Dear Future Governor,

You’re cordially invited to Carver County — during the campaign and when your term begins.

Whether it’s Paisley Park, the tradition of Hazeltine National, or the scenic views of Lake Waconia, our county offers a unique blend of world-class amenities and small-town grit. 

We are 11 cities and 10 townships, each with a distinct voice. We are the first large county in Minnesota with 100 percent fiber broadband, home to a few of the state’s largest school districts and currently the fastest-growing county in the state.

Carver County leaders don’t just identify problems; we bring a spirit of innovation to solve them. As you prepare to lead, a few high-impact, high-interest topics in the following five areas:

1. Stop the “cost shift” (Be a pro-county governor) — Currently, Carver County carries a burden of an estimated $5 million to $7 million annually in our county budget due to unfunded state-level shifts alone. In addition, over the next decade, we anticipate $20 million in losses for state Driver Vehicle Services (operations and capital expenses) and anything else coming down the way.

• The ask: Commit to a “Net Zero” budget impact for counties. If the state mandates a service or shifts a burden, it provides the funding to match. Don’t balance the state budget on the backs of local property taxpayers.

2. Let us pilot solutions — With the agility of a mid-sized community and the scale of the state’s 11th largest county, we are the perfect “lab” for Minnesota. We can test solutions, strip away bureaucracy, fail fast and scale quickly.

• The ask: Fund projects for Carver County to pilot. Let us lead on far overdue modernizing of social services, addressing net loss of departing businesses, labor and youth, testing a “Digital Wallet” (one per person) to streamline government services while eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.

3. Win the next generation (Particularly the 0–25 Demographic) — Minnesota has deep roots, but we are in a heated competition for the next generation of workers and taxpayers. It’s about tax climate, affordability, amenities and a compelling narrative.

• The ask: Launch a statewide attraction and retention strategy. We need an intentional plan to keep our high school and college graduates here. Our neighbors are poaching our youth, businesses, wage earners and future leaders; it’s time to play offense.

4. Accelerate the tax base (The Highway 212 opportunity) — The “Road of Goad” (Hwy 212) represents a $300 million taxpayer investment across an estimated 1,000 acres of land. By 2027, it will open up 16.5 miles of potential. If we mirror the success of Scott County’s Hwy 169 corridor, we can generate $50 billion-plus in taxable value.

• The ask: Accelerate critical water/sewer capacity projects and reduce restrictive legislation on expanding businesses that provide high-paying, sustainable jobs.

5. Establish a state scorecard — “What gets measured gets done.” The public deserves transparency regarding where our state stands and where it is going.

• The ask: Publish a state dashboard with 20 objective metrics updated quarterly. Let’s track our progress on the tax climate (currently 44th in the nation) with a clear goal to break into the top 30 percent (no. 15 or better)

A note on innovation: Perhaps a “governor’s challenge”— We have brilliant minds in Carver County (and Minnesota) — from retirees to tech-savvy youth. We invite you to tap into them. Create a program that solicits insights from the front lines, offering cash awards for suggestions that deliver $1 million or more in savings or revenue with a clear one-year return on investment.  We work in Carver County. We’ve already proven we can do things differently — like our Highway 5 expansion, where we used innovative staging to cut a 22-month closure down to just six.

We look forward to seeing you in Carver County soon to discuss how we can move Minnesota forward, together.

Odds and ends

6 > 22 — When it comes to road closures, six months is better than 22. That’s the “Carver County math” our Highway 5 team used to shave 72 percen off the standard construction timeline for the four-lane expansion.

Is it going to be a mess for a bit? Yes. Are there areas of valid critique for various aspects that weren’t incorporated into the final design? Yes.

But this project wasn’t on the state’s radar for at least 30 years while traffic grew to double the road’s design capacity. Expanding to four lanes isn’t just about asphalt; it’s about getting kids to school safely, residents to work on time and customers to our local businesses.
We’re not just building faster; we’re building smarter. Our team cut $8 million during design and the final bid came in $15 million under estimates. Impressively, partnership with the City of Victoria reduced their contribution from $11 million down to roughly $2 million, protecting local tax rates even amidst rapid growth.

This project is proof that when there is a “want and a will,” the aisle disappears (at least for a short time).

• The spark: Kudos to former State Rep. Boe for the initial bill on 82nd St.
• The finish line: Thanks to State Reps. Rehm and Nash and State Senator Coleman for the final push*
• Federal support: Gratitude to former Congressman Phillips, Congressman Emmer and Senator Klobuchar for securing the necessary federal funding*

A special salute to our “$100 Million Man,” Lyndon, and his team. They squeezed seven years of planning into just two, managing multiple years of historic $100M+ in road projects. Thank you to the mayors, council members, MnDOT, contractors and the residents — even those with opposing views — who pushed us to be better. Let’s keep doing the “impossible.”

*Bipartisan support? Yes!

Quote |  “Our greatest export in Carver County (and the state) is our taxes.” – Local lawmaker.  My goal? Let’s reverse that trend and make our greatest export our innovation and lendable solutions while bringing our tax rate down (and more attractive).

JFK moonshot | I’ve set a goal to read a biography of every U.S. President. Was JFK a great president? Finishing JFK’s story the same week I visited the Kennedy Space Center—and days before the Artemis II launch to the moon—was a powerful coincidence.  History rarely remembers an elected official, president or otherwise, by their resume or years in office; it remembers the audacious vision they cast and lasting results they achieve.

Whether it was the Moonshot, strides in civil rights or navigating the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy proved that a leader’s greatest impact is hope and direction.  If you have a favorite presidential biography, or a thought on how we can better serve District 3, I want to hear it.  Reach out via email or social media. Let’s keep the conversation going.

Matthew Steven Udermann is a Carver County Commissioner representing District 3 (Victoria & Chaska).  Views expressed are his own and do not necessarily represent the full board or county. Email: matt.udermann@carvercountymn.gov | Phone: 612.888.4733.  Images from Apollo 17 mission to the Moon in 1972 and Artemis II mission in 2026.