Who is Julia?
Julia is a proud Mankato “townie” through and through. As a lifelong Mankato resident, Julia is committed to giving back to the community that has nurtured her.
Julia is running for Mayor to change the conversation at City Council - to center the conversation around the real-life experiences of people in our town. As a social worker, renter, queer woman, survivor of gender-based violence, millennial, and auntie, she understands the challenges many people in Mankato face and believes everyone should be heard and respected - especially those too often left out of decision making.
Early Life
Julia’s sense of justice and passion for helping others was instilled in her from childhood. Her mom was a career public defender and her dad, a jack of all trades, always helped his neighbors and gave back to his community. Julia’s first volunteer experience was at age nine helping her dad serve meals to unhoused people from a food truck. She knew then that her life would be about making a difference in the lives of others and working for what’s right.
In 2016, Julia earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from MSU, Mankato where she was an Honors student and Presidential Scholar. Julia has worked in the social services field for 10+ years, and early on spent a year as an AmeriCorps Volunteer. In her career, Julia has worked with adults with disabilities, children and youth, those struggling with substance addiction, and victims of domestic and sexual violence. She is currently a programming director in the anti-violence field. Outside of work, Julia volunteers with nonprofits, attends local community events, and is active in mutual aid networks. Julia consistently shows up for her community, and will continue to show up for the people of this community as Mayor of Mankato.
Core Values
Julia’s guiding values include equity, accountability, transparency, dignity, justice, freedom, growth, and community.
Julia is a nurturer, helper, thinker, and activator. She thinks and feels deeply, and knows when to take action and make things happen, especially for the betterment of this community.
Inspiration for Running for Mayor
Julia has always been committed to making a positive impact in her community, guided by a belief in the interconnectedness of all life and a moral and spiritual responsibility to care for others. The current political landscape has deepened her understanding of how local politics shape everyday life, highlighting the influence of city government and prompting her to take a closer look at governance in Mankato.
As Julia became more engaged in politics in Mankato, she was encouraged by some of the city’s goals but disappointed by responses to issues she deeply cared about. She felt her progressive values were not fully represented.
Julia wants our town to have conversations about important topics and be part of building creative solutions to the issues facing our community today. She is ready for the city to act boldly, be willing to try new things, and incorporate diverse perspectives. She understands the importance of local policy making and believes that everyday citizens can make a big impact.
"I’ve heard a lot about what’s NOT possible and I’m ready to start a new conversation."
- Julia
If you’re ready for CHANGE and for our city to start some new conversations, vote for Julia!