Rice County Republicans

Approximately 125 Republican Delegates and Alternates met Tuesday evening, February 26th, in Northfield to endorse a candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives District 25B. After vigorous discussion about issues and positions Tim Rud of Lonsdale was endorsed to run in the November 2008 election against the incumbent DFL Representative.

Tim Rud is presently serving his third term as mayor of Lonsdale, MN. Prior to being elected mayor Tim served for 14 years on the Lonsdale City Council. In addition to that elected service, Tim has been a member of the Lonsdale planning and zoning commission, has been active in many community service clubs, and has played and coached baseball in the area for years. Tim and his wife Debbie have been married for 28 years and have three children. Tim’s son Daniel works with him operating Rud Construction, an earth moving construction company started by Tim’s grandfather.

Kevin Budig, an emergency medical technician from Northfield, also sought the Republican endorsement for State Representative. Kevin was joined by his wife and family at the convention and explained that he has become extremely frustrated with state legislators actions, especially with the current 25B Representative. Kevin Budig and Tim Rud answered questions from the delegates and alternates as voting occurred. On the third ballot Tim Rud secured the necessary sixty percent to become the endorsed Republican candidate.

Former 25B State Representative Ray Cox served as chairman of the endorsing convention and commented…

“It is awesome to see over 125 Republicans venture out on a February evening to endorse a Republican candidate in 25B. This enthusiasm is tremendous and, come this fall, will be contagious and spread to the everyday, hard-working individuals in this district. They need to reject their present big-government, big-taxes Representative and elect Tim Rud, a man that has spent his entire life working to advance the ideals of personal responsibility, strong community, and a life of faith and family.”

In addressing the endorsing convention Tim Rud said his number one concern is to see that Minnesota expands its job base. “Creating good quality jobs is the clue to all state concerns. When people are working they are addressing their personal needs and not relying on state government for care. I helped guide Lonsdale in this direction by working to attract new businesses and jobs to the city, thereby reducing our overall property taxes by creating an expanded tax base”. Tim also stressed his common sense approach to problem solving that he has used during his 19 years of elected public office, and his strong support for a quality education system in Minnesota.

Tim Rud has begun organizing his committee organization and will be hard at work throughout the entire district over the next nine months. Stay tuned—you will be hearing more from Tim in the coming weeks and months.