Candidate Forum-MN House District 53A & 53B

2020 Candidate Forum: MN House Representatives District 53A & 53B
The Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting an election forum for Woodbury Minnesota House Representatives candidates on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at City Hall from 3 – 4:00 pm. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will only allow the candidates, moderators and the film crew from South Washington County Cable in the council chambers. The event will be live streamed and a link will be on our website for those who prefer to watch at a different time. There will be no fee for any members or residents to view the forum.
 

Minnesota House Representative District 53A Candidates
 

 

William works as a software engineer and team lead for a startup business in Minneapolis. He lives with his beloved wife of six years in their house in Oakdale, and enjoys making music, building things out of wood, renovating their house, and serving in his church. He cares deeply about his country and is grieved at the deep division which has permeated society as a result of a bifurcation in fundamental world views. He hopes to inspire Americans regarding the incredible classically liberal ideals upon which America was founded: Freedom and Liberty as inherent rights of the human, protected by government which derives its authority from the consent of the governed. Contact via email william@williamjohnston.us

 

Minnesota House Representative District 53B Candidates
 

Steve Sandell, Incumbent
Our State Legislature is a precious and unusual institution. It represents the inspiration for a government that can serve and benefit all of us; at the same time it provides for the division of differences and the difficulty of finding consensus. The great thing about it is its dedication to democracy—providing a voice for all, offering opportunities for the brilliance of vision and the deliberate efforts of compromise. It’s a challenge and an honor to serve there.  My wife and I moved to Woodbury 17 years ago after living in St. Paul where we worked and where our children grew up. I’ve been a teacher, coach, school administrator, and YMCA board member. I was head of education at the Minnesota Historical Society and director of a museum of government and politics at the University of Minnesota. I’ve published a textbook of Minnesota history and an analysis of school reform for the Business School at Stanford. I earned my BA at Brown University, teacher certification at Macalester, and MA in education and public policy at Stanford as a Bush Foundation Fellow. I was elected to the House in 2018. Campaign webpage is www.sandellmn53b.org, Facebook @sandell53B, and Instagram @SteveSandell53B. 
 
Kelly Jahner-Byrne, Candidate
Kelly has lived in Woodbury nearly 25 years; she is an entrepreneur, small business owner and chamber member for more than a decade. Kelly has volunteered for everything from the annual golf tournament, the gala as emcee and cohost to facilitator of the Speed Networking event between local businesses. She was Mrs. Minnesota 2001 and helped fundraise for the Woodbury Fire Department and Community Foundation for the purchase of thermal imaging equipment. She’s the founder of the Cancer Benefit Fund a 501 © (3), which has raised nearly $1million for cancer research and local patient care. Her volunteer efforts span more than 25 charity organizations nationally raising in excess of $3 million. Kelly is the author of “Volunteer for Life, Achieving Your Personal and Professional Goals” and “One Great Idea,“   Kelly attended The University of Minnesota and College of St. Catherine. She earned an A.S. in Business from IHCC and worked in the travel industry with American Express, Uniglobe and globally for Choice Hotels International. Kelly enjoys traveling, waterskiing and snowmobiling. She serves the Woodbury Athletic Association as co-team manager and hockey mom alongside her husband John, a professional Chef and former Woodbury Fire Captain. They have two children.  Website: www.Kelly4House.com,  www.GoAskKelly.com; Email: Kelly@GoAskKelly.com; Direct: 651-283-8333