The following are the DFLEC 2023 endorsements for Saint Paul city council
WARD 3: Saura Jost
Saura has BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering and is a licensed professional engineer. Saura stated:” Engineers work towards understanding and navigating the environmental impacts of our water and wastewater systems, food production and processing, construction, energy, transportation, and communication. With the values instilled in me by my parents and my engineering background, I know the importance of looking at all policies through an environmental lens because all our actions have an impact.”
She has been active in the DFL since high school and now serves on the Macalester-Groveland Neighborhood Council. She lives in the home where she was raised by her environmental scientist parents. Her written questionnaire and oral interview responses showed her science-based knowledge of and familiarity with environmental issues in Saint Paul. She stressed her belief in keeping government accountable. Her closing statement showed her dedication to serving the community by someone who is courageous advocate looking for shared solutions.
WARD 5 Hwa Jeong Kim
Hwa Jeong is a community organizer, Korean-America, nonprofit executive director, and former legislative aide. Hwa Jeong made a strong impression on the Committee from her written questionnaire and oral interview. Her responses went far beyond the basic showing intelligence, ability, and knowledge of Ward 5 and Saint Paul. She states:” I am a woman of color organizer that works at the intersection of race, gender, and class. There is no environmental justice without racial justice, gender justice, and economic justice.” She is the only candidate that answered all questions fully.
Hwa Jeong stated in her written questionnaire:” I was raised on a farm and felt fortunate to have grown up in a community surrounded by farmers. Produce stand conversations were about topsoil, the lack of rain, soil erosion issues, pesticides, and GMOs. I was taught about global warming issues from the perspective of small-scale farmers and the impact corporations have our food and ecosystems.”
Hwa Jeong is a longtime DFLer and has been campaign chair for six candidates for elected boards and councils.