Friends and neighbors,

Thanks to great reporting by Alpha News, we recently learned that the Minnesota Department of Education hired a convicted sex offender for a high-level director role where he earned $145,000. This individual had previously been detained by ICE and is listed on the state’s predatory offender registry. He had access to sensitive information and was supervising other employees, yet the department did not perform a criminal background check.

He was only terminated after Alpha News started asking questions. If you are wondering how in the world this this was allowed to happen, you are not alone.

Another stunning story: Alpha News reporting also revealed the Department of Human Services has a hiring policy that requires supervisors to justify (in writing) if they want to hire a candidate who is not part of an "underrepresented group." Doing so must be approved before any offer can be made. Failure to follow the policy can result in discipline or even termination.

Both stories are crystal clear examples of how state government should not work. Every Minnesotan deserves to be treated fairly. Hiring decisions, especially those involving your tax dollars, should be based on merit. Not on ideology, race, gender, or anything else.

Unfortunately, this is one more sign that state government has grown too big and too careless to maintain the standards Minnesotans deserve.

If you have any questions, please reach out any time.

God Bless,