It's Time to Make Fighting Fraud in Minnesota Easier
MN State Senate candidate Nat Smith on when it comes to protecting tax dollars, as your next state senator, I want to better protect whistleblowers and expand fraud prosecution
Attorney Nat Smith is running to unseat state Sen. Karin Housley in Minnesota Senate District 33
When public dollars are stolen, communities lose more than money. People lose access to services they depend on—and faith that government can deliver on its promises. Protecting those dollars belongs in any serious conversation about making life more affordable.
In this guest essay, Nat Smith, a candidate for Minnesota State Senate District 33, shares how his work as an attorney representing whistleblowers has shaped his approach to public service. He makes the case for stronger oversight, meaningful consequences for fraud, and better protections for the people willing to speak up.
At The Politics Chicks, we want to hear what candidates intend to do and how their experience prepares them for the work. Nat connects his anti-fraud advocacy to the pressures families face around healthcare, childcare, housing, and education—and explains the priorities he would bring to the Minnesota Senate.
We’re pleased to share his perspective with you.
While not unique to our state, Minnesota has had a fraud problem. I know because I have litigated against people and corporations defrauding our state for over a decade. This year the legislature made huge strides to combat fraud, but there is still more we can do to protect taxpayer dollars. I hope to get it done as your next state senator.
As a dad, husband, and working professional who is choosing to raise my 4-month old daughter with my wife in Stillwater, I know one of the largest issues facing working people in this state is the issue of the cost of living. Families right now are struggling to put food on the table, let alone cover the cost of their bills, child and healthcare. I also know that Minnesotans work hard for their money. When we pay our taxes, we should be able to trust that those dollars are being used for the purposes they were intended for, not being siphoned off by people who know how to exploit the system.
I saw a need in Minnesota law and knew we needed to make it easier to combat fraud. So, I got to work with key partners to address that need. This past legislative session I worked directly with Senator Ron Latz to help introduce amendments to the Minnesota False Claims Act which would take an essential next step in Minnesota’s anti-fraud response by protecting whistleblowers and expanding the scope of fraud we can combat. This proposal would establish greater protections for those who see and identify fraud up close, so it can be promptly reported and properly investigated and prosecuted, all with no added cost to taxpayers. I look forward to advancing this bill in the Senate next year.
Volunteers alongside Nat Smith and State Auditor Julie Blaha at an organized doorknock in August
Growing up I learned early on about the challenges people face in accessing care as my parents practiced geriatric and pediatric medicine. Inspired by my dad’s experiences as a geriatric physician who saw fraud, waste, and abuse impacting our seniors and aging population, I’ve dedicated my career to working with whistleblowers to expose fraud and recover our taxpayer dollars from criminals.
Government programs exist to serve people. They are funded by taxpayers who expect their money to be spent responsibly. When someone figures out how to exploit those programs, the damage isn’t just financial. It erodes trust in government and hurts the people those programs were designed to help.
Over the past several years, Minnesotans have seen one fraud scandal after another unfold involving public dollars. We should not treat these cases as isolated incidents or simply move on once someone is prosecuted. These instances of fraud require stronger solutions and stronger government oversight.
I believe the answer starts with something pretty basic: A government that pays attention.
Prevention starts with stronger internal controls. Detection comes when agencies have the tools to flag suspicious patterns. Regular audits and whistleblower protections matter too — many of the largest fraud cases in history were cracked open not by a government algorithm, but by an employee willing to speak up, empowered by laws like the False Claims Act.
Finally, enforcement has to have teeth: consistent prosecution, real fines, and bans from future contracts, so the consequences of getting caught outweigh the reward of getting away with it. None of these solutions work in isolation. It’s the combination of watching closely, verifying constantly, and penalizing meaningfully in a way that prevents the next person or company from stealing taxpayer dollars.
One of the first fraud cases I ever encountered dealt with a contractor for the Department of Defense allegedly swapping out parts that did not comply with contract requirements for components used in military combat vehicles in Iraq, potentially putting U.S. troops at risk. A whistleblower took a stand and reported the alleged fraud to the government.
For over ten years as an attorney I’ve been fighting to not only ensure whistleblowers have the protections they need to come forward about fraud, but bringing fraud to light across Minnesota and the United States.
Fraud touches on so many areas, from healthcare, to customs, to defense contracting, to cyber security, it requires constant learning about new and ever evolving industries. It is one of the things that I so enjoy about my work, the opportunity to regularly be learning. I also get the honor of working with some of the most courageous individuals who see improper conduct and, often at the risk to their own livelihoods, speak out against it.
My work ethic and drive to seek out restorative justice for people impacted by fraud is deeply rooted in how I was raised. Starting when I was about 13, I started my first painting job working on a home for one of my elderly neighbors. I learned an invaluable amount over the next several years doing that work by hand—integrity, discipline, and the value of a hard day’s work. I also learned very quickly that there were no shortcuts to a job well done. It’s the kind of work ethic and dedication to delivering results I think we need in the Minnesota Senate.
I had never really considered a run for office, instead I found ways to get involved locally in Washington County and in Stillwater to serve my community. But I kept seeing that the challenges facing Minnesotans were not being addressed, and I knew I could be a strong advocate for change.
The status-quo simply is not delivering on critical issues like affordability, the rising costs of healthcare and childcare, the needed resources for our schools, or the lack of affordable housing. Right now in Minnesota, too many families are working harder than ever and still falling behind. Housing costs are rising faster than paychecks. Childcare costs more than a mortgage for some families. Healthcare bills force people to choose between medicine and groceries. And while working people tighten their belts, the wealthiest corporations, individuals, and special interests continue to rig the system in their favor.
I think about a conversation I had at someone’s home in Stillwater, where a healthcare worker told me about private interests buying up senior facilities with a promise not to raise rents or reduce staff. Only months later that is exactly what happened, adding more costs and burdens onto seniors who were already struggling to make ends meet—many on a fixed income. I talked with a teacher and a parent about the lack of resources in our schools and the need for more support for our students and faculty.
This district and Minnesota are long overdue for a change and new voices in the Senate. Change comes when ordinary people decide they are done accepting a system that works for the few while everyone else struggles just to keep up. We need elected officials in office who are ready to take on the challenges we’re facing today and deliver results for the people they represent. I’m ready to do the hard work and advocacy to deliver for Minnesota.
Nat Smith with his wife and newborn daughter at the Minnesota Capitol on the first day of candidate filing in May
While people may not agree on every issue, they consistently tell me they want leaders who listen, show up, work hard, and put results ahead of politics. An independent voice for common sense solutions.
As the eldest child in a family of service members, teachers, and healthcare providers, their experiences have given me a deep appreciation for public service, the value of education, and the importance of affordable and accessible healthcare. These are priorities that are worth fighting for. Their work inspires me to lead with integrity and keep people, not politics, at the center of my decision-making.
Minnesotans should not have to wonder whether someone is looking out for their pocketbooks. They deserve to know that someone is. That’s the conviction, tenacity, and resolve I’ll bring to the State Senate.
Nat Smith is an attorney and candidate for Minnesota State Senate District 33 who has spent more than a decade working with whistleblowers to expose fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. He lives in Stillwater with his wife and daughter. Learn more about his campaign at natsmithformn.com.
