What motivates you to live a life of public service and to run for office, and what are the most pressing issues facing your district?

I'm Lucia Wroblewski, and I’m running for State House District 41A. My motivation stems from a lifelong calling to serve as a police officer.

Growing up in a working-class family with roots in Poland, I learned empathy, compassion, and a passion for democracy from my parents, both of whom experienced wartime hardships. My father, a young boy during World War II, was taken by the Russians to a gulag. His journey was harrowing; after enduring years of hardship, he spent six years in a displaced persons camp in east Africa. Tragically, he was separated from his mother, whose grave lies in Tehran, just before they were set to reunite.

My mother’s story is also equally poignant. She grew up in southeast Poland and was taken by the Nazis, enduring time in the Dachau concentration camp before being forced into slave labor for German farmers. Both of my parents eventually found their way to Minnesota, where they built a new life. Their experiences of resilience and survival have profoundly shaped my values and commitment to serving others.

I spent most of my policing career on the east side of Saint Paul, where I was a field training officer, firearms instructor, and a member of SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics). I also took pride in being a community officer and continue to teach crisis intervention training to fellow officers in retirement.

After 30 years in Afton, I volunteered as a planning commissioner, helping shape our community during my last three years on the police force. When I retired, I continued my public service on the Afton City Council, where I have served for six years, running unopposed for re-election.

Following redistricting, I volunteered with our local DFL Party to support Judy Seeberger’s successful state senate campaign. Although we narrowly lost the new House seat in 2022, I was encouraged to run against the GOP incumbent. After careful consideration, I decided to pursue it. Then the incumbent declined to run for re-election, creating the open seat.

My local government experience, especially on the planning commission and city council, has prepared me for the legislature. I've learned the importance of listening to all sides of an issue and responding to community needs, skills I've honed throughout my career.

I'm committed to serving the residents of District 41A in the east Twin Cities metro area, and I'm excited to continue my public service at the state level.

How has your time and local government prepared you to serve in the Legislature?

My experience in local government has been a natural extension of my lifelong commitment to serving my community. As a police officer, I was dedicated to helping people navigate their challenges, often connecting them with resources and following cases through to resolution. This same spirit guided my prior work on the planning commission and my current work on the city council.

For example, when an Xcel substation was proposed in Afton—something that clearly didn’t fit our community’s density requirements—I organized our neighbors to voice our concerns at the city council meeting. I wasn’t on the city council yet, but I understood the importance of community advocacy and brought people together to ensure our voices were heard.

During my time on the planning commission, I faced a significant learning curve, diving into land use variances, policies, and our comprehensive plan. I made it a point to attend every site visit, engaging with homeowners and applicants to grasp the real implications of development proposals—not just what was on paper. This hands-on approach helped me understand how city government functions and the intricacies of land use.

Transitioning to the city council was a new challenge, requiring decisions on budgets and ordinances while setting priorities for the year ahead. These experiences have been invaluable preparation for my role in the state legislature.

One key lesson I carry with me is the importance of listening to all sides of an issue. In my policing days, I learned that snap judgments often lead to misunderstandings. I strive to ensure that all perspectives are considered, even when circumstances might limit open dialogue.

I've realized the significance of connecting with external resources, such as the League of Minnesota Cities. Recognizing the need for our city to advocate at the state level, I encouraged my council to engage with other communities and join the Small Cities Association. This outreach is essential for ensuring that our unique needs—like our reliance on wells and septic systems—are understood by our representatives.

I also stay active in initiatives like the Washington County Water Consortium and the Lower Saint Croix Partnership Team, where I evaluate variance requests from neighboring Wisconsin. These roles have expanded my understanding of regional issues and reinforced the value of collaboration among communities.

Ultimately, I never imagined I would be a city council member, let alone run for the state legislature. But these connections and experiences have shown me how interlinked our communities are. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring this collaborative spirit to the state level and advocate for our shared needs.

You're currently restoring a parcel of former farmland into a conservation area of Woodson Prairie. How do you see the connections between access to green spaces like city parks and protecting our air, land and water, and then the ability of families to raise children in safe and healthy communities?

I’m deeply committed to environmental stewardship, which is evident in my work here since 1992. What started as little seedlings has transformed into a thriving woods and prairie, now home to 30-foot white pine trees that I received from the DNR. This area, once just cropland with a few box elders, is now a testament to my care for the environment.

District 41A boasts the beautiful, federally protected wild and scenic Saint Croix River, with tributaries flowing through Afton and the nearby Afton State Park. We have county parks and places to launch canoes, making this region extraordinary for nature lovers. People are drawn here for the space and the wildlife; we even have bears passing through our woods!

However, we face challenges, such as PFAS contamination in our water, stemming from 3M’s past dumping of the toxic chemicals in Oakdale and Woodbury. It’s even come down to Afton. This issue not only affects the Saint Croix River, but also impacts our drinking water. Just last week, we experienced the largest blue-green algae blooms I’ve seen on the river.

It’s crucial that we restore these open spaces instead of allowing unchecked development. I support affordable housing, but we must maintain our natural environment for future generations. The Belwin Conservancy, with its 1,500 acres in Afton and Lakeland, is a magnificent area we strive to protect. Our ordinances safeguard steep slopes, which helps preserve our creeks and the river.

Much of the district has private wells and septic systems. While Cottage Grove and Lake Elmo utilize municipal water systems, they too rely on groundwater impacted by PFAS. We need to do better when it comes to cleaning up our water. This commitment to the environment is a primary reason why people choose to live in this district, and it will continue to guide my efforts in the future.

You spoke a little bit about your family's history and their eventual journey to Saint Paul's East Side. How can we protect our democracy and the upcoming election, and what also gives you hope for the future?

Protecting our democracy requires active engagement, and voting is essential. We are really lucky to be in the state of Minnesota, where we have an incredible election system that allows early voting, mail-in ballots, and in-person voting. I’d love to see Election Day become a holiday to encourage participation. But the truth is, democracy is in peril. It’s alarming to witness the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories that manipulate public opinion. People are promoting lies and disinformation to win. I’ve been sounding the alarm since 2016, noting how it feels reminiscent of 1930s Germany.

In public schools, I believe we need rigorous civics education. It shouldn’t just be an elective; it should be mandatory. We need to learn civil liberties, and critical thinking skills must be prioritized. The role of the media as the fourth rail is crucial, yet in many ways, the fourth rail is failing us.

What I've observed during this campaign process is troubling. It's crazy that we're doing 30-second ads to entice people to vote. We need serious discussions about the issues at hand, rather than soundbites. I might not always articulate my thoughts perfectly under time constraints, but being a serious, caring representative is essential.

Admittedly, part of the reason I’m running is because I worry about our future. I would lay my life down to not have somebody do what was done to my parents. The proliferation of guns and the violence we face is deeply concerning. What did we have—600 mass shootings last year? And we do nothing. The trauma inflicted by school shootings, like those in Newtown and Uvalde, has darkened my soul. It drives me to advocate for change, even as I acknowledge the fear that often paralyzes us.

The current state of affairs, especially regarding gun violence, is unacceptable. These kids are stacked up in a closet, unrecognizable [in the Uvalde school shooting], and yet we remain stagnant. I’m passionate about common-sense gun legislation; it’s a primary driver for me. We need to protect our children and communities, not just react after tragedy strikes.
In Minnesota, the response from some lawmakers has been appalling. They voted against increasing the penalties for a straw purchase, and they dismissed vital measures like reporting lost or stolen firearms. The influence of the NRA is stifling necessary reforms, even when the vast majority of people support them. As a former police officer, I see firsthand the impact of gun violence—it's the leading cause of death among children in this country.

We need to unite and push for change, ensuring that our communities, police officers, and first responders are safe. I'm going to work hard every single minute if I get in to do something about all this.

How are abortion rights part of the fundamental freedoms of all Minnesotans? And how can we continue to protect and expand abortion rights in Minnesota?

The 2023 passage of the PRO Act is a critical step forward, but I believe we need to enshrine its protections in our constitution. All of our protections in state statute could go by the wayside if the wrong people gain power federally, especially with the current U.S. Supreme Court.

My opponent’s response to the question about women’s rights was telling. He focused solely on talking points from Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, which translates to stripping women of their right to make decisions about their own bodies. He insisted, “It’s all been decided in Minnesota,” but that’s simply not true.

We face a real federal threat. All it takes is anti-choice Republicans to win, and everything could be reversed. I fundamentally believe in a woman’s right to make choices about her health care; the government does not belong in the discussion at all. This is a civil right, just like any other fundamental right we hold dear.

It’s striking that it took this long, since the 1970s, to even discuss the Equal Rights Amendment. I think this resistance stems from the abortion issue, but I can’t quite wrap my head around it. We have to be cognizant that this is not an issue that's already been solved in Minnesota. I will fiercely protect and defend our rights.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us about your campaign and your policy priorities? What do you believe is most important for voters to know about you?

Voters should know that I’m the best candidate for the job. I have a record of public service that spans more than 35 years, and that service comes from the heart. Not only am I competent, but I’m also smart. What truly matters is my willingness to do the hard work. I didn’t step into this role for the spotlight; I’m not a person that loves to see my picture on campaign literature or in front of the camera. I simply want to get the work done.

I care deeply about our district and the people in it. I care about our water issues, our environment, our rights, our education, and our health care and I want voters to know that.

This seat was lost by just 128 votes in 2022, and I sense we’re facing a turnout election. We have a lot of independents here, so I’m hitting the doors hard. We could really use more door knockers to reach out to independents and moderate Republicans, as well as energizing our DFLers.

We’re keeping our campaign positive. I can’t stand name-calling. It distracts from the important policy discussions. We’re focused on public safety, the environment, our water, and the economy—specifically about supporting the working and middle classes.

I want people to understand that I’m here for them. I have a record of doing that, and I hope to get the word out about who I am and what I stand for. Thank you!