About Me

MAKEDA

FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER

A commitment to community, dignity, and smart governance
for every resident of Hennepin County.

HEALTH SERVICES

I will expand funding for in-home health aides, bring telehealth access to every county library and senior center, and make prescription assistance programs easier to find and apply for.

MENTAL HEALTH

Depression and grief are real medical conditions that shorten lives. I will fund in-home mental health counseling, a 24-hour senior crisis line, and memory care support for both seniors and their exhausted caregivers.

INCOME SUPPORT

I will fight for a senior property tax freeze, support utility assistance programs — especially critical in Minnesota winters — and hire benefits navigators so every senior receives every dollar of help they are entitled to.

SOCIAL SERVICES

Loneliness is as dangerous as smoking. I will fund companion programs, caregiver respite programs, and ensure services are delivered in the right languages for our diverse senior population.

I will convene a Senior Services Task Force with real deadlines and publish an annual public report on what the county promised and delivered. The way a community treats its oldest members says everything about who we are.

FINDING SAVINGS FIRST

Before I ever ask any resident to pay more, I will go line by line through the county budget looking for waste and inefficiency first.

WHERE I WILL FIND SAVINGS

· Conduct a full program audit in year one to eliminate duplication between county departments and city programs.

· Modernize outdated technology systems that cost more in staff time than modern tools would.

· Renegotiate vendor contracts that have gone unchallenged for too long.

· Share service costs with cities wherever possible.

· Aggressively pursue state and federal grants — every outside dollar is one less collected from property owners.

PROTECTING SENIORS ON FIXED INCOMES

· Fight for a senior property tax freeze that caps increases for older adults on fixed incomes.

· Support a tax deferral option that lets seniors delay payments until their home is sold.

· Push to expand Minnesota's existing homestead credit so it keeps pace with rising home values.

· Fund benefits navigators to ensure every eligible senior claims every dollar of relief they are entitled to.

A senior who has paid property taxes faithfully for decades has earned the right to stay in their home. My job is to manage county money wisely enough that we never have to choose between vital services and protecting those who can least afford a tax increase.

I will advocate for every Hennepin County library to stock large-print books, audiobooks, and e-readers with adjustable text sizes. I will push for home delivery programs and phone helplines so any senior can get answers without leaving home.

TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

I will fund hands-on classes covering smartphone basics, internet safety, video calling, health apps, and digital tools like MyChart and telehealth — with phone registration available, not just online signup.

VOLUNTEER PAIRING PROGRAM

A program that matches trained teen and college volunteers with seniors in technology classes — seniors get patient, one-on-one help, and young people build real skills and connections across generations.

I will make sure the library budget I vote for every year includes money for staff training, printed step-by-step guides seniors can take home, and a loaner device program — because not owning a smartphone should never be a reason a senior gets left behind.

As Director at the University of Minnesota's Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), I recruited staff specifically to connect older adults with university resources. Every Thursday evening we hosted community gatherings designed to make seniors feel genuinely welcomed. That experience taught me: you have to meet seniors where they are and build trust over time.

FOUR PRIORITY AREAS

· Home Safety: Fund grab bars, wheelchair ramps, better lighting, and home safety inspections for seniors with low incomes.

· Mental Health: Fund counseling programs, crisis hotlines, and in-home mental health visits.

· Crime Prevention: Train officers to recognize elder abuse, financial scams, and fraud — with dedicated investigation teams.

· Community Connection: Fund senior centers, wellness check-in programs, and volunteer networks — because loneliness is a serious health risk.

I am committed to supporting our County Sheriff. Sheriff Dawanna Witt  demonstrated extraordinary dedication by protecting our neighbors, families, and friends — using every tool at her disposal to keep our community safe. Strong, principled leadership like hers is exactly what Hennepin County deserves."

My job is to make sure the right money goes to the right places, listen to what seniors actually need, and build the teamwork across the county to get it done.

LABOR & MANAGEMENT RELATIONSHIPS

I believe both union and non-union employees deserve respect, fair pay, and a real voice. For union employees, that means honoring the collective bargaining process fully. For non-union employees, the same values apply — clear ways to raise concerns, fair reviews, and protection from unfair treatment.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

The county workforce should look like the community it serves. I will push for annual pay equity audits, require DEI training for all managers, support employee resource groups, and demand that the county publicly report its DEI data every year.

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH FOR ALL STAFF

I will support mentorship programs, reverse mentorship, tuition reimbursement, clearly posted promotion ladders, and cross-department learning opportunities — and create programs that capture the knowledge of experienced staff before they retire.

County government works best when every employee — union or non-union, young or experienced, from any background — is treated fairly, heard genuinely, and given a real chance to succeed.

Hennepin County's biggest challenges — housing, transportation, senior services, mental health, and public safety — do not stop at city borders. Right now, county and city leaders too often only talk when there is a problem. I want to change that completely.

REGULAR MEETINGS & CLEAR CONTACTS

· Quarterly summits where commissioners meet face-to-face with mayors and city councils — with smaller cities having equal voice to Minneapolis.

· A city liaison program so every city has one dedicated county contact they can call directly.

SHARED INFORMATION & FUNDING

· A shared data dashboard so county and city staff see the same real-time information about community needs.

· Aggressive joint grant applications — governments applying together are far more competitive than applying separately.

JOINT PLANNING & SHARED RESOURCES

· A unified senior services planning process across all 45 cities — no more duplicate programs three miles apart.

· A joint transportation planning committee to fill the gaps that city borders create for seniors and people with disabilities.

· Easy facility and staff training cost-sharing between county and city governments.

MY PERSONAL COMMITMENT

Relationships are built by people, not systems. I will personally visit every city in Hennepin County during my first term — not for photo opportunities, but to listen. I will celebrate partnerships that deliver real results, because recognizing success encourages more of it.

Hennepin County is strongest when all 45 cities pull together. My job is to show up as a genuine partner and make that happen.