To the editor,
People can sometimes can feel like it is a lost cause when they run into issues related to the state. I understand those concerns and it is a top focus of mine as a State Representative to help the people in District 15B resolve those issues as they arise.
The twist is that I don’t consider myself to be “from government” at all. I’m a guy from Becker Township who is working to cut through the red tape to knock down headaches government may be causing people in our area.
One of the biggest downfalls of our government is when it loses track of itself or is inconsistent with other layers of the system. State laws sometimes were just bad ideas from the start. Others impact people in ways that were not anticipated, from permitting to licensing and beyond. Then there are the bureaucratic nightmares such as MNsure and MNLARS that have people asking government to stop “helping” so much by making things worse.
By contrast, my goal is to simplify things and make life easier for people in 15B by working alongside them to deliver positive results. Input from constituents on issues big and small is extremely important in this process. Please reach out to me if state laws, regulations or red tape have gone sideways on you, or if you simply have ideas for how we can make improvements (such as preferences for Highway 23 upgrades).
I will do what I can to resolve any issues you may come up against and, in the process, we might find solutions that could benefit our friends and neighbors as well. That may mean introducing a bill, or it just might involve connecting a constituent with the right person in St. Paul.
You can reach me at the Capitol by emailing rep.shane.mekeland@house.mn or by calling (651) 296-2451. District 15B residents also are welcome to schedule an in-person meeting at my legislative office, particularly while the Legislature is in session through late May. Again, I am here to help.
Sincerely,
Rep. Shane Mekeland, R-Clear Lake