Virtual File - Item

Text: In the southeastern Minnesota
political arena, Dave Senjem is one of
the longest serving members of the state
senate. He served on the Rochester Park
Board for a few years before running for
city council, securing a seat in 1992. In
2002, he ran for state senator and won
that position, as well.

Dave is currently preparing for
the 2020 legislative session with the
enthusiasm and diligence as though it is
his first. His family has a background in
politics. "It is something that has always
been a part of my life," Dave said. "My
great-great-grandfather, John Hanson,
was a state representative in the late
1800s, and my father, Howard, served as
mayor of Hayfield, Minnesota. I guess it
could be genetics."

During his time with the Rochester
Jaycees, Dave focused on community
involvement. "One line of the
organization's · creed states, 'Service
to humanity is the best work of life.' I
believe those words have had a significant
impact on how I approach my role in
office today and how I conduct myself
both personally and professionally."
Prior to his election, the DFL held
control of the state senate for thirtyeight
years. "We. broke that cycle.
Control has changed back and forth as
far as the political make-up. I served as
both minority and majority leader. Both
sides want to make Minnesota a better
place."

In recent years, Senjem has chaired the
Minnesota Senate Capital Investment
Committee. "That committee has an
opportunity to look at' numerous areas
of concern from the standpoint of
public infrastructure needs."
Mental health is a personal issue
for Dave. "Both my mother and father
suffered from mental illness. I came out
about that publicly in 2017. Since then, I have sponsored bills
for establishing a mental health hotline and regional crisis
centers for supportive housing. I will continue to be a strong
advocate to move those issues forward."

Life experiences play a large role in how he represents
his constituency. "We can do so much better in helping
those with mental health issues. I've seen tragedy firsthand.
Specifically, in farming and other work places, there is an
increase in depression and suicide. The pressures of life are
ramping up for a lot of people," Dave stated.

Supportive housing is a relatively new issue facing the
legislature. "There is an undeniable homeless problem
in our state. Years ago, eliminating state~run homes and
institutions seemed to be the right thing to do, but perhaps
that has led to many of the issues we face today. This
concept will provide people a housing unit with a small
kitchen to help care for themselves.

We'd make sure someone is available
to assist with reminders to take
medications, for instance. Currently
there are two such homes in the state
being used successfully. I will present
legislation this session for funding to
build several more units."

Energy transition is another of Dave's
passions. The issue has become a major
focus and topic of conversation in every
corner of the state. "We have had a policy
exchange for years between Minnesota
and Germany. This has given us an
opportunity to learn from each other on
how to move into and through our long~
term energy transition. The politics and
economics of energy are quite common
the world over," Dave said.

More vehicles using electric power
does present some concerns. "There
have been and will continue to be great
advances in electric technology. As
electric cars become more popular and
gasoline use diminishes, there will be
a reduction in the taxes collected that
support maintenance of our roads and
bridges. We will have to figure out a
way of utilizing nominal fees to fund
the infrastructures issues we face in our
state. There is no question, this is going
to create a significant dialogue."

Other energy alternatives sources are
showing promise. "Hydrogen~driven cars have become popular in
California. That will be a huge topic of conversation in the near
future. There is so much on our plates yet to come. Innovations
in technology will be in the forefront relatively soon."
Technology affects much more than just transportation.
"Think about the popularity of solar shingles. That is
becoming more practical. In regard to large businesses and
industries, we are hearing the term 'Green Brand' more
often. -Believe me, change is on the way." Senjem has a bill,
"Clean Energy First," that will be going to the floor for a vote
this upcoming session.

Senior issues have had a large influence on how Dave
represents his district. In the upcoming session, several items
will be the topic of conversation. One of the more heated issues
is the controversy surrounding problems in the Department
of Human Services. Millions of dollars appear to have been
squandered through very poor decision making within the
department. "DHS, right now, is a broken~down agency and
definitely a priority for all of us. We have been and will continue
to dig for answers. People within DHS will be held accountable
for this mess and there definitely will be changes."
Other topics include the capital investment bill, as well as
the $1.3 billion budget surplus. "We'll have to figure out what
to do with that money." A strong capital infrastructure bill
will be at the top of his legislative agenda. "Keep an eye out for
that; the issue is an important one and will be the -headline
topic of the 2020 session," Dave said.

Senjem said guns and violence will once again be a
challenging topic. "This is not just an issue in Minnesota, but
across the country. We need to have a more open~minded
conversation about what is taking place and the cause. To be
honest, this comes back once again to mental illness. In my
heart, I really don't believe this to be a gun issue. Personally,
I think the focus should be not so much on the device, but
rather what is going on in the minds of people who are
committing these travesties."

As his seventeenth session approaches, Senjem believes the
most critical part of the job is to represent his constituents.
This highly successful statesman can be counted on to fulfill
his mission.