Carla Nelson

MN State Senator representing Dodge and Olmsted Counties. Former School Teacher. Small business owner. Mom to 3. And a GM!

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Serving the people of Rochester and southeastern Minnesota has been a great privilege and responsibility. I am forever grateful for all you have given me, and I look forward to finding new ways to serve. Thank you!

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

So thankful to the Fire Chiefs for this recognition! We have had such a great partnership over the years and I am proud of all we have accomplished together!

https://t.co/1WRNm3TiWO

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Recently I had the honor of speaking at the annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony, where we paid tribute to the firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

To the families of the fallen, none of us can truly understand the loss you carry. But we are here for you, and we can honor with you.

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

My good friend and colleague Jason Fossum passed away last week. He was far, far too young at just 47 years old.

I’ve been really struggling with what to write about Jason and his investment in others, including me. I knew Jason for almost 25 years. Back in 2002, then Speaker Steve Sviggum asked me to run for the House. After considering it for a while, I told him I would – but that I needed somebody to help me. Steve sent me Jason Fossum. Jason and I figured out that campaign together, and ever since then he was a trusted advisor and friend that I could and did call on at all hours. He rose through the ranks and became the chief of staff of our Senate GOP caucus, but he was always the same guy I met all those years ago.

Jason was razor sharp in his thinking and had a gift for reading and managing personalities that very few possess. But despite his gifts, there was no ego about him whatsoever. He was the type to always downplay his own accomplishments and his influence. He was fast to accept blame when things didn’t go according to plan (usually to protect others), and even faster to give credit to others for the team’s successes, even when he deserved most of the credit himself. That’s just who he was.

But more than any of that, he was simply a joy to be around. He was calm. He was affable. He always had a smile on his face. He was always there to crack a joke when we needed it most. He was never in a bad mood — and even if he was, he never let it show.

He was a kind, wonderful, decent human being in a business that often was none of those things. Which is probably why you will be hard pressed to find anybody around the Capitol with a bad word to say about him. He could go to battle with you and when it was over, leave you thinking what a sweetheart he is.

To know Jason was to love Jason. The world is just a little bit darker without him. I will miss him deeply.

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Event details:
Rochester Area Insurance Village
September 25
2pm - 8pm
Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Training Center
1550 50th St SE, Rochester

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

I know a lot of people are still trying to work through the aftermath of this year's storms. If that's you, consider attending this Friday's Insurance Village event in Rochester!

Get help with claims, repair estimates, questions about coverage, and more.

Info here: https://t.co/6SVm1mKr0A

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Fall harvest is a dangerous time of year for farmers, especially as the days get extra-long. Every farmer I know takes safety seriously, but accidents can still happen. Please be safe!

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

September 11 changed thousands of families forever and left a mark on our entire country that still exists today. After 25 years, we still remember the lives lost and the brave people who showed remarkable courage in the face of unimaginable horror.

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Friends -- wanted to share with you this scam alert that was sent out by the Olmsted Co. Veterans Services last month. Please be vigilant and skeptical!

NEW SCAM ALERT
If you receive a postcard in the mail claiming you could qualify for up to $185 a month, free dental coverage or some special veteran savings program, it's a scam.

Officials have released warnings for veterans and their spouses about postcards like this one that appear official in nature but are not connected to VA, TriCare, Champ VA, or any federal agency.

The postcards create a false sense of urgency by telling recipients they must call within 5 days to claim benefits. Here's the reality. Legitimate changes to your VA, TriCare, or Champ VA benefits are not announced through random postcards.

Scammers use these tactics to convince people to call and share personal or financial information. Once they have that information, they could steal your identity or gain access to your financial accounts.

If you receive one of these postcards, the recommendation is simple: throw it away. If something sounds too good to be true, especially when it involves free money or new benefits, it probably is.

If you receive one of these letters or postcards or any form of correspondence promising you something like this, verify before you act. To quickly validate correspondence you receive, any veteran, any dependent, and any surviving spouse can contact VA 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-800-MYVA411.

Calling this number allows VA to not only ensure you are protected, but it also lets VA know when and where these scams are occurring, so they can alert your fellow brothers and sisters.

So, there you have it, folks. A new scam to watch out for. Hopefully that helped. And as always, thanks for watching and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes of the Sitrep. You've got questions and we've got answers. Whether you served, are currently serving, are a caregiver, or a veteran advocate, the Sitrep is your trusted source for information. Subscribe today at https://t.co/SdlanZ5545.

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Had such a great time at the 40th Anniversary Celebration for CEDA last month! They have done so much good for small communities across northern Minnesota!

https://t.co/fjaF8bfHDb

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Such a joy to speak at Monday's KM lions meeting! Thank you so much for the opportunity!

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Thank you to LMC for naming me a Legislator of Distinction for 2026. Between the LMC officials and the incredible staff of the cities that I have worked with over the years, I'm proud of everything we've done for Minnesota's communities!

https://t.co/l5qkpLvsby

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

I am proud of my record supporting Minnesota's small businesses. They really are the cornerstone of so many Minnesota communities. I hope future legislatures will make more of an effort to protect small businesses and help them thrive!

https://t.co/7EAmKaUVq0

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

So proud to represent this amazing institution that sets the standard for patient care across our state and country!

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

So grateful to receive the Minnesota Legacy Award from CGMC last week!

Greater Minnesota communities have always been a vital part of my work in the Senate, whether that’s making sure cities have the resources they need for roads and infrastructure, or finding new ways to support affordable housing in smaller cities and towns.

I want to thank the CGMC for our terrific partnership over the years and for the work they continue to do every day to make sure rural and Greater Minnesota voices are heard at the Capitol.

https://t.co/yVkvpN6wRd

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Happy Fourth of July to you and your family! Whatever your plans are, please stay safe and enjoy the holiday.

This Independence Day is obviously especially remarkable. Two hundred and fifty years ago, brave Americans chose to fight for freedom, against the most powerful military on earth, through eight years of cold, hunger, and loss.

They won because they believed what they were fighting for was worth any price.

Every Independence Day, I reflect about my family's role in the American Revolution. It's a story I'm often asked to share. Do you have any interesting family tales from our nation's early days? I'd love to hear them!

This is my family’s story:

Some of you might know this already, but I am a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This organization is for women who descended from someone who fought in our country’s war for independence.

One of my ancestors was a man named Solomon Sparks. Sparks was, according to one Revolutionary war veteran, a “celebrated Tory.” Throughout his life, and throughout the war, he remained loyal to the King.

At one point during the war, the Minutemen were rounding up and punishing loyalists. Sparks was one of their targets, but he wasn’t an easy target – he was always on alert for potential danger, and thus never left his home unarmed. The Minutemen devised a plan.

They recruited someone from a nearby town to pose as a traveler in need of directions. The person stopped at Sparks' house and convinced him to provide directions.

Once Sparks was outside of his home, the Minutemen sprang into action. They jumped him, hogtied him, and floated him down the Yadkin River. Despite the bleak situation, Sparks was still heard chanting “hurrah for King George” as he floated away.

But that is only part of my family’s story. As it happens, Solomon Sparks had five sons, and every one of those five sons became a patriot, fighting valiantly for America’s independence.

I think of their story a lot, especially on this holiday. Freedom is a cause more important than anything – even family. Solomon Sparks’ sons believed in it so deeply that they took sides against their own father to help our nation gain its independence.

Today’s military men and women make similar sacrifices. They volunteer to leave behind their family and friends, and the comforts of home, to preserve our freedom and the values we hold dear. They don’t do it for fame or glory; they do it because they want to protect everything America stands for.

Thank you to everyone is now or has ever worn the uniform for this nation. We are eternally grateful.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July!!

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

This is fantastic news for the two dozen states that have these laws in place! Unfortunately, Minnesota does not, and the next legislature needs to remedy that as soon as possible. Generations of girls have earned opportunities and invaluable experience they otherwise would not have had thanks to Title IX and girls’ sports, and I am grateful the Supreme Court stood up for them today.

Ask any parent and they’ll tell you the only thing they really want is for their children to be able to compete on a fair and level playing field. Girls work hard, play by the rules, and earn their spots. It is our responsibility to make sure their opportunities are protected. Girls sports must remain for girls.

https://t.co/6qqWnTxMWJ

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Wow, congratulations! I know Anna well -- she is fantastic and a deserving winner!

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Beyond grateful to the Coalition of Greater MN Cities for this honor! I have so enjoyed our great partnership over the years to make sure rural and Greater Minnesota voices are heard in St. Paul!

https://t.co/qyU35snNJJ

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Small business owners: make sure to check out this upcoming webinar about the Employer Reasonable Accomodation Fund!

The ERAF helps small and mid-sized businesses pay for the cost of accommodating employees or job applicants with disabilities.

Register here: https://t.co/atwYRD8cX1

[Carla Nelson @CarlaNelsonMN]

Congratulations to William Harvey, Marlys Ohnstad, and Kenneth Schultz, three Olmsted County election workers recently honored with the Excellence in Elections Award!

Election workers play an incredibly important role in making sure our elections run smoothly and accurately, often putting in long hours behind the scenes. This recognition is a well-deserved acknowledgment of their dedication!

https://t.co/RPDnXMlBlr