March 4, 2024 • 26 mins
Have you ever wondered what it takes to serve as the voice of a diverse community? Join Andrew Myers, the dedicated representative of District 45A, as he unravels his path from the Minnetonka Beach planning commission to the floors of the Minnesota House.
During our enlightening conversation on Tonka Talk, Andrew dives into the balancing act of public service, his personal life, and business management, while also navigating the intricate needs of different communities. Here's a rare glimpse into the life of a public servant who prioritizes connection over politics and emphasizes the power of representing a kaleidoscope of viewpoints.
Shortlist Properties - Simplifying Real Estate Amplifying Success
Our skilled Lake Minnetonka team specializes in real estate development, home transactions, and provides tailored services for Snowbirds and Property Management. Let us streamline your to-do list.
https://www.shortlistproperties.com
612-523-0111
Learn more at https://www.tonkatalk.com where we share more about our Lake Minnetonka community, including upcoming events and our take on local experiences.
Connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TonkaTalk/
If you have feedback, questions, or suggestions of a future guests creating community and connection, email natalie@tonkatalk.com
We appreciate your support in sharing Tonka Talk Community and Connection with someone you think could benefit from our content.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everybody and welcome to Tonka Talk.
I'm Natalie and we share theways people create community and
connection all around LakeMinnetonka, and today I get to
chat with Andrew Myers, who isour local representative in the
House of Representatives.
So you are like ourrepresentative around Lake
Minnetonka.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, I'm a represent District 45A and it's 11 cities
around Lake Minnetonka.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Wow, okay.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
So you know, a good size area, which I like because
it's, you know, every city kindof has different things going on
, so kind of one big communitybut small little ones in between
.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
It is.
That describes it well.
It's a large community aroundLake Minnetonka, but there are
so many small cities thatthey're all, like these
individual worlds all around ohyeah, very different.
I feel like Lake Minnetonkacould be its own planet in ways,
because there's differentcities and everybody comes
together.
Good reality show Exactly, itwould be a good one.
Now, tell me one thing I'm mostcurious about is what made you
(01:00):
decide.
One day you know what I thinkI'm going to get involved in
politics.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Well, I try not to call it politics, I try to call
it public service, publicservice.
Yes, you know, I started out inMinnetonka Beach.
I was on the planningcommission and became the
planning chair and then became acouncil member.
You know, I had people in mycommunity reaching out asking me
hey, you know, we would love,you know somebody that has a
(01:27):
younger family to help representthe other younger families in
the community.
So served there and thenactually became a you know
person, doc chair in Tonka Bay.
And then one day I got a phonecall from somebody in the house
of representatives said hey, youknow, you've been doing some
good things around the communityand you know we'd love for you
to run for Minnesota house.
(01:47):
And I, you know, had a roughidea what it was.
But I had to say well, whatdoes that include?
Because I've got, you know,four little kids and trying to
run a business.
So, you know, I thought it wasa way for me to, you know, kind
of do what I was doing at a youknow city council level at a you
know a little larger level.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Did the person who told you what it would be like?
Did you find that to beaccurate or were you like okay,
you did not prepare me for this.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And you know, I guess I'll be honest.
I think the person that told meabout it wasn't very accurate.
So when I'm always tellingpeople about what I do and if
they're looking to get involvedin things, I just I want them to
be really honest, because thereis a good amount of balance
that you have to have betweenyour own personal life.
You know public service andthen you know I run a small
(02:32):
business, so you've got to beable to balance that stuff out.
You know I always push peopleinto, you know, serving in their
local communities.
I mean, there's we have, youknow, 11 great communities out
here.
You can be on the planningparks, you know.
You know a lot of differentcommunities.
That to make an impact.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
That makes a lot of sense, and you've been doing it
now since 2023.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yep, so I am a new member.
We just finished the firstsession and we've started up
here with our second session.
We are.
This is the start of the thirdweek.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Wow, that's exciting.
So now that you're, you're,you've gone that far and you've
had that experience, where doesthat compare to what you thought
it would be like when you werefirst going to get started?
You?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
know, the biggest thing for me was actually trying
to represent my district, whichmeans you really got to go and
talk to a lot of people andpeople that don't think like you
, people that think differently,because you're, you know, the
job of public services torepresent the entire community.
So you know, I thought I didthat really well, went down to
the legislature and again Ireally try hard down there, you
(03:42):
know, working with Democrats,republicans, to make sure that
you know the bill is comingforward, if I, if I have an idea
or I had an amendment that Ican bring that forward to build
the relationships.
Sometimes it works, sometimesit doesn't, but you just kind of
you kind of have to keep trying.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
That's, I think, what I find so interesting about
what you do is the challenge andthe follow through on working
with people that don't share allof your same ideals.
You are by no means working inan echo chamber of yes, yes, yes
, yes, yes, yes.
How and it?
(04:18):
There's probably a longeranswer to this, but what are
some tips that you have fordoing that?
Because even people who are notin public service maybe they,
you know you share in acommunity.
It could be an HOA, you couldbe a business in a chamber, and
the same kind of thing wouldapply where you want to work
together, but you know you don'tall share the same ideals.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, so I you know you talk about HOA, like, for
example, I said on the housingcommittee, and you know there's
a representative from St Pauland I really made sure to go and
speak with him to betterunderstand the housing issues
they have in St Paul, which arevery different than the housing
issues that we have here, youknow, around the lake, in these
communities.
So you know what's maybe goodfor his district is it maybe
(05:01):
good for my district?
But what's good for mine maynot be good for his.
So I want to, you know we wantto better understand each other
and what we're trying to supportand at the end of the day,
you're making votes that notonly impact, you know, your
backyard, but the backyard ofMinnesota, and see how to make
sure that you're talking topeople you know from different
areas.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
That makes a lot of sense, and I think you also have
to have that personality anddemeanor where you have a
willingness to hear what mightbe considered to be an opposing
side, and I think that'ssomething that you've really
been able to do in the shorttime that I've kind of gotten to
know you and familiar with yourwork.
(05:37):
That's what impresses me somuch about our very local public
servants is, it seems, that youall are kind of good at that.
Of course there's exceptions,but that it is a focus, because
I've heard Kelly Morrison sharethe same thing and our area is
considered to be a very what dothey call it?
Purple.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Purple.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
A purple district.
So how do you go about doingthose things?
You were very key in gettingthe ball going and it's still
going on for to get mound awater treatment plant.
Can you give an update on that?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, again, as you're out there talking to
people and you go door to doorand I always kind of had a
question, I'd ask everybodywhat's your priority?
And when you walk through mound, even before you got up to the
door, you'd look in the garageand you'd see cases of bottled
water.
Yeah, you'd see people withcall again and even before I get
(06:34):
into the door I knew that wasprobably going to be one of the
top priorities dealing with theissues that they have here for a
clean, accessible water.
So working across the aisle todraft a bill to get partial
funding for that was reallyimportant.
I sit on the Capital InvestmentCommittee and I learned a lot in
(06:55):
that.
But what happened is you builtthe relationships you could
focus on that priority of cleanwater.
We secured 10 point, just over$10 million for the project and
we're hopeful it's a biggerissue.
We've been trying to reach outto Governor Walls to try to make
sure that he's really aware ofit, because he has a priority
list as well.
I want to try to do everythingI can to advocate for my cities.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yeah, definitely.
And for people if you don'tknow, mound has a high amount of
its magnies Magnize Yep, andit's advised to not drink the
water, so residents do have tohave an alternative for that.
And so do you think this issomething that'll be like a year
or in two years?
Because not only does the moneyneed to be raised, but it needs
(07:39):
to be built.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, and I think the project is being done in phases
.
I can't remember it was two orthree phases, but we're hopeful
with another potential bondingbill this year.
It's not going to be as much asnext year that that opportunity
is going to be there foradditional funds, but I think,
like any of these projects, itdoes take a teamwork between the
(08:02):
cities, the community and thestate.
I'd really like to see in someof the bonding, a higher
priority on our infrastructureneeds roads, bridges, water
that's the stuff that's reallyimportant.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, you were also involved.
What are some of the what?
You've done that?
Because I would feel like if Iwere in public office I would
have a hard time focusing onwhich project to take on first.
But you've done a few already.
What is one or two where you'relike I'm so glad that we did
that because it's helping today?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, A couple of things being a new member in the
minority.
You have to build thoserelationships to hopefully get
some stuff across the aisle andinto law.
One of those was we had a keepit clean initiative.
Environment's really big for mydistrict, my family.
We love to be out on the lake,snowmobile, ice fish, just
(09:00):
fishing.
My kids love to fish as much asthey can.
It was something simple thatour local litter laws on the
street.
You couldn't enforce them onthe water.
This keep it clean initiativecame out in greater Minnesota
through people that ice fish alot.
They have those RVs and they'redumping waste and when I mean
waste, yes, sometimes it's poo.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
But they're out there , just ride on the ice.
Yeah, they'll dump it there.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Open up that black tank and let it just go on the
ice, and up there it's known asthe Brown Road Wow, which is
again, I mean it's disgusting,but let alone, you know, people
that are just leaving theirtrash out there.
So now DNR can go out there andwrite a fine for that, so that
people can be a little bit moreaware and accountable for that,
because you know, we've got tomake sure, both from an economic
(09:49):
aspect and an environmentalaspect, that we're taking care
of our water.
The impact it has, you know,locally and throughout the state
, is really important, and so,you know, I was really proud of
getting that initiative done.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So now people can actually be ticketed for it.
Yep, they could it before, andthis is year round.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yep, it's year round it's.
You know we had a heavy focuson ice fishing because it
started up in Upper Red Lakewith the people that I'm working
with.
But you know, we see it, I meanthe DNR when they post.
You know, during wintertimemaybe, maybe not this winter
because it hasn't been that cold, but you know, you see, when a
nice house is removed and allthe garbage is left underneath.
So what happens is, you knowlocal organizations or people
(10:28):
are left cleaning that up.
You know, in the ice meltspeople that are cleaning their
local beaches.
It washes up.
It all has an impact on, youknow, wildlife and you know the
water in our district.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah, I'm so glad because that is so disgusting.
Yeah, it is, it is sodisheartening, though it does
seem that, if I remembercorrectly and correct me if I'm
wrong last 4th of July there wasless garbage that was cleaned
up, unlike the Natanka comparedto years prior.
Yep, so it's good, but thenit's going in that direction of,
(11:00):
like you said, you wouldn'tthink that we'd have to educate
people on that.
You should not put your poo onthe ice or in the lake.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, I mean, I thought it was, you know, it
wasn't a groundbreaking idea,but it was just something that
we could just take from ourroads over to our water because,
again, I mean, you know, theoutdoors in Minnesota is
unmatched and something smalllike this can make a big impact.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
That's very true.
Is there anything that you'reworking on that's coming up that
you want to share?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah, you know we do have a lot of infrastructure
issues in these 11 communitiesbut, you know, kind of.
Again, the jewel of thedistrict is, you know, lake
Natanka and we're really tryingto focus on.
We had a good Boater SafetyBill passed last year but the
Lake Natanka ConservationDistrict is always looking to
ways to, you know, improvesafety on the lake.
So we have a a a Minnetonka Iceand Plate Bill that we're doing
(11:48):
.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Oh, wow, well, like a decorative license plate, yep.
So specific to Lake Minnetonka.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
So well, you know it's one of the busiest lakes in
the state and I think you knowwe're we're proud of that and we
want to take care of it.
So you know the funds generatedfrom that will go towards
Boater Safety on that LakeEducation.
So we're we're excited aboutthat.
Hopefully we can get it acrossthe finish line.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
When do you think we'd be able to start ordering
those if it gets approved?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
I think it's going to be probably in the fall to do
that.
You know.
I know that Senator Morrison iscarrying it in the Senate.
It's very appreciative of thatand you know, I hope to get a
hearing in the house, so we'llwe'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Well, that's exciting .
I would like one of those.
It would be a ton of funactually.
Yeah, it would be cool.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Yeah, yeah, I mean you get people from Maple Grove,
rogers, I mean you know, southof the city, that come out at
Lake Minnetonka.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So and then the money can go to help also take care
of that natural, that naturalresource, Yep.
So how do you, with you, run asmall business, you know you're,
you're, you're working in thehouse of representatives, You've
got was it?
Four kids.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
So what do you do on all the downtime that you have?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
My downtime is probably getting kids to
swimming, picking them up fromsoccer, you know, trying to
spend as much time with my wifeAmanda, but yeah, just trying to
, kind of.
We're a home body, so we're,you know, just trying to.
You know, enjoy each other andwatch the kids grow up, and you
know we're a big part ofMinnetonka school supporting
their.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You know, education is really important to us, so
yeah, so somebody in thecommunity wanted to start
getting involved in publicservice.
As what?
What advice would you give them?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
You know I would try to figure out.
There's going to be a lot ofopenings coming up.
As I said, there's going to becouncil spots and mayors and
planning chair.
I mean, some of them areelected, some are appointed.
Find that thing that you wantto do or you think you can make
an impact, but you got to bewilling to learn, have that
(13:51):
humility.
I think that's the biggest thingthat I've really tried to bring
forward is that humility,because there's so many things
down there that come across mydesk that you have people at the
Capitol telling you, oh, thisis good, this is good, oh, this
is bad, this is bad.
And I'm like, okay, well, I'mgoing to make some phone calls
back to my district, to peoplein my district, to say what do
you think?
And an example of that is wehad something that was going to
(14:13):
impact our local firefighters.
So I was on the phone with ourfire chiefs to make sure that
what I was being told wasaccurate and it was.
But I think doing that legwork,investing the time and if
you're going to participate inyour community, it is investing
that time yeah, it's making surethat you're listening to people
and you're not going to makeeverybody happy, I mean, however
(14:36):
much you kind of want to.
It's really, though, if you'relistening and respecting each
other, helping reduce thatdivide.
I think we can get some reallygood policies locally.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, do you find that part of it of working this
way and doing the differentinitiatives and projects that
you've been involved in not,like you said, you can't make
everybody happy all of the time.
How has it been when you comeacross or, as we like to say,
come across the haters?
(15:06):
In having to deal with that.
What is that like?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, I mean and I would look at that twofold it
could be from people in thedistrict, it could be other
legislators.
I mean, my biggest thing is ifit's down with the legislature.
If I have an amendment idea andit doesn't work out, that's
fine.
I'm still going to bringforward other amendments to try
to share how I think that'sgoing to impact the bill in a
(15:30):
better way.
Hopefully people are willing tolisten.
I know on the bills that I havedrafted that have passed, I've
worked with anybody andeverybody that's willing to
support it, and having thatbipartisanness is really
important.
Back in the community, ofcourse, you're talking to people
that just assume you're acertain type of person until you
(15:52):
have a conversation and yourealize that locally we're going
to the same stores, our kids goto the same school, we may go
out to dinner at the same place,just trying to find that common
ground which I think most ofthe time, by the end of it,
people are.
You agree, 70 to 80% of thetime.
That's what we really need tofocus on.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
It does seem that way .
I think people are so much morewe have more in common than we
think Finding that common ground.
Do you think that that's easierto do on a more hyper-local
level as opposed to nationalpolitics?
I feel like we don't see a lotof that.
But do you think, because theseare really boots on the ground
(16:34):
in these communities and youlive there and you know what's
going on that there's more of aneffort to work together in a
bipartisan way?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, you use a phrase I use a lot boots on the
ground For me.
Again, going back to thathumility I've got to go talk to
if it's an education piece.
I've built relationships withour superintendents and our
teachers.
Those boots on the ground Ineed to know, hey, is this idea
going to make it worse or betterfor our schools and our kids
and our teachers?
Naturally, I guess thefrustration is is people are
(17:04):
covering such large areas thatthey can't really build
relationships.
They can't go and door knockand have conversations with
15,000 different houses whenyou've got to go and do 100,000
houses.
There's no possible way toreally build the support better
understand what the prioritiesare.
I just national politics to me.
I just literally I don't watchit.
(17:26):
That's not something where Ican make an impact.
The impact I can make islocally.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, I hear that Hopefully more people who want
to see change will get involvedand have that same kind of an
idea.
Because so many cities?
Because you've got your citycouncil but you also have other
committees and things thatpeople can work on, like
planning commission and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
It's good.
I mean, I started in planningso I got a really good idea of
how my city's zoning works, andthen you also learn from other
cities and sharing some of thoseideas can make efficiencies for
other cities as well.
One person has all the ideasand the answers, so the more
that you can share with people,the better.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, I totally get that.
Are there things that you'reworking on right now for in the
area, especially around LakeMinnetonka, that people should
be aware of or look forward to?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, I mean we'd like to focus on some property
tax relief options I've heardthat a lot at the doors for
young families that maybe can'tafford a house, trying to look
at housing affordability forthose older people on fixed
incomes, trying to make sure ifthey want to stay in the house
they can afford to do it.
Because, again, I mean we dohave a lot of infrastructure
(18:44):
issues from, I mean, I thinkprobably nine out of my 11
cities all have infrastructureneeds and so you know I've been
there as a city council member.
You know we had an issue with awater tower or a water plant,
but there's a lot of, you know,roads and sewer and just clean
water issues I'd like to see ifI can help out with.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, those are important things that we kind of
take for granted.
I think, as a resident, I turnon the water.
The water will come out.
It's kind of a thing.
But you make a good point.
A lot of this infrastructurehas been around for an
incredibly long time.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
And that was, you know, sitting on capital
investment.
I get to tour the state and busfor I don't know what it was 15
days.
But you know, what I reallyenjoyed was having, you know,
Chair Lee come out that runs thecapital investment committee,
to come look at our districtbecause you know, I think
there's everybody thinks thateverybody lives on the lake here
, yeah, yeah, and they show upand they look at some of these
(19:40):
projects in the area.
I think it helps them to betterunderstand that.
So I was happy to be able toshow them my community, my
backyard and some of the issuesthat we face.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
I love that.
That's so important, I thinktoo, like you're saying, to be
able to reach out to people whowork at a higher level, that
work on a more, even morelocalized level and have some
kind of consistency with whatthe goals should be or what they
are moving forward.
And, like I said, there's somany that I'm often amazed when
that can be narrowed down.
(20:09):
How does that decision get madefor you?
Is it primarily what you hearfrom the people in your district
?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I think there's, you know,
certain elected leaders thatare just walking the party line.
Maybe they bring the rubberstamps and stuff.
I mean, for me it's reallyimportant in this district to be
looking to, as you said, thoseboots on the ground.
But that also means communityleaders.
You know, I hosted a town hallfor all our elected leaders to
talk about some housing issuesand some other issues, to get
(20:38):
their feedback, because I knewthere were bills that were going
to be coming to impact kind oflocal control, and so it was
really important for me to heartheir feedback, give them the
opportunity and again, Iconsistently just try to, as
things come forward, who can Italk to in our district?
How does it impact us?
And not that it's, you know,doesn't impact other districts
(20:58):
differently, but at least givesme a sense of, you know, those
everyday things.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah and to really I love that you do that, though
that if there's something withthe fire department that you
call the fire chiefs, go findout, Just assume.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Well, and it's.
You know, I maybe have fourkids in school, but I'm not an
expert in education, so you knowI've got to call this, but I
mean, and the nice thing is,though, but I'm also having, you
know, building thoserelationships.
I'll get text messages within acommittee saying oh, I know
you're hearing this bill soon.
I want to give you somefeedback, though having that
openness, I think, is reallyhelpful for me, because it makes
(21:35):
me, you know, produce policiesor represent my district better.
You know not that I alwaysagree, and there's always
questions to be had and it'sokay to push back.
You just got to do itrespectfully and then try to, as
I said, find that common groundwhere you can have a bill, like
from education bills we havewhere we agree on it.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
What do you think moving forward, what do you see
in the future?
Do you see yourself doing morein the House of Representatives
or doing something different interms of public service?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Yeah.
I mean the biggest president.
As I said, people, I like to bemarried, I like to see my kids,
I mean and it's tough, I meanyou know my kids are having a
Chinese New Year event tomorrowand you know we'll have session
till six, seven o'clock, so I'llmiss those and those are tough
to miss.
You know, what I want to justtry to do is, you know, be
(22:29):
around so that people have thoseopportunities to share those
things that are important tothem, share those priorities, so
that I know it's.
You know, my family is just onefamily, the more families I can
talk to, the business owners,community leaders, you know I
just all I have right now is to.
You know I love representingthis district.
The people are great, raisingyour kids here is awesome.
(22:50):
The schools are great here.
We're very lucky.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
So yeah, I would agree with that.
Yeah, well, I'm excited.
I'm excited for what's to come.
I hope that you come back andtalk with us again and share
more about that side of things.
You know what we can look forin Lake Minnetonka.
I'm really looking forward tothe Mount Water Treatment plant
and seeing more.
You know a cleaner lake I lovethat one that you did where
people can now be taking it.
(23:13):
Yeah, no-transcript, that is sogreat.
Well, I really appreciate youtaking the time and sharing with
us.
Anybody listening or watching.
If you have questions, you cancomment down below, depending on
where you're watching this.
Is there a way where peoplecould reach you as well?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Yep, so I will do this and my wife doesn't like
that I do this, but my cellphone number is 612-615-8444.
It's really important to me.
I mean, part of public serviceis being accessible.
So people can, you know, get ahold of you with that text
message.
You know, great, if you need togive me a phone call.
I get a lot of phone calls.
(23:50):
Our district is very active, sopeople are really sharing their
thoughts, which again, isawesome.
It really helps me to, you know, represent the district better.
So, and I'm excited for you.
I'm hoping you're maybe goingto run for one of these
positions with all your freetime, exactly.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I you know, it's something that I think would be
very meaningful and it would bea really neat experience.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
It is.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
I just don't know that.
You know it's just having it,because I would imagine
sometimes you have to use moredecorum and keep your mouth shut
and I think I would strugglewith that.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
I mean, but you know what?
And that's the thing is, mywife says like, oh, you talk too
much, you get yourself introuble.
And I said, but that's okay.
I mean, the more, the morebitballing we do, the better
ideas that we come up with.
And it's like not every youknow, not every person has the
best ideas.
But I mean share them and theycan build into something.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Exactly.
Build it on.
You know, one idea might turninto something else when you get
enough input.
Yep, I love that.
All right, well, thank you verymuch.
Thanks for having me, thanksfor everything you're doing for
the community.
Thank you, I enjoy doing it andif you listen or watch Tonka
Talk and you know someone doingcool things in the community
ways of creating community andconnection, do reach out.
(25:05):
You can reach me, natalie, atTonkaTalkcom.
In the meantime, everybody gohave a great day and we will
talk to you later.
Hello everybody and welcome to Tonka Talk.
I'm Natalie and we share theways people create community and
connection all around LakeMinnetonka, and today I get to
chat with Andrew Myers, who isour local representative in the
House of Representatives.
So you are like ourrepresentative around Lake
Minnetonka.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah, I'm a represent District 45A and it's 11 cities
around Lake Minnetonka.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Wow, okay.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
So you know, a good size area, which I like because
it's, you know, every city kindof has different things going on
, so kind of one big communitybut small little ones in between
.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
It is.
That describes it well.
It's a large community aroundLake Minnetonka, but there are
so many small cities thatthey're all, like these
individual worlds all around ohyeah, very different.
I feel like Lake Minnetonkacould be its own planet in ways,
because there's differentcities and everybody comes
together.
Good reality show Exactly, itwould be a good one.
Now, tell me one thing I'm mostcurious about is what made you
(01:00):
decide.
One day you know what I thinkI'm going to get involved in
politics.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Well, I try not to call it politics, I try to call
it public service, publicservice.
Yes, you know, I started out inMinnetonka Beach.
I was on the planningcommission and became the
planning chair and then became acouncil member.
You know, I had people in mycommunity reaching out asking me
hey, you know, we would love,you know somebody that has a
(01:27):
younger family to help representthe other younger families in
the community.
So served there and thenactually became a you know
person, doc chair in Tonka Bay.
And then one day I got a phonecall from somebody in the house
of representatives said hey, youknow, you've been doing some
good things around the communityand you know we'd love for you
to run for Minnesota house.
(01:47):
And I, you know, had a roughidea what it was.
But I had to say well, whatdoes that include?
Because I've got, you know,four little kids and trying to
run a business.
So, you know, I thought it wasa way for me to, you know, kind
of do what I was doing at a youknow city council level at a you
know a little larger level.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Did the person who told you what it would be like?
Did you find that to beaccurate or were you like okay,
you did not prepare me for this.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
And you know, I guess I'll be honest.
I think the person that told meabout it wasn't very accurate.
So when I'm always tellingpeople about what I do and if
they're looking to get involvedin things, I just I want them to
be really honest, because thereis a good amount of balance
that you have to have betweenyour own personal life.
You know public service andthen you know I run a small
(02:32):
business, so you've got to beable to balance that stuff out.
You know I always push peopleinto, you know, serving in their
local communities.
I mean, there's we have, youknow, 11 great communities out
here.
You can be on the planningparks, you know.
You know a lot of differentcommunities.
That to make an impact.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
That makes a lot of sense, and you've been doing it
now since 2023.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yep, so I am a new member.
We just finished the firstsession and we've started up
here with our second session.
We are.
This is the start of the thirdweek.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Wow, that's exciting.
So now that you're, you're,you've gone that far and you've
had that experience, where doesthat compare to what you thought
it would be like when you werefirst going to get started?
You?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
know, the biggest thing for me was actually trying
to represent my district, whichmeans you really got to go and
talk to a lot of people andpeople that don't think like you
, people that think differently,because you're, you know, the
job of public services torepresent the entire community.
So you know, I thought I didthat really well, went down to
the legislature and again Ireally try hard down there, you
(03:42):
know, working with Democrats,republicans, to make sure that
you know the bill is comingforward, if I, if I have an idea
or I had an amendment that Ican bring that forward to build
the relationships.
Sometimes it works, sometimesit doesn't, but you just kind of
you kind of have to keep trying.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
That's, I think, what I find so interesting about
what you do is the challenge andthe follow through on working
with people that don't share allof your same ideals.
You are by no means working inan echo chamber of yes, yes, yes
, yes, yes, yes.
How and it?
(04:18):
There's probably a longeranswer to this, but what are
some tips that you have fordoing that?
Because even people who are notin public service maybe they,
you know you share in acommunity.
It could be an HOA, you couldbe a business in a chamber, and
the same kind of thing wouldapply where you want to work
together, but you know you don'tall share the same ideals.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Yeah, so I you know you talk about HOA, like, for
example, I said on the housingcommittee, and you know there's
a representative from St Pauland I really made sure to go and
speak with him to betterunderstand the housing issues
they have in St Paul, which arevery different than the housing
issues that we have here, youknow, around the lake, in these
communities.
So you know what's maybe goodfor his district is it maybe
(05:01):
good for my district?
But what's good for mine maynot be good for his.
So I want to, you know we wantto better understand each other
and what we're trying to supportand at the end of the day,
you're making votes that notonly impact, you know, your
backyard, but the backyard ofMinnesota, and see how to make
sure that you're talking topeople you know from different
areas.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
That makes a lot of sense, and I think you also have
to have that personality anddemeanor where you have a
willingness to hear what mightbe considered to be an opposing
side, and I think that'ssomething that you've really
been able to do in the shorttime that I've kind of gotten to
know you and familiar with yourwork.
(05:37):
That's what impresses me somuch about our very local public
servants is, it seems, that youall are kind of good at that.
Of course there's exceptions,but that it is a focus, because
I've heard Kelly Morrison sharethe same thing and our area is
considered to be a very what dothey call it?
Purple.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Purple.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
A purple district.
So how do you go about doingthose things?
You were very key in gettingthe ball going and it's still
going on for to get mound awater treatment plant.
Can you give an update on that?
Speaker 2 (06:12):
Yeah, again, as you're out there talking to
people and you go door to doorand I always kind of had a
question, I'd ask everybodywhat's your priority?
And when you walk through mound, even before you got up to the
door, you'd look in the garageand you'd see cases of bottled
water.
Yeah, you'd see people withcall again and even before I get
(06:34):
into the door I knew that wasprobably going to be one of the
top priorities dealing with theissues that they have here for a
clean, accessible water.
So working across the aisle todraft a bill to get partial
funding for that was reallyimportant.
I sit on the Capital InvestmentCommittee and I learned a lot in
(06:55):
that.
But what happened is you builtthe relationships you could
focus on that priority of cleanwater.
We secured 10 point, just over$10 million for the project and
we're hopeful it's a biggerissue.
We've been trying to reach outto Governor Walls to try to make
sure that he's really aware ofit, because he has a priority
list as well.
I want to try to do everythingI can to advocate for my cities.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Yeah, definitely.
And for people if you don'tknow, mound has a high amount of
its magnies Magnize Yep, andit's advised to not drink the
water, so residents do have tohave an alternative for that.
And so do you think this issomething that'll be like a year
or in two years?
Because not only does the moneyneed to be raised, but it needs
(07:39):
to be built.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Yeah, and I think the project is being done in phases
.
I can't remember it was two orthree phases, but we're hopeful
with another potential bondingbill this year.
It's not going to be as much asnext year that that opportunity
is going to be there foradditional funds, but I think,
like any of these projects, itdoes take a teamwork between the
(08:02):
cities, the community and thestate.
I'd really like to see in someof the bonding, a higher
priority on our infrastructureneeds roads, bridges, water
that's the stuff that's reallyimportant.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yeah, you were also involved.
What are some of the what?
You've done that?
Because I would feel like if Iwere in public office I would
have a hard time focusing onwhich project to take on first.
But you've done a few already.
What is one or two where you'relike I'm so glad that we did
that because it's helping today?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Yeah, A couple of things being a new member in the
minority.
You have to build thoserelationships to hopefully get
some stuff across the aisle andinto law.
One of those was we had a keepit clean initiative.
Environment's really big for mydistrict, my family.
We love to be out on the lake,snowmobile, ice fish, just
(09:00):
fishing.
My kids love to fish as much asthey can.
It was something simple thatour local litter laws on the
street.
You couldn't enforce them onthe water.
This keep it clean initiativecame out in greater Minnesota
through people that ice fish alot.
They have those RVs and they'redumping waste and when I mean
waste, yes, sometimes it's poo.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
But they're out there , just ride on the ice.
Yeah, they'll dump it there.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Open up that black tank and let it just go on the
ice, and up there it's known asthe Brown Road Wow, which is
again, I mean it's disgusting,but let alone, you know, people
that are just leaving theirtrash out there.
So now DNR can go out there andwrite a fine for that, so that
people can be a little bit moreaware and accountable for that,
because you know, we've got tomake sure, both from an economic
(09:49):
aspect and an environmentalaspect, that we're taking care
of our water.
The impact it has, you know,locally and throughout the state
, is really important, and so,you know, I was really proud of
getting that initiative done.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
So now people can actually be ticketed for it.
Yep, they could it before, andthis is year round.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yep, it's year round it's.
You know we had a heavy focuson ice fishing because it
started up in Upper Red Lakewith the people that I'm working
with.
But you know, we see it, I meanthe DNR when they post.
You know, during wintertimemaybe, maybe not this winter
because it hasn't been that cold, but you know, you see, when a
nice house is removed and allthe garbage is left underneath.
So what happens is, you knowlocal organizations or people
(10:28):
are left cleaning that up.
You know, in the ice meltspeople that are cleaning their
local beaches.
It washes up.
It all has an impact on, youknow, wildlife and you know the
water in our district.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Yeah, I'm so glad because that is so disgusting.
Yeah, it is, it is sodisheartening, though it does
seem that, if I remembercorrectly and correct me if I'm
wrong last 4th of July there wasless garbage that was cleaned
up, unlike the Natanka comparedto years prior.
Yep, so it's good, but thenit's going in that direction of,
(11:00):
like you said, you wouldn'tthink that we'd have to educate
people on that.
You should not put your poo onthe ice or in the lake.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, I mean, I thought it was, you know, it
wasn't a groundbreaking idea,but it was just something that
we could just take from ourroads over to our water because,
again, I mean, you know, theoutdoors in Minnesota is
unmatched and something smalllike this can make a big impact.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
That's very true.
Is there anything that you'reworking on that's coming up that
you want to share?
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah, you know we do have a lot of infrastructure
issues in these 11 communitiesbut, you know, kind of.
Again, the jewel of thedistrict is, you know, lake
Natanka and we're really tryingto focus on.
We had a good Boater SafetyBill passed last year but the
Lake Natanka ConservationDistrict is always looking to
ways to, you know, improvesafety on the lake.
So we have a a a Minnetonka Iceand Plate Bill that we're doing
(11:48):
.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Oh, wow, well, like a decorative license plate, yep.
So specific to Lake Minnetonka.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
So well, you know it's one of the busiest lakes in
the state and I think you knowwe're we're proud of that and we
want to take care of it.
So you know the funds generatedfrom that will go towards
Boater Safety on that LakeEducation.
So we're we're excited aboutthat.
Hopefully we can get it acrossthe finish line.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
When do you think we'd be able to start ordering
those if it gets approved?
Speaker 2 (12:11):
I think it's going to be probably in the fall to do
that.
You know.
I know that Senator Morrison iscarrying it in the Senate.
It's very appreciative of thatand you know, I hope to get a
hearing in the house, so we'llwe'll see what happens.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Well, that's exciting .
I would like one of those.
It would be a ton of funactually.
Yeah, it would be cool.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Yeah, yeah, I mean you get people from Maple Grove,
rogers, I mean you know, southof the city, that come out at
Lake Minnetonka.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
So and then the money can go to help also take care
of that natural, that naturalresource, Yep.
So how do you, with you, run asmall business, you know you're,
you're, you're working in thehouse of representatives, You've
got was it?
Four kids.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
So what do you do on all the downtime that you have?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
My downtime is probably getting kids to
swimming, picking them up fromsoccer, you know, trying to
spend as much time with my wifeAmanda, but yeah, just trying to
, kind of.
We're a home body, so we're,you know, just trying to.
You know, enjoy each other andwatch the kids grow up, and you
know we're a big part ofMinnetonka school supporting
their.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You know, education is really important to us, so
yeah, so somebody in thecommunity wanted to start
getting involved in publicservice.
As what?
What advice would you give them?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
You know I would try to figure out.
There's going to be a lot ofopenings coming up.
As I said, there's going to becouncil spots and mayors and
planning chair.
I mean, some of them areelected, some are appointed.
Find that thing that you wantto do or you think you can make
an impact, but you got to bewilling to learn, have that
(13:51):
humility.
I think that's the biggest thingthat I've really tried to bring
forward is that humility,because there's so many things
down there that come across mydesk that you have people at the
Capitol telling you, oh, thisis good, this is good, oh, this
is bad, this is bad.
And I'm like, okay, well, I'mgoing to make some phone calls
back to my district, to peoplein my district, to say what do
you think?
And an example of that is wehad something that was going to
(14:13):
impact our local firefighters.
So I was on the phone with ourfire chiefs to make sure that
what I was being told wasaccurate and it was.
But I think doing that legwork,investing the time and if
you're going to participate inyour community, it is investing
that time yeah, it's making surethat you're listening to people
and you're not going to makeeverybody happy, I mean, however
(14:36):
much you kind of want to.
It's really, though, if you'relistening and respecting each
other, helping reduce thatdivide.
I think we can get some reallygood policies locally.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, do you find that part of it of working this
way and doing the differentinitiatives and projects that
you've been involved in not,like you said, you can't make
everybody happy all of the time.
How has it been when you comeacross or, as we like to say,
come across the haters?
(15:06):
In having to deal with that.
What is that like?
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, I mean and I would look at that twofold it
could be from people in thedistrict, it could be other
legislators.
I mean, my biggest thing is ifit's down with the legislature.
If I have an amendment idea andit doesn't work out, that's
fine.
I'm still going to bringforward other amendments to try
to share how I think that'sgoing to impact the bill in a
(15:30):
better way.
Hopefully people are willing tolisten.
I know on the bills that I havedrafted that have passed, I've
worked with anybody andeverybody that's willing to
support it, and having thatbipartisanness is really
important.
Back in the community, ofcourse, you're talking to people
that just assume you're acertain type of person until you
(15:52):
have a conversation and yourealize that locally we're going
to the same stores, our kids goto the same school, we may go
out to dinner at the same place,just trying to find that common
ground which I think most ofthe time, by the end of it,
people are.
You agree, 70 to 80% of thetime.
That's what we really need tofocus on.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
It does seem that way .
I think people are so much morewe have more in common than we
think Finding that common ground.
Do you think that that's easierto do on a more hyper-local
level as opposed to nationalpolitics?
I feel like we don't see a lotof that.
But do you think, because theseare really boots on the ground
(16:34):
in these communities and youlive there and you know what's
going on that there's more of aneffort to work together in a
bipartisan way?
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, you use a phrase I use a lot boots on the
ground For me.
Again, going back to thathumility I've got to go talk to
if it's an education piece.
I've built relationships withour superintendents and our
teachers.
Those boots on the ground Ineed to know, hey, is this idea
going to make it worse or betterfor our schools and our kids
and our teachers?
Naturally, I guess thefrustration is is people are
(17:04):
covering such large areas thatthey can't really build
relationships.
They can't go and door knockand have conversations with
15,000 different houses whenyou've got to go and do 100,000
houses.
There's no possible way toreally build the support better
understand what the prioritiesare.
I just national politics to me.
I just literally I don't watchit.
(17:26):
That's not something where Ican make an impact.
The impact I can make islocally.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
Yeah, I hear that Hopefully more people who want
to see change will get involvedand have that same kind of an
idea.
Because so many cities?
Because you've got your citycouncil but you also have other
committees and things thatpeople can work on, like
planning commission and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
It's good.
I mean, I started in planningso I got a really good idea of
how my city's zoning works, andthen you also learn from other
cities and sharing some of thoseideas can make efficiencies for
other cities as well.
One person has all the ideasand the answers, so the more
that you can share with people,the better.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
Yeah, I totally get that.
Are there things that you'reworking on right now for in the
area, especially around LakeMinnetonka, that people should
be aware of or look forward to?
Speaker 2 (18:21):
Yeah, I mean we'd like to focus on some property
tax relief options I've heardthat a lot at the doors for
young families that maybe can'tafford a house, trying to look
at housing affordability forthose older people on fixed
incomes, trying to make sure ifthey want to stay in the house
they can afford to do it.
Because, again, I mean we dohave a lot of infrastructure
(18:44):
issues from, I mean, I thinkprobably nine out of my 11
cities all have infrastructureneeds and so you know I've been
there as a city council member.
You know we had an issue with awater tower or a water plant,
but there's a lot of, you know,roads and sewer and just clean
water issues I'd like to see ifI can help out with.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, those are important things that we kind of
take for granted.
I think, as a resident, I turnon the water.
The water will come out.
It's kind of a thing.
But you make a good point.
A lot of this infrastructurehas been around for an
incredibly long time.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
And that was, you know, sitting on capital
investment.
I get to tour the state and busfor I don't know what it was 15
days.
But you know, what I reallyenjoyed was having, you know,
Chair Lee come out that runs thecapital investment committee,
to come look at our districtbecause you know, I think
there's everybody thinks thateverybody lives on the lake here
, yeah, yeah, and they show upand they look at some of these
(19:40):
projects in the area.
I think it helps them to betterunderstand that.
So I was happy to be able toshow them my community, my
backyard and some of the issuesthat we face.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
I love that.
That's so important, I thinktoo, like you're saying, to be
able to reach out to people whowork at a higher level, that
work on a more, even morelocalized level and have some
kind of consistency with whatthe goals should be or what they
are moving forward.
And, like I said, there's somany that I'm often amazed when
that can be narrowed down.
(20:09):
How does that decision get madefor you?
Is it primarily what you hearfrom the people in your district
?
Speaker 2 (20:16):
Yeah, I mean, you know, I think there's, you know,
certain elected leaders thatare just walking the party line.
Maybe they bring the rubberstamps and stuff.
I mean, for me it's reallyimportant in this district to be
looking to, as you said, thoseboots on the ground.
But that also means communityleaders.
You know, I hosted a town hallfor all our elected leaders to
talk about some housing issuesand some other issues, to get
(20:38):
their feedback, because I knewthere were bills that were going
to be coming to impact kind oflocal control, and so it was
really important for me to heartheir feedback, give them the
opportunity and again, Iconsistently just try to, as
things come forward, who can Italk to in our district?
How does it impact us?
And not that it's, you know,doesn't impact other districts
(20:58):
differently, but at least givesme a sense of, you know, those
everyday things.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah and to really I love that you do that, though
that if there's something withthe fire department that you
call the fire chiefs, go findout, Just assume.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Well, and it's.
You know, I maybe have fourkids in school, but I'm not an
expert in education, so you knowI've got to call this, but I
mean, and the nice thing is,though, but I'm also having, you
know, building thoserelationships.
I'll get text messages within acommittee saying oh, I know
you're hearing this bill soon.
I want to give you somefeedback, though having that
openness, I think, is reallyhelpful for me, because it makes
(21:35):
me, you know, produce policiesor represent my district better.
You know not that I alwaysagree, and there's always
questions to be had and it'sokay to push back.
You just got to do itrespectfully and then try to, as
I said, find that common groundwhere you can have a bill, like
from education bills we havewhere we agree on it.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
What do you think moving forward, what do you see
in the future?
Do you see yourself doing morein the House of Representatives
or doing something different interms of public service?
Speaker 2 (22:06):
Yeah.
I mean the biggest president.
As I said, people, I like to bemarried, I like to see my kids,
I mean and it's tough, I meanyou know my kids are having a
Chinese New Year event tomorrowand you know we'll have session
till six, seven o'clock, so I'llmiss those and those are tough
to miss.
You know, what I want to justtry to do is, you know, be
(22:29):
around so that people have thoseopportunities to share those
things that are important tothem, share those priorities, so
that I know it's.
You know, my family is just onefamily, the more families I can
talk to, the business owners,community leaders, you know I
just all I have right now is to.
You know I love representingthis district.
The people are great, raisingyour kids here is awesome.
(22:50):
The schools are great here.
We're very lucky.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
So yeah, I would agree with that.
Yeah, well, I'm excited.
I'm excited for what's to come.
I hope that you come back andtalk with us again and share
more about that side of things.
You know what we can look forin Lake Minnetonka.
I'm really looking forward tothe Mount Water Treatment plant
and seeing more.
You know a cleaner lake I lovethat one that you did where
people can now be taking it.
(23:13):
Yeah, no-transcript, that is sogreat.
Well, I really appreciate youtaking the time and sharing with
us.
Anybody listening or watching.
If you have questions, you cancomment down below, depending on
where you're watching this.
Is there a way where peoplecould reach you as well?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Yep, so I will do this and my wife doesn't like
that I do this, but my cellphone number is 612-615-8444.
It's really important to me.
I mean, part of public serviceis being accessible.
So people can, you know, get ahold of you with that text
message.
You know, great, if you need togive me a phone call.
I get a lot of phone calls.
(23:50):
Our district is very active, sopeople are really sharing their
thoughts, which again, isawesome.
It really helps me to, you know, represent the district better.
So, and I'm excited for you.
I'm hoping you're maybe goingto run for one of these
positions with all your freetime, exactly.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
I you know, it's something that I think would be
very meaningful and it would bea really neat experience.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
It is.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
I just don't know that.
You know it's just having it,because I would imagine
sometimes you have to use moredecorum and keep your mouth shut
and I think I would strugglewith that.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
I mean, but you know what?
And that's the thing is, mywife says like, oh, you talk too
much, you get yourself introuble.
And I said, but that's okay.
I mean, the more, the morebitballing we do, the better
ideas that we come up with.
And it's like not every youknow, not every person has the
best ideas.
But I mean share them and theycan build into something.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Exactly.
Build it on.
You know, one idea might turninto something else when you get
enough input.
Yep, I love that.
All right, well, thank you verymuch.
Thanks for having me, thanksfor everything you're doing for
the community.
Thank you, I enjoy doing it andif you listen or watch Tonka
Talk and you know someone doingcool things in the community
ways of creating community andconnection, do reach out.
(25:05):
You can reach me, natalie, atTonkaTalkcom.
In the meantime, everybody gohave a great day and we will
talk to you later.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.