Meeting the People
While the legislature does not officially convene until Tuesday, I had a very busy and productive week leading up to the session. This week I spent time in Belle Plaine, New Prague, Northfield, Lonsdale, Montgomery, and the Capitol. The topics were especially diverse. A short list of the issues and/or places include:
Water and waste water treatment facilities
Schools and school funding
Economic development and Housing
Seneca foods (and the Green Giant)
Peak Oil
Parks and Trails (the Mills Town Trail)
Nursing homes and Assisted Living facilities
Farmers and Agriculture Concerns
Driver and Traffic Safety
Renewable energy
Affordable health care
Property taxes
I learned a little bit more about the people of district 25. I filled my brain with their issues and concerns. Even though they asked a few questions, they were quicker to share concerns. They talked about their jobs. They talked about their schools. They talked about their main street. They talked about their families. And I was okay with that. The people I met this week were just like the neighbor down the street, an uncle, a teacher down the hall, a parent of one of my students, a high school buddy, a teammate on bowling night, a Rotary Club member, a local retailer, a grandmother, a receptionist, or a pastor.
We are not so different. We are all Minnesotans trying to make a living, trying to raise a family, trying to enjoy retirement, and in some cases trying to get by.
These constituents were happy to share some time with me… and I was glad to listen. So, armed with loads of information, still realizing I have a lot to learn, I look forward to my first week in the Minnesota Senate. But I’m not going it alone. There are a lot of good people out there…more than willing to help me along the way.
