We can do better together.

Hi!  I’m Dr. Kimberly Wilburn.  I am a mother, a wife, a veterinarian, a scientist, a community organizer, and your neighbor.  And I am running to serve as one of your Minnetonka City Council members.

Minnetonka has been my home for over 23 years.  My husband, Carsten, and I live with our two children in the Windsor Lake/Runnymeade neighborhood.  We enjoy biking and I thoroughly enjoyed the Tour de Tonka this year.  I have lifted my voice in song as part of the Plymouth Creek Christian Church choir for the past 20 years.

You may have attended the Senate District 44 Forum I co-chaired with Representative Patty Acomb and Representative Ginny Klevorn that addressed such issues as MinnesotaCare, child care assistance programs, the 100% clean energy movement.  It was a good discussion with many questions raised and ideas shared.  I also co-chaired a District 6 and 7 Forum featuring Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison to address affordable housing, criminal justice and the rights of immigrants in the county. We were pleased that a wide range of people came together to learn and offer points to be addressed as Hennepin County works on these issues.

I see great promise for Minnetonka.  As we come to the end of the global pandemic brought about by COVID-19, as we re-emerge and return to our workplaces, our schools and our friends, we have the opportunity to rethink how we use our public spaces.  With a little forethought – and much community conversation and input – we can adjust the way we do things to remove barriers that some of our neighbors are facing and improve opportunities for everyone.

Our city council currently includes people with business, legal, marketing, real estate and architectural backgrounds.  I will bring a fresh voice to the discussion.  I have always had a strong interest in science and earned my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University (Go Cyclones!).  My approach to problem solving is systemic, based on data, and aware of the impact decisions will have on communities and individuals.

A good City Council member works hard to connect with community members to fully understand the impact of the vote the Council member will cast.  As a Minnetonka City Council member I will continue to work as I always have . . . collaboratively.  By working together — council members, residents, businesses and workers — we will thrive.

We can do better together!