by Dennis Dalman
In the race for Minnesota Senate District 13, the incumbent is being challenged by a newcomer in the Nov. 8 general election. On the ballot, voters will decide between current Sen. Jeff Howe and Alissa Brickman.
Brickman
Alissa Brickman (DFL-Sauk Rapids) is challenging incumbent Sen. Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) for the District 13 Senate seat in the Minnesota Legislature.
Brickman owns and operates a photography studio in Sauk Rapids and is a special education para-professional at Westwood School in St. Cloud. She and her husband have five children, two of them with special needs.
Among her legislative priorities, if elected, are the following, according to her campaign website:
Reproductive freedom
“Abortion is essential healthcare and all persons who may become pregnant deserve full bodily autonomy,” she stated. “I will defend reproductive freedom and vote for this essential right to be protected under Minnesota state law. Jeff Howe (her opponent) is endorsed by the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life State PAC and proudly boasts a 100 percent ‘pro-life’ voting record. I would vote for legislation that does not endanger the lives of pregnant persons by creating unnecessary barriers to medical care. Let’s stand up together and defend the right to choice.”
Black Lives Matter
One of my first projects as a community organizer was crowdfunding a Black Lives Matter billboard in St. Cloud as an act of solidarity after the murder of George Floyd,” Brickman stated. “When Daunte Wright was murdered a year later, we took action to gather food and supplies to support our neighbors in the Brooklyn Center community. It is essential we address systemic racism. Now more than ever it is essential our elected officials publicly declare Black Lives Matter. Let’s stand up together to acknowledge and repair the systemic biases in our government, laws and culture.”
Rights for LGBTQ+
“I will stand up for LGBTQ+ rights and demand effective legislation to ensure their safety,” she said. “As many as 45 percent of LGBTQ+ young people have seriously considered suicide, yet the Sartell school district has removed all indications of a safe space for these students in response to legal threats from anti-equity activists.
“At least 57 transgender or non-conforming Americans were murdered in 2021. The opposition would rather deny their existence than protect them. We have a moral responsibility to defend these precious lives, and we must take action as a community to defend its LGBTQ+ members. Let’s stand up together to end transphobia, homophobia and bigotry.”
Equitable education
“Children are our most valuable asset and their education is essential to our future as a nation,” Brickman stated. “It was my honor to march with a group of courageous and inspirational students from Sartell High School on May 14, 2022. These students spoke emphatically about the inequitable ways they have been treated by their education system and referenced an “outside group” that has devastated their high-school experience, threatening the district with legal action in order to gain control over the schools’ operations. They (students who marched on May 14) begged the community to trust students and support their teachers. Let’s stand up together to assure every child a fair and equitable educational experience.”
Howe
Jeff Howe (R-Rockville) is the incumbent District 13 senator in the Minnesota Legislature who is being challenged by Alissa Brickman (DFL-Sauk Rapids).
Before becoming the District 13 senator in 2018, Howe had served as the House representative for District 13A, first elected in 2012 and serving three consecutive terms.
Born in Morris, then raised on a farm near Chokio, Howe graduated from Chokio-Alberta High School and graduated from St. Cloud State University. He was a member of the U.S. military for 38 years, first in the Navy, then in the Minnesota Army National Guard. In 2017, he retired with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Now serving as a business consultant, he lives in Rockville with his wife, Sheri. They have four children.
The following are Howe’s priorities as listed on his campaign website:
Healthcare costs
“Many Minnesotans have experienced huge increases in the cost of their health insurance the last few years, Howe stated. “In 2017, we passed legislation that provided direct premium relief for people with skyrocketing healthcare costs. More work remains to continue improving access, choice and affordability of healthcare for Minnesota families, farmers and businesses.”
Roads, bridges
“(During) the last two years hundreds of millions of dollars have been dedicated to funding roads and bridges across the state. The result? New funding to make Highway 23 four lanes from Willmar to St. Cloud. Four lanes lead to greater safety and more jobs for our area. Much of that funding came from an initiative I passed to direct existing taxes related to auto parts to roads and bridges. This new funding stream did not raise taxes or tab fees and will fund construction for 8,800 lane miles and 200 bridges.”
Honoring veterans
“As the commander of 250 troops in Iraq, (I know) those soldiers did everything that was asked of them. Some lost limbs, some never came home and those who came back all had a lasting impact of experiences that we have had to deal with. I feel the obligation to make our state a welcoming place for veterans to live, work and retire. That is why I serve in the Minnesota Legislature.
Taxes, spending
In 2017 we passed the largest tax relief package in nearly two decades, benefiting seniors, college graduates, farmers and main-street businesses.
Howe vowed to continue those kinds of tax-relief if re-elected.
Respecting life
“I have a 100 percent pro-life voting record in the Minnesota Legislature and will to continue voting for life as a member of the Minnesota Senate,” Howe said.
Immigration
“Something has gone completely wrong in our criminal justice system when local and state law enforcement agencies actively work against their federal counterparts. That’s exactly what happens when states adopt ‘sanctuary city’ policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents in order to protect illegal immigrants from deportation, even if they have committed a crime here in the United States. I’m fighting against these misguided policies in St. Paul and will continue to fight if elected to the Minnesota Senate.”
Schools
As a result of the 2017-18 budget, our local schools received a 2 percent increase in per-student funding each year,” Howe stated. “This year the legislature also funded a new $25 million program to help make schools safer for our students.”
Alissa Brickman
Jeff Howe
