Minnesota 2022 elections: House District 40A candidates

Pioneer Press elections team, Pioneer Press
·2 min read
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House District 40A

Kelly Moller

  • Age: 49

  • Party: DFL

  • City:Shoreview

  • What qualifies you to hold this position? I was first elected as State Representative in 2018, and have served as Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. For 20 years, I have been a prosecutor and victims’ rights advocate, as well as a community volunteer in youth sports, church, Mounds View Public Schools, and Shoreview’s Public Safety Committee.

  • What would your top priorities be if elected?1) Common sense gun violence prevention legislation, including criminal background checks, red flag laws, safe storage laws, and reporting stolen guns; 2) Meeting the needs of all students, including those with disabilities and mental health concerns; and 3) Protecting a woman’s personal decisions about reproductive freedom.

  • Politics has become very divisive in recent years, if elected, what would you do to improve the tone? I have reached across the aisle to work with Republicans on bipartisan public safety legislation. A glance at the list of bills I have introduced and passed will show bipartisan support for this work, especially on updating our statutes on sexual assault. When legislators don’t focus on who will get the credit, bipartisanship is possible.

  • Website or contact: votekellymoller@gmail.com; 651-4860-8096

Ben Schwanke

  • Age: 32

  • Party: R

  • City: Arden Hills

  • What qualifies you to hold this position? I have served as a Shoreview Human Rights Commissioner and member of the Educaiton Minnesota Governing Board. However, I am also a taxpayer, a math teacher, coach and actively involved citizen who believes we deserve much better than bitter partisanship we are right now.

  • What would your top priorities be if elected? The #1 issue in any campaign is leadership. I offer that leadership with the priorities being the skyrocketing cost of living, the epidemic of violent crime in the metro area, and improving educational outcomes.

  • Politics has become very divisive in recent years, if elected, what would you do to improve the tone?It’s a sad state of affairs when my middle school students exercise more maturity & compromise than adults in the capitol building. I will take my skills as a teacher, coach, & contract negotiator to the capitol to work for a common goal. The partisan blame game & lack of passing any meaningful legislation is testament that it is time for change.

  • Website or contact: schwankeforhouse@gmail.com; 651-243-0794

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