. The focus of the town hall was legislative priorities for the upcoming session. We discussed a diverse set of issues submitted by audience members with their comments. At the end of the discussion, those attending voted on their top three issues for the next legislature. The top vote-getters were health care, reducing gun violence, and climate change. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: January 8, 2019”

Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: December 21, 2018

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you will join Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, Rep.-elect Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, and me for a Town Hall Meeting to preview the upcoming legislative session. We will gather Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 a.m. at Eden Prairie High School in the East Commons. This meeting is non-partisan, and everyone is welcome to attend.

WHAT: Legislative Town Hall Meeting
WHO: Rep. Laurie Pryor, Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, and Rep.-elect Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn
WHEN: Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Eden Prairie High School (17185 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie, MN 55346) in the East Commons

Energy Efficiency
I recently had the opportunity to visit with The Weidt Group, an energy consulting firm in Minnetonka. They specialize in helping businesses optimize their return on investment for energy efficiency. I appreciated the chance to talk with them about energy policy in Minnesota and possible legislation in this session. Continue reading “Rep. Laurie Pryor (HD48A) Update: December 21, 2018”

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”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski (SD48): November 30, 2018

December, 2018

Back at Eden Prairie High School

I got another chance to visit Eden Prairie High School again this past month, and had another absolutely spectacular time talking to our next generation about civic virtue and political efficacy.

A former student of mine, Jessica Jacobson, was also in the classroom working in special education.

More civics with students

This past week I was also given the truly unique opportunity to talk with building and construction trades students about government and citizenship. No matter what profession you are in, it is always important to recognize your civic duty.

Touring the Capitol with Constituents and Former Students

This past month also included an enjoyable tour around the State Capitol with a constituent of mine, Tracy Johnson, and her family. One of her sons, Clayton, was a student of mine and brought along two of his friends who were also in my class. All three of these former students are now at the U of M law school. It was quite the reunion.

Celebrating National Adoption Day

Saturday, November 17 was National Adoption Day, and I went down to the Hennepin County courthouse to observe the proceedings. I got to see two colleagues finalize their adoption, and watch as the child was given their stuffed animal at the end of the proceedings.

Talking Southwest LRT with engineers

As you may have heard, we have officially broken ground on the Southwest Light Rail project as of 3pm today. Earlier in the week, I met with a group of engineers at SRF Consulting to discuss the logistics.

Lunch with a former Supreme Court justice

On Monday, Senator Matt Klein and I visited with former State Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson, an Eden Prairie institution. Despite hitting the court’s mandatory retirement age, Paul still continues to be an exemplary public servant.

Jacquelyn Cwodzinski visits the Capitol

This Thanksgiving break, my mom got the chance to come visit me at my new job. I would not be where I am without all of her hard work to support me.