Aaron Klemz

Aaron Klemz earned a high school diploma from Hopkins High School, a graduate degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in 2001, and a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth in 2011. His career experience includes working in advocacy.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Aaron and his spouse Jennifer Tuder have lived in Fridley and Columbia Heights for nearly 20 years, and have deep roots in the community.

Aaron is an educator, environmental advocate, and active volunteer in the community. His current job is advocating for clean water, climate justice, and healthy communities at the Minnesota State Capitol. Aaron also serves the Fridley community as a volunteer. He is the Chair of the Fridley Environmental Quality and Energy Commission and a commissioner on the Fridley Planning Commission. Aaron co-founded the DFL Environmental Caucus in 2015, was elected vice-chair, and chaired the endorsement committee.

Aaron taught public speaking and communications courses at Century College in White Bear Lake for over a decade. While at Century College, he was elected twice to vice-chair of the campus chapter of the Minnesota State College Faculty union. He also taught graduate courses in policy development in the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership program at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul.

Aaron was the founding coach of the policy debate team at North Community High School in Minneapolis, coached the Como Park High School debate team in St. Paul, and served 14 years on the Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL) Board. The MNUDL now offer debate programs at all of the public middle and high schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Clean Water & Climate - Every Minnesotan deserves to have clean, safe water to drink, and a healthy environment in which to grow and thrive. This is an important issue for our district. In Fridley, a treatment system to remove PFAS “forever chemical” pollution is being installed, costing over $5 million split between state funding and local water users. As a State Representative, I’ll use my experience as an environmental advocate to push for clean energy, clean water, and environmental justice for all Minnesotans. This includes working to secure funding to ensure our community water supplies are protected from PFAS forever chemical pollution, and protecting Minnesota’s clean water from copper-nickel sulfide mining pollution.Thriving Public Schools - I owe everything to the education I received at public schools and public universities, and I will prioritize full and equitable funding of our public schools. Excellent public education is a key factor in lifting people out of poverty. I’m so proud of Minnesota for adopting universal free school meals, which have a proven track record of improving education outcomes. Attempts to ban books or limit students’ access to information are wrong. I will push for full state funding of needed special education services, which cost the Spring Lake Park school district $3.5 million, Columbia Heights $3 million, and Fridley $1.8 million in 2024. I’ll ensure that the school districts in southern Anoka County get a fair shake.Top Quality Health Care for All - Minnesota’s health care system has world-class doctors and hospitals, but a serious problem with affordability and accessibility. Costs are skyrocketing, and federal inaction is making it worse. Minnesota has public insurance options like MinnesotaCare and a strong marketplace in MnSure, and if elected, access, cost, and quality of health care would be a top priority for me. This includes pushing for the Minnesota Health Plan, a single, statewide plan that would cover all Minnesotans for all their medical needs. It also means protecting access to abortion, reproductive health care and gender-affirming care for everybody.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public education, health care, and clean water are the issues I'm most passionate about. But what I really care about is connecting all people to their government, helping everyone understand what's happening that affects their family and community, and ensuring that everyone has their say in St. Paul. I've seen the difference when the people are represented in the halls of power at the Capitol, as opposed to halls filled with people paid to be there to represent powerful corporations. My goal is to help our district speak for and win what it needs at the Minnesota Capitol.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Minnesota DFL

Friends of the Boundary Waters Action Network

Sierra Club

Conservation Minnesota Voter Center

Inter Faculty Organization

Clean Water Action

Save the Boundary Waters Action Fund

DFL Environmental Caucus

Minnesota Association of Professional Employees

Moms Demand Action

MN350 Action

FairVote Minnesota Democracy Champion

Planned Parenthood

Jane Fonda Climate PAC

Minnesota Professional Firefighters Association

Education Minnesota