|
|
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
|
|
Senate District 4 candidate targets government growth
Associate Editor Unsustainable government growth was one of the issues that convinced Republican John Carlson of Bemidji to run for Senate District 4 seat.
The insurance agency owner, who will challenge Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, in November, said Monday in Brainerd that Minnesota needs to set priorities noting it currently spends billions of dollars in "feel-good" programs that are not essential.
Carlson cited public safety and schools as essential services mandated by the Constitution. The Republican-endorsed candidate said state government expenditures have been growing at a rate of about 17 percent. He said health and human services benefits and education for illegal aliens were examples of non-essential programs.
He called for the enforcement of existing laws against both undocumented workers and those who employ them. The state needs serious welfare reform, Carlson said.
"In Minnesota we give out welfare like candy," he said.
Carlson ran unsuccessfully for the House District 4A seat in 2008. He originally had his eye on the 2010 Senate seat but was persuaded to run for the House when the incumbent DFLer unexpectedly stepped down.
Senate District 4 includes parts or all of Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca and Hubbard counties. It includes roughly the northern half of Crow Wing County.
Carlson said he would like to see improvement in Minnesota's business tax climate. He cited a study that measured business tax rates that ranked Minnesota No. 49, compared to South Dakota, which was ranked No. 1.
"We really need to focus on jobs," Carlson said. "We over-regulate everything that happens."
He said he would like to see land use decisions made at the township or local level rather than at the state or federal level.
"A person's property is their property," he said.
He said there was too much obtrusive government and local units of government should be able to enact their own ordinances.
"I suspect our lakes are becoming cleaner," he said, noting current regulations on septic systems. "No one wants to pollute the waters."
If elected Carlson said he'll work to prioritize problems rather than politicize them.
"I have an ability to listen," he said. "I don't have an agenda. I want to show up and listen."
Carlson said he'll limit individual contributions to $100 and only accept them from residents of Senate District 4.
The candidate said Minnesota should add an amendment to its state constitution, spelling out the individual's right to bear arms so that right is not open to interpretation. He also would like to see a law mandating a photo identification in order to vote. Fair education funding for outstate school districts also would gain his support, he said. He said the Bemidji School District receives about the same transportation revenue as the suburb of Richfield, even though the northern Minnesota district is about the size of Rhode Island.
Carlson also said he'd back a bill to reduce the number of state senators from 67 to 56. Paring the Senate down to that number would have the added benefit of creating Senate district lines that do not cross congressional district lines whether Minnesota retains its eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives or is reduced to seven seats.
Carlson is a graduate of Akeley High School and earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Bemidji State University. He is a certified management accountant and an adjunct professor of business at Bemidji State.
He owns an American Family Insurance agency and is a longtime youth sports coach/volunteer. He and his wife, Ann, have two children, Eric and Jennifer.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
|
|
|
|
 Top Commented Articles
Over the last 7 days
Most Recent Comments
|
|
|
|
