Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by a West Metro resident Scott Wesbur through the PlymouthMN.com Community Contributor program. PlymouthMN.com is a neutral platform and does not endorse political candidates.
Candidate for the office of the State Auditor
In Minnesota, independent candidates face a steep climb to get on the ballot. Right now, to secure ballot access for the office of State Auditor, an independent candidate must gather 2,000 wet signatures in just 14 days.
I am currently spending my time gathering signatures for Jay Reeves, an independent candidate endorsed by Forward Independence, because I believe we desperately need a qualified technologist looking at the state's books.
Jay Reeves: A retired U.S. military veteran
Jay is a Victoria resident, a retired U.S. military veteran, and a professional data analyst. His campaign is built on a simple premise: "People before political party."
In recent years, Minnesota has faced highly publicized challenges regarding the oversight of state funds. While technology alone cannot fix bureaucratic complacency, putting a data analyst in the driver's seat of the State Auditor's office is a critical first step. Jay is focused on technologically modernizing our state systems to improve data integrity and implement rigorous, automated fraud detection. We need leadership made of steel who can withstand political pressure and let the data dictate the oversight.
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Deeply Rooted in Our Community
Beyond his technical background, Jay is deeply rooted in our community. Born and raised on the East Side of Saint Paul, he is a father of six—including a son serving in the U.S. Army—a grandfather, and is married to an educator with over 25 years of service. He understands the real-world impact of how state resources are managed.
Jay is currently traveling across the Twin Cities and the state during the next week to meet with voters and gather the required signatures to officially submit his candidacy to the Secretary of State.
If you believe in data-driven oversight and want to help an honest technologist get on the ballot this fall, I encourage you to meet with him to sign his petition.
Upcoming Signature Gathering this weekend in the west metro:
- Saturday, May 30th:
- Plymouth - Asian Fair - 3500 Plymouth Blvd
- Brooklyn Park - Tator Daze - 5600 85th Ave N
- Shakopee - Ales in the Alley - 120 Holmes St S
Additional locations:
- May 28-30 - Owatonna - Steele County Fair Grounds
- May 29-30 - Detroit Lakes - Street Faire at the lakes
- May 29-30 - Saint Paul - Flint Hills Family Festival
- May 29-31 - Morristown - Morristown Dam Days
- May 29-31 - Richmond - Kickoff Jam
- May 29-31 - St. Francis - St. Francis Pioneer Days
- May 30 - Faribault - Straight River Art Fest
- May 30 - Saint Paul - WaterFest
To learn more about the campaign or to find out how to sign the petition, you can contact the campaign directly at 763-229-1931 or visit Jay's Campaign Website.
Jay Reeves for State Auditor
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