Caledonia Argus

Hanson, Hein will challenge Davids

Posted: 3/9/04

Two people have announced their candidacy for the District 31B seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Peggy Hanson, Lanesboro, and Al Hein, Mabel, will seek the DFL endorsement. Republican Greg Davids currently holds the seat.

DFL candidates will face off in the primary election in September to determine who will be on the general election ballot in November.

Hanson is a small business owner and member of the Lanesboro City Council. She said in a press release that she hopes to advocate for rural and small town interests. Hanson has had a diverse career as a bed and breakfast owner, mediator, attorney, community volunteer and legislative analyst for city and county governments.

Hanson stated, ìWe need to foster a diverse and healthy regional economy, which includes recognizing the significant role that all of agriculture plays in that economy.î

She added: ìThe Minnesota we know and love is on the wrong track. Our state's investments in education and community infrastructure are being eroded. Our tax system is not fair for rural Minnesota. The support necessary to permit Minnesota's agriculture to grow and flourish is not in place. Many citizens lack access to affordable health insurance. Rising health care costs are straining the budgets of families, public and private employers, the self-employed and the retired.

Hein, a livestock farmer in Newberg township of Fillmore County, believes rural Minnesota is getting shortchanged by legislators. He sees aid being cut to cities and townships and outlying school districts at the expense of Twin Cities interests.

He was a Republican until about five years ago, and even helped with Greg Davidís election campaigns. But he became upset when legislators changed how schools were funded. ìIt was an issue where I just thought rural Minnesota was treated like second and third class citizens.î

But now he thinks Democrats are too focused on the Twin Cities also.

ìI think both parties have let us down,î he said. ìMaybe Iím too much of a wild card. I say call it like you see it.î

He also feels that rural Minnesota needs a better business climate, and that the tax rate for rural Minnesota could be improved.

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