Rice County Republicans

Dear Constituent,

My name is Tim Rud and I am seeking the District 25B State Representative seat. Thank you to all the delegates and alternates for their support. It was an exciting, enthusiastic convention!

There are a number of reasons I seek this office. First and foremost, I am an advocate for small business in our district. I believe we need to create a much more friendly business environment in our area. As a 3rd term Mayor and 14-year city councilman in the City of Lonsdale, the promotion of our existing business and recruitment of new business have been successful. I understand city budgets, local government aid issues, and the interworkings of county and state agencies. Small business owners, whether family, friends or neighboring farmers, are the hardest working people in Minnesota. They provide employment opportunities, invest in their business and community and provide goods and services, which make a community vibrant. I attribute the successes in Lonsdale to new and expanded business. With the benefits of all the new and improved structures in Lonsdale our tax capacity has increased. This is important because, in conjunction with the city freezing the tax levy, we have reduced the city portion of a resident’s property tax. We need to expand this philosophy to the state level. I believe government needs to eliminate obstacles for a small business to succeed.

Second, I do not believe that Minnesota should greatly expand taxation on the working families and businesses in the state. Instead, Minnesota needs to focus on creating more efficient government, resulting in less wasteful spending. We need to keep education as a top priority as it fuels much of Minnesota’s job development. We need, however, to be cognizant of the funding. Minnesota has allocated substantial funding for our K-12 education programs. The problem is that current legislators are directing far too many of these dollars to metropolitan school districts. I will fight to see that New Prague, Montgomery/Lonsdale, Belle Plaine, Northfield and all our smaller, greater Minnesota school districts receive proper state funding. Our children are just as important as metro children!

Protection of family values is important to me. I want to do all I can to protect the lives of all Minnesotans, from the unborn to the fragile elderly populations. My wife Debbie and I have been married 28 years. We have 3 children, Daniel a construction project manager, Jennifer a radiological technologist at HCMC and Brian a junior at Montgomery/Lonsdale High School. We have two small grandchildren Brody and Ava. I was born and raised in New Prague and graduated from New Prague High School. Debbie (Schmitz) was born and raised on the family farm in the Union Hill / Belle Plaine area. She also graduated from New Prague High School. Debbie and I work together at a 3rd generation grading company in Webster, Minn. I believe my small town upbringing and business experience will provide a common sense approach to issues.

Another concern of mine has been general representation in our district. I believe your representative should be active in the entire district and have a wide range of business, family and life experience. That person should be someone you see on a regular basis and can discuss concerns anytime. I am that person. I have worked diligently in Lonsdale in this area. I am the current Lions President, active in the Chamber of Commerce and the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. I have coached little league baseball for 19 years and I am the current manager of Post 586 Lonsdale Legion Baseball. I have always believed that a representative’s job is to be available to address your concerns and to bring them to the table.

I feel our District 25B is one of the best areas in Minnesota to live. It deserves better representation than we presently have. This district has such a diverse group of people. People from all walks of life from farmers to construction workers to small business owners to students and teachers. This diversity is what makes the quality of life in our area so wonderful.

In closing, I ask for your support. If you should have any questions please feel free to call me at 507-744-5234 or my e-mail timrud@integra.net. House District 25B is a difficult district for a Republican to win. However I know that with your help and support, I will be victorious in November. Working together we can take back this seat, create good government for us all, and work toward the goals that are so important to the citizens of our district.

Respectfully,

Tim Rud