Minnesota and North Dakota Voter's Guide

Forum Communications Co., in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and of North Dakota, is providing this voter guide to help keep you informed ahead of the 2024 election.

  • Learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues.
  • Build your ballot before voting. Print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote.

We do not save your information; it will be lost when you leave this page. Only candidates that appear on your ballot will be listed. Additional information may be available for your area so be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for other voters’ guides.

Start Over

Voter Guide

Dakota County Commissioner District 5

County commissioners are the county s key policymakers. They oversee the administration of the county, set county budget, and participate in county long-range planning. County services that they oversee include a wide variety of social service and welfare programs, as well as certain public health programs. Learn more about the day in the life of a county commissioner in this video from the Association of Minnesota Counties.A candidate forum for this race is available at https://youtu.be/tkCcGMsx4p0?si=pryWQFrJScXXFQBM. More MN forums are available at https://www.lwvmn.org/2024-candidate-forums.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Yusuf Haji
    (NP)

  • Candidate picture

    Liz Workman
    (NP)

Biographical Information

If elected, what will your top three priorities be and why? (750 characters)

How would you ensure election laws do not create barriers to Minnesotans’ freedom to vote while also ensuring safe and secure elections? (500 characters)

What do you see as the biggest challenges to mental health and social services in your county, and how would you address them? (500 characters)

{_btnLabelFor(compare1, _isInSelection(compare1))}
{_btnLabelFor(compare2, _isInSelection(compare2))}
Campaign Website http://hajifordakota.org
Contact Phone 6123520918
Facebook (Full URL) http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560047019381&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Campaign Twitter Handle @@hajifordakota
Campaign Email info@hajifordakota.org
EXPANDING ACCESS TO DAKOTA’S RESOURCESFor a long time, Dakota County has been short on resources that our neighboring counties have access to. Even today, many residents in Dakota County don’t have access to healthcare, food, housing, and public transit. The Dakota County Board has a responsibility to expand these resources so that every Dakota County resident has access to them. I believe that no Dakota County resident should be left behind.
Language and Accessibility Support Language Assistance: Provide election materials and ballots in multiple languages commonly spoken in Minnesota. Accessibility: Ensure polling places and voting methods are accessible to people with disabilities, including physical access and ballot formats (e.g., Braille, large print).Expand Voting Options Early Voting: Offer extended periods for early voting to reduce congestion on Election Day. Mail-in Voting: Promote and simplify absentee voting,Simplify
There's a clear lack of resources I will make sure that Dakota County continues to invest in our first responders. I will also fight to invest in mental health resources, like treatment centers for residents who are struggling with addiction.
Funding for bridge replacement at I35 and lane expansion at CR50 in Lakeville for traffic safety improvements. There is a higher than usual number of crashes. Reconstruction of the of the interchange is needed.

Determine how to best distribute the new Local Affordable Housing Aid. This aid helps Metro local governments develop & preserve affordable housing. The variety of affordable housing needs are uniquely different: singles, workforce, family, veterans and seniors.

Secure funding for a second recycling facility. The Recycle Zone Plus is a partnership with Scott County to provide service to residents of both counties. It will also ease the pressure being felt at the 20+ year old Recycle Zone located in Eagan.
Dakota County is committed to administering secure, accurate elections. Our experienced staff follow State laws to oversee elections. We train city, township clerks and election judges in election laws, rules and practices. We print all ballots, program voting devices, maintain election equipment, administer absentee ballots and report results to the State. We have 142 precincts that report, 3 county locations to vote absentee before the election and approximately 282,00 registered voters.
Since Covid, we have seen an increase helping people in crisis. Dakota County is responding. We have a 24-hour response unit that offers phone & crisis face to face intervention and consultation. We have embedded social workers in police departments to assist in calls for someone experiencing a crisis. In 2025 the Crisis and Recovery Center will open and offer a place for people experiencing a mental health episode. This will be a 16,000SF facility located in West St Paul.
Powered by League of Women Voters Education Fund

The League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota crafted the questions sent to the candidates in the Spring of 2024. They reached out to candidates based on contact information in their public candidate filings. Candidates with email addresses were invited and reminded with emails. Candidates with only mailing addresses were sent a letter. Candidates with phone numbers received a phone call as well.

Candidate responses are published as they responded and have not been edited, except when responses were longer than the given character limit. In those cases, the responses are truncated.

VOTE411 is brought to you by the League of Women Voters Education Fund and League of Women Voters of Minnesota Education Fund. The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office.