Thao earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities in 2000. She also attended the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. Thao's career experience includes working as a program director, program officer, and program associate for Nexus Community Partners. She also worked as a community specialist at the Roy Wilkins Center.[1]
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Nelsie Yang in round 5 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
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Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source
Total votes: 5,708
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Terri Thao completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Thao's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
My name is Terri Thao. I am a mother, wife, and homeowner. I grew up in St. Paul as the oldest daughter of Hmong refugees and have lived on the East Side neighborhood for the past 12 years. I know what it's like to grow up and live in communities where people have been forgotten because they are poor.
I learned from a young age I learned that I need to do my part to improve the quality of life for all people. For the past 15 years, I worked hard to save families on the East Side from foreclosure. I also grew up in a small business family so I understand the dedication and risk entrepreneurs are taking for their families and their future. I also worked hard to successfully improve conditions for small businesses on the East Side and in Frogtown. I have built meaningful relationships with individuals and organizations on the East Side and I continue to support these local collaborative projects.
I also sat on several important decision-making tables - serving 9 years on the St. Paul Planning Commission where I oversaw the creation of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. I served 3 years on the state board of MN Housing where we allocate over $80 million for affordable housing production and single-family mortgages throughout the state. In my professional job, I train leaders to advocate for their communities to build power and ensure that our voices and experiences are not forgotten from policy and resources.
I am running for City Council because like so many others, I am raising my children here. The East Side is full of great opportunity and we need someone on the City Council who can champion the people and neighborhood. I envision my grandchildren coming back to raise their families on the East Side.
I am passionate about creating and growing opportunities for economic development by supporting small businesses and business development corridors. I want to work on converting more businesses to become worker owned. I want to do this work to increase the tax base so that we can pay for services for residents.
I have spent 15 years working on housing issues. I want to increase housing trust funds to develop new and preserve current affordable units; options to fund alternative housing models such as cooperative housing models. I also support regulatory tools such as increasing density to allow up to fourplexes to be located on a regular city lot and expand our zoning code to allow accessory dwelling units across the whole city and not just in certain neighborhoods.
I also care deeply about ensuring all people participate in the public policy process. As someone who studied and worked in public policy, I know it matters who has a seat at the table to make decisions that inform policy. For the past 8 years, I have worked to train communities of color and indigenous communities to sit at these important decision making tables, particularly on issues of economic development, housing, transit, and workforce development. I am committed to ensuring greater communication and engagement with Ward 6 residents. I want to make sure everyone has a voice and power in the decisions that impact their communities.
The biggest power a city has is over its land and that makes it unique. The city gets to decided what gets built and where which has a direct impact on people.
I look up to my maternal grandmother and parents. My maternal grandmother was a brilliant woman who sewed parachutes for Hmong soldiers as they partnered with the CIA during the Vietnam War in Laos. She then fled with her whole family to the Thai refugee camps and came to the United States and lived the rest of her life here. She learned to drive on the Chicago highways and worked manufacturing jobs until she became too ill and had to retire early. She was extremely creative and made traditional Hmong clothing for all of us grandchildren and even for her great grandchildren. She was an extremely kind woman who would counsel family members and love them unconditionally. I miss her everyday.
I look up to my parents because they raised six children having no college degrees and were young parents. They managed to feed and cloth us. They took a chance by opening a business to support us during college. They taught my five siblings and I the importance of family and also how to enjoy life and laugh. They continue to take care of all of their grandchildren.
I believe the quote "we all do better when we all do better" is something that inspires my political philosophy of how we need to take care of each other, especially those most vulnerable and that no one should be left behind.
I am dedicated my life to serving the community, especially those most vulnerable. I am dedicated and trustworthy and have held leadership positions on the boards of several local nonprofit organizations, including East Side Neighborhood Development Company, the Asian Economic Development Association, and Neighborhood House.
I would love to see Ward 6 as a thriving ward that has not displaced residents because of our development. I want us to have a local thriving business scene that has local ownership and is patronized by local residents. I want to see our young people prosper, graduate from high school and come back and live and own homes in our community. I want to see more engagement among neighbors and participation in civic activities. I also want the City Council member after m
I remember the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion as a child in 1986 because it was televised and aired over and over again. I must have been 8 at the time.
My first paid hourly job was as a dietary aide at Lynnhurst nursing home in the Midway area of St. Paul. I worked in the kitchen helping prep food for delivery to the residents. It was also my first and only union job as a member of the UFCW. I started when I was 17 and worked for another 2 years while in college at this job.
Prior to this I had participated in youth programs that paid me a small stipend for participation but I consider this job my first hourly paid job. And of course as an oldest child I took care my siblings so I consider child care and baby sitting as two other jobs I had when I was young.
My favorite book series is the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. Paranormal romance series that is 19 books long about vampires, witches, demons, Lykae and other mystical beings in the world of the "Lore". I love reading romance novels, stories about women and relationships!
Everything is hard. Growing up as a poor Hmong second generation woman who was trying to go to college but had no idea what to do when I got there was hard. Raising children is hard. Doing work in community is hard. Clearly I do not shy away from what is hard, instead I embrace this and address it head on. I am fortunate that I have made many friends to consult with along the way to share the struggle with.
The most helpful skills to have are the ability to listen, willingness to ask tough and hard questions and be accountable to community by reporting back on outcomes.
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