As a 35-year business owner and a lifetime resident of East Otter Tail County I feel that I have a good pulse of our area. My past experience as mayor for 25 years in New York Mills and 4 years in the legislature gives me a understanding of state and local government. I have and will continue to work hard for District 10B.
AGRICULTURE: What specific actions can the Legislature pursue to boost the agricultural industry for the state and Otter Tail County?
Continued support and expansion of ethanol will spur the need and price for better corn production. We need to get E85 in all states not just in the midwest states. Bio-diesel is another form of Ag based production that will help the farm economy. The support of helping young families get into or expand dairy farming is extremely important to all of rural minnesota.
HEALTH CARE: What can be done to improve accessibility to quality health care and to slow the rate of skyrocketing health costs? Do you support a constitutional guarantee of affordable health care for all Minnesotans?
First of all, Minnesota is ranked #1 as the healthiest state and #1 for the least uninsured. Our care is second to none. We need more companies to be involved in the health care field and to give more choices to consumers. This will help make the industry more competitive.
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CRIME: Are current state laws tough enough to combat high-profile crimes? If not, what new legislation would you enact?
I believe we have made great strides in the field of law enforcement. Such as passing tough sexual predator laws with no chance of release.
STADIUMS: The Twins and Gophers received public funding for new stadiums in the 2006 legislative session. Should the Vikings also receive public funding?
The Vikings will be at the legislature this year I am sure but until a package that comes forward with a site and a host community that is willing to be apart of the overall program it will not work. The owners of the Vikings need to be willing to put money towards the stadium to make a similar package like the Twins.
TRANSPORTATION: Will you be supporting the proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2006 ballot that will dedicate 100 percent of the existing motor vehicle sales tax to transportation project? Why or why not?
At this point I feel that I will not support the constitutional amendment as it leaves open the question of how much money will be spent on roads vs. transit. We in greater Minnesota need to have access to the road dollars as transit is only a small part of our rural system.
