Brad Tabke

Brad Tabke lives in Shakopee, Minnesota. Tabke earned a B.S. in horticulture from Iowa State University in 2001. His career experience includes founding Grepoli LLC and Ethical Landscape Consultants LLC and working as a vice president of sales for Reliable Property Services and vice president of operations for Outdoor Environments. Tabke served as the chairman of the board of the Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce and as mayor of the City of Shakopee.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in the small Iowa community of Moville, at the end of a dusty six-mile gravel road, where I raised just about everything from cattle, hogs, sheep, and chickens to corn, beans, and hay. Like my family, classmates, and other farming families, I learned the value of putting in the effort and lending a hand. I was a 4H kid back then, and in many ways, I still am.

My wife, Katy, and I married in 2001, and two years later, we bought our home in Shakopee. At the time, it backed up to a cornfield and overlooked a local baseball field. A huge baseball fan and Iowa-farm-kid-Field-of-Dreams-loving guy, I couldn't resist the view. Our city has grown by leaps and bounds since then. While the baseball field remains, we now overlook a grocery store and fire station. Today, we have two children, aged 13 and 17; a dog, Scout; and some chickens to feed my farm-life itch. Shakopee is beautifully diverse, and a community that takes care of its own. We’re proud to call this city our home.

When Katy and I were expecting our first child, I applied for a position with the Shakopee Parks and Rec Board. Creating meaningful change for our city proved exciting and I saw the opportunity to create an even stronger community for her—and all of us as mayor of Shakopee. When I ran for re-election, I won with 87% of the vote and I am proud of the work I did then, and the work I have done since then as your state representative.

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?

Investing in our kids and teachers is one of the best investments we can make. Not only does this funding enable our dynamic workforce of the future, but it also reduces social spending later in life.

Yet, the Minnesota GOP chronically underfunded our schools for more than a decade.

That's why I voted for a $2.2B increase in public school funding last year—delivering $16M to Shakopee schools.

And I’ll continue to support fully funding our schools. It’s how we’ll close the opportunity gap, recruit and retain great teachers, help our kids realize their full potential, and attract businesses and families to our state—ultimately growing our economy.Shakopeans, just like you, are getting squeezed by higher bills in every corner of their lives. That’s why I’ve been working on solutions to bring down costs.

Alongside my fellow Democrats, I:

--Made housing more affordable through a $1B investment in housing supply

--Put more money in your pocket with the largest state tax cut in Minnesota history

--Protected you from property tax increases by directing more state money to local communities for city services

--Shielded you from an average of $3,000 in losses per year by banning junk fees

When I’m re-elected, I’ll keep working with legislators and community partners to bring relief to hard-working Minnesotans like you.Women, not politicians, are uniquely qualified to make the difficult decisions that affect their health and families’ well-being. They should have the freedom to make them.

Yet, Republicans in Minnesota—and all across this nation—are trying to take away that freedom.

That’s why I voted to protect your right to abortion last year.

With your support, I’ll continue fighting to protect your access to reproductive care—including birth control and IVF.

The government should not interfere with a woman’s private medical decisions. Rather, she should be free to make these decisions privately and in consultation with medical professionals and other family members, as she chooses.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ensuring our transportation network is safe, accessible, and climate-resilient is vitally important to cities like Shakopee, where many of our residents travel for their work.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Many of the important characteristics of an elected official are the same lessons I learned while in 4H: the ability to build coalitions across differences to get things done, engage in open conversations with residents—connecting them with resources and services and ensuring they are heard at the legislature—and ensure that our communities' values are at the heart of the work that we do.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

As a 4H kid, working outdoors and with my hands was important to me. As a Highschooler, I worked in the Walmart Garden Center to do just that before heading off to college.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

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What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

You can see a full list of my endorsements at https://tabkeformn.com/endorsements

Brad Tabke did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Brad Tabke did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.