DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in the candidates responses are the sole views of their own. They do not reflect the opinions or views of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce or its members. The candidate statements below do not imply the expression of any endorsement whatsoever by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce or its members.
David Senjem (I)
Why are you running for office, and how does your experience qualify you for the position?
I am running for re-election to the District 2 Olmsted County Commissioner seat first and foremost because I have a deep and abiding love for our community and I want to give back. It is really that simple. The Rochester community has given me so much. I believe we all need to in some way use whatever time and talents we have to work towards making our community a better place. I happen to have a strong interest in government and public policy and want to use whatever knowledge, skills, and relationships I have developed during my public service experiences to serve the interests of Olmsted County and most especially the citizens county government strives to serve in the best possible way.
Clearly my past service on the city council, the Minnesota Senate, and now one term on the county board has prepared me. I have personal relationships with whoever our next governor will be, as well as, legislative leaders and others in key positions have been and, if re-elected, will be of great benefit to Olmsted County.
What are your top two priorities/issues as a candidate?
My first priority/issue is a well run Olmsted County that serves the citizens of the county in a fair, transparent, trusted, and connected way. Clearly, government, in my mind, has never been less trusted and respected in many respects for good reason. If re-elected, I want to continue to do everything I can do to ensure that the citizens of Olmsted County have a government they can trust and believe in. It is so important.
My second priority/issue is mental illness. As we all know and well understand it is near pervasive in our society in varying degrees. Clearly for the most seriously ill there is a huge shortage in Minnesota of long term treatment beds available. We need a new mental health hospital in Minnesota. On any given night an open bed in Minnesota is almost impossible to find. People in serious need of help all too often are found living on our streets or being stored in our jails. If re-elected, I want to work with my Olmsted County colleagues and county commissioners from across Minnesota in taking this matter to our new governor and state legislature. It won’t be easy but big initiatives never are. It is time to step up to this profoundly critical issue.
Gabe Perkins
Why are you running for office, and how does your experience qualify you for the position?
The challenges facing Olmsted County over the next decade will require new energy, fresh perspectives and long-term leadership—especially when it comes to public health. One of the most important roles the commissioners have is acting as the local board of health. My strong record on public health work at the American Cancer Society passing clinical coverage, and off label prescriptions drugs to treat cancer patients made an impact. The cuts that will impact county health/social services and our neighbors are real and we need experience at the table. As the previous Chair of the Olmsted County Public Health Advisor Board, I helped lead the passage of the local smoke free restaurant ordinance, which later became the statewide Freedom to Breathe Bill. I worked with area small business restaurant leaders like Joe Powers, to show it was good for business, was common sense, common courtesy and saved lives. We had high community engagement and no business closed due to the ordinance. It made me very proud that Olmsted County led the state on this issue, and I see ways we can continue to take the lead on public health by eliminating the sales of flavored vapes and kratom products. Folks can refer to my website for more information on how these are endangering kids.
What are your top two priorities/issues as a candidate?
Public Health: As stated above, there are a number of emerging public health needs that the County board needs to address. Big tobacco is using flavored vapes to entice a new generation of kids to get hooked on nicotine and the fairly unregulated sales of Kratom products is a source of overdose visits to the emergency room. These are new issues that need a leader that is willing to lead on these issues. The county should be leading the state and the nation on this. We are the county of the Med City after all.
Affordable Housing: I see affordable housing as an extension of our public health. It is impossible to be well as a community if those who live and work here are struggling to meet their most basic needs. In the 90s this was one of the best places to live in the country because the housing was affordable and there were good jobs. We seem to have lost our way. The county board is the local housing authority, but I don’t see any action or plan in place to bring our community back to where we need to be. We need at least 18,000 to 20,000 more homes in the next decade. I want to bring key stakeholders together from city, county, townships, state government, HUD, local builders and banks to work the problem.
Bob Hopkins (I)
Why are you running for office, and how does your experience qualify you for the position?
Service has been the defining principle of my life—from serving in the United States Navy, to serving as a federal government executive, to serving today as Olmsted County Commissioner for District 6.
As your County Commissioner, I have worked to protect the people and principles that make Olmsted County strong:
- Speaking out against Medicaid and SNAP cuts that threaten essential services
- Protecting affordability by voting against raising vehicle registration fees
- Defending private voter information and the integrity of our elections
- Demanding accountability by voting to restore over-taxation back to taxpayers
- Promoting responsible government by voting against commissioner pay raises
There is more work to do. I'm running for reelection because I believe Olmsted County succeeds when we grow together—when we invest wisely, protect those who need us most, and create opportunities so every resident and business has the chance to thrive and no one is left behind.
What are your top two priorities/issues as a candidate?
Affordable Housing:
We must address the shortage of housing in the greater Rochester area. Attracting and retaining the workforce needed to support our growing economy requires a sufficient supply of affordable housing options. Ensuring that people can afford to live and work in Olmsted County is essential to our long-term prosperity.
Responsible Budgeting:
Counties across Minnesota are experiencing significant funding pressures due to reductions in state and federal support for programs such as SNAP and Medicaid. Olmsted County is on the front line of delivering these benefits and other essential services to our residents. To maintain the high level of service our residents expect and deserve, we must make responsible budget decisions that preserve critical programs while minimizing additional property tax burdens on county taxpayers.
Michael Wojcik
Why are you running for office, and how does your experience qualify you for the position?
I’ve lived in this community for more than 25 years and am raising two kids here. The community has been good to me; but someone starting out here now has a significantly harder time than I did in 1999. I served 12 years on the Rochester City Council where I led on issues like the creation of Cascade Lake Park, securing BRT transportation dollars, and welcoming thousands of housing units. Property tax increases were less then as well. I have decades of experience in urban design, community engagement, transportation, and finance. I hold Masters Degrees in Engineering and Business, but the best education I have ever received is spending time with communities in more than 50 different nations on 6 continents. I remain active in the community and really didn’t have any desire to get back into the local office. The spark that led to my filing for County Commissioner was when I was sent a video of my County Commissioner attempting to ban an award winning children's book at my public library. There is no place for that behavior in a city that wishes to be respected. I also watched as this same leadership supported changes that would reduce Rochester Public Library funding and cast the lone vote against a facilities masterplan to create better access outside of downtown. Children in our community deserve champions, not obstacles.
What are your top two priorities/issues as a candidate?
Number 1 by a distance is affordable housing. The Rochester area needs 10 to 20 thousand units to balance our market and create real affordability. Additionally we need more spaces for an aging population and multigenerational housing. Rochester is geographically larger than Minneapolis with a small fraction of the population. This means that if nothing changes we will all be crushed under the taxes needed to maintain underutilized infrastructure and overstretched public services. Building the community of 1960 won’t work in 2026.
Number 2 is to ensure we are a community that works for everyone, not just the wealthiest households. Housing affordability is a huge component of this, but access to small local businesses, parks, trails, libraries and the arts are what make a community worth moving to or staying in. We need to think about the next generations, they want transportation options, livable neighborhoods, and progressive policies that value all people. When I see an attempt to ban an award winning children’s book at our public library, I know a change in leadership is needed.