Sun Sailor
Oct 8, 2018

To the Editor:

Join me in voting to re-elect our state representative, Cheryl Youakim! We met years ago when we served on Hopkins’ human rights commission, where we worked to build an inclusive and welcoming city. We also worked together on the Hopkins Public Schools’ Legislative Action Coalition (LAC) advocating for sufficient funding for public schools, preschool education and special education. In addition to serving in the Minnesota Legislature, Cheryl has also been working in both Hopkins and St. Louis Park schools, so she is keenly aware of the strengths and challenges of our local schools. As a Hopkins City Council member for eight years, she was committed to bringing the light rail train to the western suburbs and to responsible development. Through Cheryl’s many years working at the Capitol as a staff person and legislator, she has developed deep knowledge about state law and policy. She’s smart and approachable with strong progressive values. But she is also able to work well across the aisle to get things accomplished. Her work on the Hopkins City Council and on the Hopkins LAC was non-partisan, and she values bringing people together to solve problems.

Rep. Cheryl Youakim has worked hard as our state legislator and I encourage you to vote for her in November.

Emily Wallace-Jackson
Hopkins

Emily Wallace-Jackson is board president of the Hopkins Education Foundation.

https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/free/letter-re-elect-rep-cheryl-youakim-to-mn-house-district/article_9b12b8f4-cb44-11e8-974a-37efda491280.html

ST. PAUL – State Rep. Cheryl Youakim (DFL – Hopkins) has been chosen by the League of Minnesota Cities as a Legislator of Distinction for her work to aid the efforts of cities during the 2017 session. This is the third consecutive year the League has bestowed this award upon her.

“I’m honored by the League’s recognition,” said Youakim. “This year, in particular, there was an onslaught of bills to strip away control from our local governments. I was happy to stand side-by-side with our local elected leaders in both St. Louis Park and Hopkins, as well as the League, to push back against these proposals.”

No stranger to the unique needs of cities, Rep. Youakim previously served on the Hopkins City Council prior to joining the Legislature. In selecting Legislators of Distinction, the League seeks to recognize that in order to successfully serve commonly shared constituents, state and city officials must work together to meet the unique needs of rural, suburban, and urban residents all across Minnesota.

To be eligible for the award, legislators must meet criteria such as: being generally and reasonably accessible to League representatives, seeking input on issues of importance to cities, listening to League concerns and is receptive to the League providing information on issues, sponsoring and/or supporting League initiatives, speaking out on behalf of the interest of cities, and demonstrating the importance of partnership between the state and cities.

Further information about the award, as well as a full list of recipients, can be found at the League’s website.

Rep. Youakim encourages community members to contact her on any legislative issue. She can be reached by email at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn or phone at 651-296-9889.

WEST METRO
Legionnaires’ disease was linked to a tower but it took agency two weeks to find specific one.
By Miguel Otárola Star Tribune FEBRUARY 18, 2017 — 10:43PM

It took weeks for the Minnesota Department of Health to find the source of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Hopkins that killed one person and sickened 23 others last year.

Now a state representative for the west metro suburb wants to make sure it never takes that long again to figure out where an outbreak began.

State Rep. Cheryl Youakim, DFL-Hopkins, introduced a bill earlier this month that would create a state registry of cooling towers, often the source of widespread cases of the respiratory disease.

>> Read More