Here are some straight answers to common questions I’ve heard on the campaign trail.
How do you pronounce your name?
My name is Spanish, so it’s important to say it with a Spanish accent. In Spanish, the letter ‘d’ is soft and sounds like ‘th’ in words like ‘the’, ‘they’, and ‘them’. If you can say ‘a mother’ you can say Amáda! Also, notice that the accented syllable gets the emphasis.
My first name means “beloved” and is pronounced ah-MAH-thə.
My middle name means “of Marcus” and is pronounced MARC-əs.
My married last name is Finnish, meaning “of Simon”, and is pronounced SIM-ə-lah.
Are you an American?
Yes, I’ve lived here my entire life.
Ok, but where are you from?
I was born in Madison, Wisconsin.
Yeah, but where are you FROM?
*SIGH* Listen, my mother is from central Wisconsin. She is an American citizen. When he was a child, my father immigrated from Nuevo Loredo, Mexico to Wisconsin. He is an American citizen, too.
So, do you speak Spanish?
I do speak a little Spanish. While my brothers and I were taught to celebrate everything about our Mexican heritage, we were never fully immersed in the language. My grandmother primarily spoke Spanish, and I grew up going to Spanish church services. But my daily life has always been in English. Today my husband and I are expanding our Spanish speaking skills through Duolingo.
What religion are you?
My husband and I both grew up Catholic, and now are Lutherans. We were married in a church in Fridley. I also worked in our church office for several years.
You don’t really have four kids, do you?
Yes! The youngest is 26, and the oldest is 34. We have an empty nest!
Did you start HeightsNEXT?
I was one of the founding members of HeightsNEXT, a movement focused on building community and promoting sustainability. I served as its president from 2017-2019. I am still an active member, helping to organize community outreach events.
What’s with your fashion sense?
I studied fashion merchandising and modeling in college. While I never made a career of it, these skills directly led to my appearance in TV commercials, and my success as a producer and director of high-end fashion shows at country clubs, entertainment venues, and conventions. My designs have won 1st place in the Master category, my performances have won Best in Show, and I have had the honor of serving as a judge for fashion and costume competitions.
Why do you dress up as Wonder Woman?
Frankly because she’s the superhero we all need right now: powerful, selfless, faithful, a champion of justice, and a woman that defies norms! I have been making Wonder Woman costumes for over 20 years, and wearing them for special engagements, parades, and charity events such as visits to the Children’s Hospital. I have also enjoyed making other superhero and science fiction costumes for my kids, friends, and my husband.
Still have questions?
If you feel something is missing from this page, just send me a note and we’ll connect. I’m happy to listen to questions!