3/12/08 • MN Sun Post: Nolte to run for Minnesota House in District 45A

New Hope City Councilmember Karen Nolte has announced she will run for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 45A this fall, instead of seeing re-election to the city council.

Area Republicans unanimously endorsed Nolte on March 1 to run against Rep. Sandra Peterson, DFL-New Hope.

District 45A includes all of New Hope, plus northern Crystal and eastern Plymouth.

The decision to run for the Legislature was not an easy one, said Nolte, adding she was asked to consider doing it.

"I really enjoy my position on the New Hope City Council," she said. "I love serving the people of New Hope. I appreciate the people here so much."

But, she said, "the local government experience I can bring to the Legislature will have an impact on the understanding of what local governments need.

"Nolte, a 29-year resident of New Hope, has a real estate license and is currently self-employed.

"I was an art major in college, so I am pursuing my dreams of art work and writing a children's book," she said. "I'm pursuing a lot of little avenues."

Nolte, 60, has a grown daughter and two grandchildren.

She said she has no complaints about Peterson's service in the Legislature.

However, Nolte said she believes she could "bring a different perspective and a more varied background to address different subjects."

Since being elected to the New Hope City Council with Mayor Martin Opem and Councilmember Andy Hoffe in 2004, Nolte said she believes they and Councilmembers Steve Sommer and Dan Stauner have worked well together.

"We all have our areas of strengths and weaknesses," she said. "But common sense has prevailed with this council."

Nolte said she is proud of inroads the council has made in New Hope's development.

"I am excited about the possibility of Target coming to New Hope, and I'm glad the Holiday station is coming in," Nolte said.

But she also wants to use what she has learned about inner-ring suburbs to make changes she believes are necessary.

The economy, taxes, education and health care are issues of great importance to her, Nolte said.

"When we are told there are no new taxes, local government ends up paying," she said. "They are looking at taxpayers as the goose that laid the golden egg. If there are going to be cuts, everyone needs to share in the hurt.

Nolte said her heart goes out to retired residents and families struggling to make ends meet as they try to cope with increased gas taxes that will "affect everything it takes to run a household: energy, food and vehicles.

"They want us to support schools, but they are taxing us to death," she said. "Do I pay for my prescription or give another $20 to the schools? We have to look at unfunded mandates, too. It's ridiculous what they expect the schools to do."

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