As a long time resident of this district, I grew up in a wonderful community and school system. I want to make sure that Southern Minnesota stays a vibrant place to live and raise families, but it is becoming more and more difficult for a young person to make a living in the community they grew up in. Our values and way of life remain attractive, yet rural towns are shrinking as families move to l
arger populations centers with more jobs. Places like Mankato, Rochester, and the Twin Cities continue to grow and receive larger and larger shares of state money. My opponent seems okay with this as the status quo, but I want to see real investment and economic development in the district, with real jobs and good wages, so people can make the choice to stay where they want to be. Agriculture is our heritage and, as the backbone of our economy, I will work to see that ag jobs can continue to support farm and non-farm families alike, while encouraging young people to return to the family farm as an older generation retires. And as a product of our rural education system, I strongly believe that fully funding our schools and early childhood programs is key to having long-term economic success. Receiving an excellent public education is part of the Minnesota legacy, and funding cuts and larger classroom sizes are not the way to give our children the best education they deserve. I also want to see more support for community colleges and regional work training programs in our area that can teach real life skills to youth as well as for adults whose jobs have been changing in this new economy. Focusing on jobs, agriculture, and education will keep Southern Minnesota strong and help us revitalize our communities for the future.
