Hi, I'm Joe Baratta. I'm a proud father and husband here in St. Cloud. I've raised our children here their entire lives.
I was raised right here in Central Minnesota, mostly in Hutchinson.

​

I am a Labor Representative here in St. Cloud. I started that path out at the old Electrolux, and I (and the committee) negotiated the severance for all of us affected by that plant moving to China. This is where I started to want to improve my community. I saw what a stable income meant not just to my coworkers and me, but to the community at large. Since 2019, it is no coincidence that our city has stagnated.

I have only expanded my experiences in St. Cloud, seeing our inequalities and funding shortfalls. I have seen firsthand how our public spaces are just not large enough for a community our size. I see how our children and youth are limited in what they can do between limited accessible spaces and limited incomes. We all experienced last year's tax increases too, and while a balanced budget is necessary, it isn't a sustainable pathway forward. Funding these spaces cannot come with another affordability crisis.

​

My sons both attend St. Cloud Area Schools, GO TIGERS! They are involved with their studies and hobbies. My wife is an amazing nurse at our VA Hospital. She was raised in Central Minnesota as well.