Advocacy in Action: an April 2026 Update

SPAAR’s Government Affairs Directors (GADs) Becky Wegscheid and Simon Opatz actively engaged with numerous elected officials, government staff and housing stakeholders throughout April on behalf of SPAAR members.

SPAAR had several engagements with the new Mayor of Saint Paul, Kaohly Her. The mayor joined SPAAR’s Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee on April 16 to learn about her priorities and have the opportunity to ask questions. Attendees heard about her vision for housing in St. Paul and the importance of Fair Housing. Both Becky and Simon also attended Mayor Her's State of the City address where she talked about her first 100 days in office, the accomplishments, the hardships and her goals as she and her administration continues their work. And finally, Becky and Joe McKinley, SPAAR’s vice president of External Engagement and Professionalism, attended Mayor Her’s Inauguration Party to continue to strengthen SPAAR's relationship with new mayor and her administration.

Fair Housing Month was spotlighted and celebrated during April. For each Fair Housing Month, SPAAR encourages cities and counties in its 12-county territory to adopt SPAAR's Fair Housing Month Proclamation, to reaffirm their commitment to Fair Housing. The cities of Arden Hills, Columbia Heights, Little Canada, Northfield, Oakdale, Rosemount, Roseville, St. Paul and White Bear Lake all did so this year.

Washington County Commissioner Bethany Cox joined SPAAR’s Government Affairs Committee in April to inform the committee about the County’s work to prepare for the new hospital development in Stillwater, and answer Realtor® questions about the project.

Simon worked with Burnsville city staff to help promote the city’s upcoming Down Payment Assistance program. Learn more about the program here. The application period opened on May 1.

Becky, along with SPAAR member Tony Khambata, testified at a Lakeville city council meeting earlier this month opposing the city’s proposal to institute a yearlong moratorium on development in their city. See the testimony here. And the coverage from Fox-9 TV here. The measure was approved unanimously.

Simon has been working with elected officials and city staff in both West St. Paul and South St. Paul to coordinate a Realtor® Roundtable event where Realtors® who do business in West and/or South St. Paul can provide elected leaders and city staff in each community about what it’s like buying and selling real estate in these cities. Please reach out to Simon at sopatz@spaar.com if interested to participate in this opportunity.

Contact Simon (sopatz@spaar.com) or Becky (bwegscheid@spaar.com) with any questions about SPAAR's advocacy efforts, about participating in meetings with local elected officials or about becoming more engaged with SPAAR's Government Affairs Committee.