He also has a plan for fulfilling this promise and would work with Republicans and Democrats alike to pass this needed legislation.
Loren D. Boutin
My family believes that we all share the faith that the Minnesota Dream should be attainable for all Minnesotans. The ‘bread-and-butter’ elements of this Dream that affect each one of us every day center upon education, taxes, health care, jobs, security, and recreation. I believe that the steps below would help make the Minnesota Dream a reality:
Education
- Fully fund all-day, every-day kindergarten
- Enable our students to compete globally and live locally
- Reduce schools’ dependence upon local property taxes
- Invest fully in early childhood education
- Demand that Congress fund its special education mandate
- Measure the individual academic growth of each child
- Invest properly in higher education
- Partner with local trade organizations for “schools-to-skills” vocational education
Health Care
- Ensure affordable, accessible health care for all Minnesotans
- Restore access to MinnesotaCare for farmers, small business owners, and others
- Pursue a Leave No Child Uninsured plan
- Strengthen a statewide prescription drug plan for seniors and the uninsured
Investing in Our Area’s Future: Jobs, Agriculture, and the Environment
- Increase and dedicate funding for outdoor habitats and wetlands
- Reduce property taxes, especially as they affect seniors and those on fixed incomes
- Promote state-sponsored research into renewable energy sources
- Pursue the 20% by 2020 initiative for renewable energy
- Encourage a labor-agriculture partnership in renewable energy
- Fix ‘the forgotten Highway 14′ and other roads in Nicollet and Sibley counties
- Commit to a clean, clear dedication of funding for Greater Minnesota’s roads
- Address 10-ton road needs and “post down” signage issues
- Review the effects of rising land prices upon local farmers
- Protect clean air, clean water, and clean habitats
- Restore the local government aid especially needed in rural Minnesota
Biography
Without a doubt, my parents, Tom and Alicia, have been powerful influences upon me, teaching me the importance of helping others selflessly, of working with people to achieve common goals, about dedicating ourselves to making life safe and wonderful for children, and much more. Some of you also know of my grandfather, Marty, and the ways in which he instilled in me a commitment to helping neighbors. A New York City firefighter, my grandfather used his off-days to do small repair jobs for the folks in his neighborhood. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of going to his workshop, getting the tools, and walking down the street to fix furniture, repair pipes, and much more. Although I moved from New York City when I was 6, I remember those early years with my grandfather fondly.
My grandfather at his FDNY dispatcher’s desk
Martha, my wife, and I moved to St. Peter in 1995. I had practiced law in California. In 1990, a professor at the University of Santa Clara became ill. I was asked to teach his course on the First Amendment. Teaching, I learned, offered fulfillment. I entered Northwestern University and earned my Ph.D in Communication Studies. In my final year at Northwestern, I stayed at home with our daughter Maggie during the day as Martha taught kindergarten. Martha, in turn, was with Maggie in the evening as I worked on my dissertation and taught.
When we prepared to leave Northwestern, Martha and I looked for a place where we could focus upon our family. I became an assistant professor in Communication Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in the fall 1995. The Gustavus student body generously selected me as the recipient of the Swenson-Bunn teaching award. I am now a tenured, associate professor and serve as the director of the Gustavus Adolphus Pre-Law program.
Our second daughter, Sally, was born in Mankato in 1996. She is a sixth-grader at North Intermediate; Maggie is a tenth-grader at the St. Peter High School. Both are active in local theatre, having performed at Minnesota State University-Mankato, with Merely Players, and in other venues.
We love south-central Minnesota and immersed ourselves in community activities. With two friends, Martha co-led the Treemendous Playground project in St. Peter’s Gorman Park. Martha and I both coached for a number of years for the St. Peter Soccer Association. I joined the St. Peter Public Access Board. Martha and her close friend Mary Spear started the St. Peter Area Children’s Theatre (SPact).
The 1998 tornado was a pivotal moment for our family, as it was for many others. The amazing generosity of countless people and organizations captured the real sense of Minnesota Nice. Following the tornado, I committed to acknowledging the help that others gave us by dedicating myself to public service. First, I joined the St. Peter Heritage Preservation Commission. During my term as chair, over 30 buildings in downtown St. Peter were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This experience led to an invitation to join the State Historic Preservation Office’s statewide review board for National Register applications.
As it became clear that the state’s system for funding education needed–and continues to demand–reform, I ran for election to the St. Peter Board of Education. I am in my second term and my third year as chair of the St. Peter Board of Education. I also serve as chair of the Minnesota Valley Education District, which provides special education services for seven local school districts.
In 2006, I was honored and humbled to be elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives.
One of the most important opportunities for our area involves renewable energy sources. As our family talked about the ways in which we can become involved, we decided that we should show our commitment by owning an E85 vehicle. As my daughter Maggie said: “Dad, if you are going to talk the talk of renewable energy, you need to drive the drive.” The Mankato Free Press supported expanded use of E85, following up on Governor Pawlenty’s call for more E85 vehicles (August 5, 2006—www.mankatofreepress.com)
We are strong believers in E85 flexible-fuel vehicles: E85 is locally produced, it burns cleaner, and it strengthens our national security by lowering our dependence upon foreign oil. The Heartland Corn Products expansion in Winthrop is a great example of the benefits of E85 for all of us. I have joined the American Coalition for Ethanol–the ”grassroots voice of the ethanol industry”– to keep on top of developments, especially as technological improvements make ethanol an even better opportunity for all.
You can learn more about E85 at www.e85fuel.com, the American Coalition for Ethanol website: www.ethanol.org , and the American Lung Association of Minnesota website: www.CleanAirChoice.org.
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at Farmfest in Redwood County. It was a valuable opportunity to talk with local farmers about the issues that directly affect them and their families: crop prices, land values, ten-ton road concerns, property taxes, environmental questions, the costs of health care, and more. My ideas on ways to address many of these issues were widely applauded and appreciated.
One of my stops was at the Minnesota Corn Growers Association tent, where the benefits of E85 were on display.
The Minnesota Soybean Growers also focused upon renewable energy–biodiesel–and the advantages for local farmers. They were happy to see that I am a Biodiesel Backer!
