Valerie Rolstad Announces Candidacy for 41A House of Representatives

Fridley, Minnesota – December 10, 2015 - Valerie Rolstad’s campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives in district 41A is progressing with each passing day thanks to overwhelming community support and the recent endorsement from SEIU. With Senator Barb Goodwin’s retirement, the DFL Senate seat is open and Connie Bernardy is hoping to clinch the DFL endorsement for Senate. If this happens, Rolstad is ready to follow in Bernardy’s shoes in the House.

Rolstad grew up in Columbia Heights before moving to Fridley where she and her husband, Rick, raised their three children. Rolstad, a special education educational assistant at Columbia Academy, works with students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Emotional Behavior Disorder. “I have lived, worked, and raised my family in this community. Not only do I understand the leadership it demands and deserves, I have the experience to deliver on my promises,” Rolstad said.

Rolstad’s history of advocacy work includes supporting Minnesotans Fight for a Fair Economy, Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha (CTLU), ISAIAH, NOC, and Take Action Minnesota. This work has given her in-depth understanding of the legislative process and how to create laws that help build the economy, schools, and overall community. Rolstad has served the community as senate district associate chair and as both a member and chapter president of Fridley Women of Today.

Rolstad has a passion for helping. “I am committed to supporting low wage earners in their journey to receive fair pay for honest work,” says Rolstad. Thanks to her union organizing experience, she has a firm footing to start this work in St. Paul.

Rolstad’s platform issues include increasing education funding, an area of expertise thanks to involvement with multiple Columbia Heights referendum campaigns and time spent on the governor-appointed Special Education Task Force. Rolstad is the co-founder of Parent Partnership for Education, a parent committee that organized lobbying efforts in St. Paul to raise awareness of education funding disparities.

“I promise to give this community my experience, my passion, and my dedication, just as I have always done,” Rolstad says when asked what it means to be considered for the DFL endorsement in April.

You can learn more about Valerie Rolstad for House at http://valerierolstad4house.weebly.com/ or on facebook https://www.facebook.com/Vote-for-Valerie-459678074217724/?ref=hl