Staff photo/Rhonda Silence Senator Tom Bakk made a stop at the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) when he visited the North Shore on Tuesday, October 27. Bakk talked to EDA Director Matt Geretschlaeger about his gubernatorial campaign slogan—Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.
Senator Tom Bakk visited the North Shore a year ago, announcing his gubernatorial campaign and delivering bumper stickers declaring “Tom Bakk—Minnesota’s Next Governor.” He returned on Tuesday, October 27 with a new bumper sticker bearing the message that Bakk believes will get him elected in 2010—and will get the state’s economy back on track. Bakk’s slogan? Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.
Bakk met with Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Matt Geretschlaeger and Board Member Hal Greenwood in Grand Marais to discuss the future of the Cedar Grove Business Park. Later in the evening he spoke at a fundraiser at Lutsen Resort.
At the fundraiser, Bakk thanked attendees for helping to raise $146,000 last year. He said his campaign goal was $150,000. He said coming so close to that target, and raising more than the other candidates for governor, helped him stand out in the race.
But more than financial help, Bakk said he appreciated the support from the North Shore community. “For 15 years you’ve been a great group to represent. Few legislators have the privilege of knowing that the people back home trust them. Thanks for the confidence you’ve had in me.”
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Like many other Minnesotans, Bakk said he was surprised that there are 11 people in the gubernatorial race. He said it makes fundraising challenging, but added that not all of the candidates have a path to governorship. He said he does. “If I didn’t think I was the best candidate in the field, I wouldn’t be doing this,” said Bakk.
Bakk said his position on the Senate Tax Finance Committee gives him an advantage over the other candidates. He said there are no easy answers to the problems the state faces—skyrocketing tuition costs, increasing property taxes, and a $3.2 – $7.2 billion deficit, depending on how it is calculated. He said the state has to have more revenue to solve these problems and the only way to get more revenue is to get the economy going. “A governor needs to go anywhere, to meet with anyone to bring jobs to this state,” he said.
Another advantage, Bakk said, is that he can relate to the people impacted by the economic slowdown. He said in 1982 when Minnesota faced a deep recession, he was one of the many carpenters in the state unable to find work. He said he knows what it is like to worry about taking care of his family; to not be able to afford health insurance. “With 170,000 people on unemployment now and 500 going off benefits every day, we have a huge problem,” said Bakk.
Asked about specific ideas for job creation, Bakk gave a brief summary of several proposals— an upfront exemption instead of a rebate for businesses purchasing equipment; tax incentives for “angel investors,” individuals who invest in small start-up companies; the Small Business Investment Act, which gives a five-year tax break for small businesses; and a historic building tax credit, which lowers up-front costs for building restorations.
Bakk stressed that the solution to the current problem, as it was in 1982, is to create jobs, something he pledged to work on as governor or senator. He said, “This has all been very interesting. I plan to go out and face the state, to tell the truth and face the state’s challenges head-on. If I’m not governor, I’ll stay in the senate. Maybe it’s because I’m a carpenter, but I can’t walk away from a problem.”
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