Betsy O'Berry (Anoka County Commissioner District 1, Minnesota, candidate 2024)

Betsy O'Berry

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Anoka County Commissioner District 1

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 13, 2024

Education

High school

Crystal Lake High School

Bachelor's

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Personal

Birthplace

Michigan

Religion

Lutheran - ELCA

Profession

Certified public accountant

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Betsy O'Berry ran in a special election to the Anoka County Commissioner District 1 in Minnesota. She was on the ballot in the special general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

O'Berry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Betsy O'Berry provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 17, 2024:

• High school: Crystal Lake South High School
• Bachelor's: University of Illinois, Urbanan-Champagne
• Gender: Female
• Religion: Lutheran - ELCA
• Profession: Certified Public Accountant
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign slogan: Making Anoka County a Great Place to live, work, and play.
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook

Elections

General election

Special general election for Anoka County Commissioner District 1

John Heinrich and Betsy O'Berry ran in the special general election for Anoka County Commissioner District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	John Heinrich (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Betsy O'Berry (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Nonpartisan primary election

Special nonpartisan primary for Anoka County Commissioner District 1

Andre Champagne, John Heinrich, and Betsy O'Berry ran in the special primary for Anoka County Commissioner District 1 on August 13, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Andre Champagne (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	John Heinrich (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Betsy O'Berry (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for O'Berry in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Betsy O'Berry completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by O'Berry's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a retired Certified Public Accountant with 39 years of experience. I have owned my own business and advised other businesses, which translates well to helping manage the business of Anoka County, which is the Commissioner's job. I am running in the special election to replace our District 1 Commissioner who resigned at the end of February. I am running to make sure Anoka County continues to be a Great Place to live, work and play.Fro

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?

• I am forward-thinking. Anoka County has almost doubled in population in the last 40 years and we continue to grow. As we think of infrastructure like our new county jail, roads and bridges, we need to plan ahead for increases in our population and do things right in the first place so that we do not need to do them over.
• Transparency - you have a right to know what your county government is doing and have the opportunity to voice your opinions about issues that affect you.
• Collaboration - we need to work together with our residents, cities and legislators to make sure we have a great quality of life for our citizens.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

We have several infrastructure needs in District 1 including upgrades to Highway 47, County Road 7 and other road and bridge projects. In particular, Highway 47 north of Anoka is unsafe and not adequate for current traffic needs. Looking ahead, we will need to plan for the additional housing being built in the northern part of the district and upgrade our roads for the next 30 years of traffic.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

County government is where infrastructure plans are made and implemented, and it is where social services are administered. In many ways, county government is where rubber truly hits the road!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

We have several excellent commissioners now. I would like to have their command of local issues. Our prior commissioners Dennis Berg and Natalie Haas Steffen have great insights into how we can collaborate with others and improve county government.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

No.

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

Hard work to understand the issues before us, transparancy so that residents understand how issues affect them, the ability to work with others to get things done and, most importantly, honesty, so that people know your word is meaningful.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a former tax accountant. As my father-in-law used to say, I look at budgets with a "sharp pencil." Keeping up with tax law, I am used to drinking from the fire hose of information and learn things quickly. I am also good at working on teams and look forward to working with our other commissioners and excellent staff.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The job of an Anoka County Commissioner is to help manage the county's business. This includes making sure we have adequate staffing to do the work and supervision to make sure that our work is done efficiently and effectively. The county makes decisions about infrastructure and can encourage economic developement. The county also administers social service grants from the federal and state government and we need to know that these programs reach and help our residents when they need them.

What legacy would you like to leave?

If we can improve Highway 47 so that it is safer and better able to handle the need for traffic flow, I will be very happy.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was a grade school student when President Nixon resigned.

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

I was a secretary at a farm equipment sales office. It was a summer job.

What is your favorite book? Why?

That changes yearly. I read a lot of biographies and business books, but I like a good mystery now and then as well. My favorite Minnesota authors are Lorna Landvik and William Kent Krueger.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Sherlock Holmes

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

My very favorite song is "What a Wonderful World" sung by Louis Armstrong. In this polarized and troubled world it is inspirational to me to know that a black man in 1960s America could find so much love and beauty in our world. It always makes me hopeful.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

None of us can ever do everything we want to do. I try to be patient and get to each thing I want to accomplish in its own time.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Our county commissioners work with other counties and the state to make sure life is good in Minnesota. I'm not sure everyone knows how important collaboration is with each other and other public officials.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

It can be helpful but is not required. Other experience can translate well to success as a Commissioner.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

First, an openness to learning. None of us know everything and it is important to listen and retain new information. Second, a good understanding of business administration and budgeting.

Tell us your favorite joke.

A young woman was visiting her elderly neighbor and asked him what was the secret to a long life. The country gentleman told her that the secret was to put a pinch of gunpowder in your oatmeal each morning. Well, the young woman was respectful of her neighor and proceeded to do just that.

She lived a long, meaningful life and when she died, at the ripe old age of 96, she left behind 4 children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren -

and a 30 foot hole where the crematoriam used to be.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Former Commissioners Dennis Berg and Natalie Haas Steffen and St. Francis City Council member Sarah Udvig.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

County governments in Minnesota are charged with administering social services. We need to make sure that they reach the people who need them. I think you have a right to know what your government is doing especially when it directly affects you.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Anoka County Commissioner District 1

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