Additional Q-and-A with Debbie Goettel

Here’s candidate Q-and-A content in addition to what appeared in EPLN’s print Voter Guide, mailed to Eden Prairie homes in early October. We are repeating the Voter Guide’s introduction of the candidate.

Debbie Goettel

Website: www.debbiegoettel.com

Goettel, a Richfield resident, is the incumbent county commissioner from District 5, which includes southern Eden Prairie. She was elected to the Hennepin County Board in 2016.

An environmental engineer and former Richfield mayor, Goettel also serves as board vice chair and chair of its Budget Committee.

Outside elective office, she has been involved with community organizations including the Richfield 4th of July Committee, Richfield Foundation, Hennepin History Museum, Corner House, CAP-HC, Richfield Rotary, Optimist Club, Community Service Council of Richfield, the Environmental Initiative and various area chambers of commerce.

When asked how she has prepared to serve well in office, she responded, “I am constantly striving to improve our systems through best practices, industry-leading innovations and through listening to constituents, so our policies reflect our residents.”

She said she has received endorsements or donations from the following: Minnesota DFL, AFSCME, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA-MN, ND), Women Winning, Hennepin County Association of Paramedics and EMTs (HCAPE), IBEW Electrical Workers Local 292, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, State Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case, Richfield Mayor Mary Supple and Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse.

EPLN: What is your position on the much-debated question of whether Hennepin Healthcare, the County Board, or another entity should control Hennepin County Medical Center and other county health facilities?

GOETTEL: The County Board has a critical oversight role over the Hennepin Health System (HHS), established by a power-sharing agreement in state statute in 2007. This preserves our oversight while granting HHS (a nonprofit) the autonomy to manage its operations, staff, leadership and policies, and to operate fully in the private market. We approve budgets, and we own all the capital structures.

Hospitals in general are facing financial instability, and this is further exacerbated by the fact that HCMC is a safety-net hospital, with one of the highest proportions of uncompensated care regionally. I have prioritized transparency, communication and trust-building, especially as discussions around HHS governance have intensified.

Despite speculation about dissolving the HHS board and returning oversight solely to the County Board, no such actions have been taken or proposed. Instead, we are regularizing productive meetings with HHS, fulfilling our oversight role and ensuring we have the information needed to make informed decisions.

Workers must be at the forefront of these discussions. If we fail them, something is wrong. My responsibility as a Hennepin County commissioner is to advocate for our frontline workers, and ensure they can provide excellent care and improve outcomes for all who use HCMC.

EPLN: The county has a solid-waste management plan that calls for considerably less trash to be produced by 2030, yet the state says the county is actually headed in the wrong direction. What additional steps would you propose, if any, to get residents to produce less garbage?

GOETTEL: Everyone has a role in reducing waste, starting with the personal choices we make as consumers. It is also crucial to hold large corporate waste producers, such as those creating single-use plastics, accountable. Hennepin County successfully lobbied for an Extended Producer Responsibility bill at the state Legislature, which has now become law. This legislation provides tools to address major waste producers and mitigate the strain their products have placed on our recycling and waste systems.

A significant portion of our waste is organic, making composting a key tool for reducing individual waste footprints. We offer free composting classes annually to educate residents on effective composting practices. Additionally, we provide resources to help individuals and businesses rethink their consumption and plastic use.

Our Zero Waste Action Plan outlines the necessary tools and programs to transition toward a zero-waste future, reducing reliance on landfills and incineration. We need federal and state partners to step up and offer real, material support, as unfunded mandates will not get us closer to our shared goals. By refocusing these efforts, we aim to significantly improve waste diversion and foster a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future in Hennepin County – but everyone needs to pitch in.

EPLN: How would you maintain impartiality and fairness, even when faced with issues that may conflict with your personal beliefs?

GOETTEL: One of the most gratifying and eye-opening aspects of being a county commissioner is witnessing the diverse range of opinions and insights that residents bring to us on various issues that are before the board. I take each comment seriously, and work closely with my staff to ensure every concern is addressed appropriately. I often speak directly with residents to ensure they know their opinions matter and influence how we govern the county.

It’s crucial for us as elected officials not only to listen, but also to shape our policies based on what we hear from our community. The solutions we implement may not always be perfect or preferred by everyone, but by setting aside our personal biases, truly understanding the needs of our residents, and working through compromise with my talented fellow commissioners, we often find solutions that genuinely reflect the diverse perspectives within our county.

This fair and impartial process – one that is checked and guided by our constituents – creates a governance model that I believe most can stand behind. While we all hold strong opinions, we are collectively stronger when we share our views, engage in civil debate and work toward compromises that reflect the majority.