Campaign mailing address: 330 12th Ave N, Hopkins MN 55343
Office Sought: City Council Member
Are you an Incumbent or Challenger: Incumbent
City of Residence: Hopkins
How long have you lived in your community?
10 years in November
Are you a Homeowner or Renter?
Homeowner
Do you own other real property (e.g. Business, Cabin, Investment, or Rental Property)? If so, which?
No
Describe your civic and/or community engagement.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. I also received a Certification in LGBTQ+ Studies and was an active member of the Latinx Student Union. I am a member of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honors. I also hold a DEI Certification from the University of Minnesota. Currently, I am employed by the City of Minneapolis in the Office of Public Service, where I oversee the redevelopment of George Floyd Square and the future Minneapolis Democracy Center (the former MPD 3rd Precinct building). My commitment to community service is extensive. I am actively involved in every caucus and election. I have led campaigns for county candidates and volunteered for local, county, state, and national candidates. In 2021, I earned a seat on the Hopkins City Council. I am the first woman of color to be seated on the Council. I am a member of many local orgs such as the Hopkins Race Equity Initiative Committee, Friends of Hopkins Center for the Arts, Access Hopkins (a group dedicated to mobility focusing on people over cars), and Hopkins Area Little League (I am a board of directors member, and a Coach). I am also heavily involved in national groups like the National League of Cities (Women’s Caucus, Hispanic Elected Local Officials, and Pride LGBTQ Caucus), and Local Progress (Women’s Caucus, Pride Caucus, and Nuestro Caucus [Latino]). I was also recently appointed to the Hennepin County Race Equity Advisory Council. In addition, I am a volunteer for my daughter’s school, an active participant in all City events, and have a wide network of personal and professional political acquaintances from locally to nationwide.
What are the most important housing challenges facing your community?
Desire for homeownership and not enough single family homes to go around. The narrative of “there’s too may apartments” while those saying that don’t understand that we can’t build single family homes where there is no available land and that we are working on ownership options where we can.
The Twin Cities Metro is facing a housing shortage unlike any we have experienced in recent history. What will you do to increase the number of homes available to residents of your community?
We are building many new apartment buildings. Though not ideal for our desire for homeownership, we are a 4 sq mi and 19,000 person city and there is not a lot of opportunity for single family homes. We are increasing available homes the only way we can.
Minnesota has one of the largest homeownership gaps between Whites and Blacks, Indigenous, and People of Color. This is one of MAR’s primary concerns. What would you propose at the local level to close this home ownership gap?
I would love to see a fund to help offset the down payment for a home for BIPOC people. Unfortunately, I am unsure how to make that happen with an already high tax rate here. And with federal funding at risk, there’s little chance to get grants from that level of government to provide such programs to our level of government. But this is heavily on my radar for when we can implement it.
How do you think your city can best balance the rights of tenants and property owners to effectively manage rental housing?
We definitely need better tenants rights and also need ore opportunity to own and I think there is opportunity for both if we work as a team.
What are your views on property tax rates in your community? Do you have concerns related to your city’s property tax rate? If so, how would you address those concerns once elected?
They’re too high. And yet, not at all an amount that is unreasonable for the growth and the offerings of this city. People here enjoy top notch staff and services and that is the majority of where taxes are going. To ask for anything less is impossible without the appropriate tax increases.
Please provide links to all social media accounts connected to you or your campaign.
Instagram: @garridoforhopkins
Bluesky: @garrido4hopkins
Facebook: @GarridoForHopkins
LinkedIn: @heidimgarrido
Please list any notable endorsements for your campaign.
ELECTED & APPOINTED OFFICIALS: Cheryl Youakim, Minnesota State Representative, District 46B – María Isa Pérez-Vega, Minnesota State Representative, District 65B – Patricia Torres Ray, Former Minnesota State Senator, District 63 – Irene Fernando, Hennepin County Commissioner, Board Chair – Heather Edelson, Hennepin County Commissioner, District 6 – Anjuli Cameron, Metropolitan Council Member, District 8 – Juventino Meza, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs Board Member, District 5 – Elvis Rivera, Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs Board Member, District 5 – Louise Segreto, Three Rivers Park District, District 4 Commissioner – Brooke Roper, School Board Director, Hopkins School District – Rachel Hartland, School Board Treasurer, Hopkins School District – Mayors: Patrick Hanlon (City of Hopkins), Amáda Márquez Simula (City of Columbia Heights), April Graves (City of Brooklyn Center), Nadia Mohamed (City of St. Louis Park) – Council Members: Brian Hunke & Aaron Kuznia (City of Hopkins), Andrea Jenkins (City of Minneapolis), Rachel James (City of Columbia Heights), Michael Isenberg (City of New Hope), Kristy Janigo (City of Maple Grove), Lona Dalessandro (City of Bloomington), Wendy Berry (City of West St. Paul, & current President of the League of Minnesota Cities), Dr. Kimberly Wilburn & Rebecca Schack & Kissy Coakley (City of Minnetonka), Clark Gregor & Julie Pointner (City of Plymouth), PG Narayanan & Lisa Toomey (City of Eden Prairie), Yolanda Farris & Paul Baudhuin & Lynette Dumalag & Sue Budd & Tim Brausen (City of St. Louis Park) – Former Council Members: Rick Brausen (City of Hopkins), Simon Trautmann (City of Richfield)
COMMUNITY MEMBERS: Tim Molepske & Sara Garbers, Hopkins School Board Candidates – Joey Kerber, President, Hopkins Area Little League – Danny McDonald, Insure with Danny, State Farm & Board President, Hopkins Business & Civic Association – Amy Brace, Owner, Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe – Sari Green, Owner, Be Be Hair – Hopkins & Board Member, Hopkins Business & Civic Association.
ORGANIZATIONS – DEMOCRATIC MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS: Democratic Municipal Officials is a national association of elected Mayors, City Council Members, School Board Members, and other municipal leaders who identify with the values of the Democratic Party. LPAC: We endorse LGBTQ women and nonbinary candidates who share our commitment to LGBTQ and women’s equality, and social justice, with a focus on increasing the number of diverse LGBTQ women in office.
NORTH CENTRAL STATES REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS: Our Union supports elected officials who support workers — and opposes those who undermine what we stand for. How candidates vote on our issues is more important than what party they belong to. If recent years have shown us anything, it is that bipartisan support is the only way to get things done.
STONEWALL DFL: Stonewall DFL works for a safe and equitable Minnesota by electing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied Democrats to public office in Minnesota and to party office in the Minnesota DFL. The caucus offers endorsements for local, state and federal DFL candidates who support equality for all Minnesotans.
LGBTQ+ VICTORY FUND: LGBTQ+ Victory Fund is the only national organization devoted to electing pro-equality, pro-choice LGBTQ+ leaders to public office at every level. These officials fight for equality in the halls of power, ensuring our community’s voice is heard. WOMEN WINNING: Women Winning recruits, trains, endorses, and elects pro-choice women to all levels of public office, who bring unique perspectives and drive positive change.
RUN FOR SOMETHING: Run for Something recruits and supports young, diverse progressives to run for office in all 50 states.
AFSCME: AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) endorses candidates who support public workers and their priorities, such as fair wages, healthcare, retirement security, workplace safety, and collective bargaining rights
