The moment I understood what freedom truly means in America, I embraced the American Dream. Yet in just 36 years, it pains me to see those opportunities slipping away—and I’m determined to help restore them.

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When a government enacts good policies, innovation and new knowledge flourish, people’s lives improve, and society grows more dynamic. When it loses sight of its priorities, progress stalls, opportunities for breakthroughs shrink, people suffer, and society becomes stagnant.

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So how do we judge a good policy from a bad one? Governments face new challenges all the time. A good government measures its policies against results—and adjusts when a policy fails to deliver.

 

My interest in politics began with climate change, when I saw the urgent need for knowledge to guide environmental decisions. My personal involvement in local government started first as a taxpayer, and then as a candidate in 2023, when I ran for city council after a personal experience with crime while renovating one of my rental houses.

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I used to be a happy taxpayer—until I examined our city budget. As a political outsider, I studied the city budget to understand how things work. What I found was troubling: our city has not been critically evaluating past performance to ensure spending matches revenue. Instead, it has repeatedly raised property taxes—making Saint Paul less competitive than neighboring cities. If this continues, residents and businesses will leave, our tax base will shrink, and our city will lose its vibrancy.

 

A mayor can change this. The mayor is the operator of the city’s engine—its departments. With a clear understanding of how those departments function and by surrounding themselves with experts who have a proven track record of solving problems, our city can improve its services while reducing its operation cost.

 

Real change starts locally. If we don’t understand how our city operates, we can’t hope to influence federal outcomes, because so much at the national level still depends on local execution.

 

This shift also changed how I see climate change. Cleaner energy alone won’t save us if the government fails to create opportunities for residents to contribute productively. City government can lead by example—showing how to use resources wisely so our people can make a meaningful contribution to their community.

 

I bring a wealth of experience from a diverse background:

• Scientist in Biophysics – Transparent and solutions-driven, I tackle problems at their root cause, mastering the details while never losing sight of the big picture.

• Mother – Raised two independent, capable young adults.

• Immigrant – Skilled at prioritizing limited resources and deeply grateful for the freedoms and opportunities this country has provided me as a Chinese immigrant.

• Small Business Owner – Committed to going the extra mile for tenants, both financially and for their overall well-being.

 

I’m ready to lead. I’m ready to make Saint Paul affordable with high-quality services, provide more job opportunities, and open more spaces for fun and connection—so our diverse community can thrive together.

 

Let’s start Putting Saint Paul Back on the Right Track on November 4th.