Eric Johnson
The Cook County News-Herald contacted the candidates for Minnesota House District 3A—incumbent David Dill and challenger Eric Johnson and asked them to share a little about themselves. The News-Herald also asked them to share their concerns—and possible solutions— to the issues Northern Minnesota faces.
Northern Minnesota is the land where I was born and raised. I have and always will call it home. I decided to run because I love the people, communities, and our way of life here in Northern Minnesota and am tired of seeing our jobs, our populations and the way of life that we all love being eroded by bad policy from St. Paul.
Are you better off than you were two years ago? Are you feeling the recovery? How about those electric bills? How about those grocery bills? Life here in Northern Minnesota isn’t what you are seeing reported on state and national media and there is a reason for that.
I am running because our state representative is ignoring our problems. He voted for billions of dollars of new taxes. He voted for projects such as rail lines, bike trails, and a very expensive ($90 million!) new building for legislators—all in the Twin Cities.
Northern Minnesota was a political powerhouse and sent strong leaders to St. Paul like Speaker of the House Irv Anderson, Senator Bob Lessard and Representative Bob Neuenschwander. We can enjoy this strength again.
I understand the impact of votes taken in St. Paul on our economic vitality. Massive spending on metrobased philosophies and projects and the regulatory stagnation those ideas bring to the rural Minnesota economy.
I see a strong need to have less St. Paul in Northern Minnesota and more Northern Minnesota in St. Paul.
We have serious problems. Unbelievably low income, population loss, an eroding tax base, increased regulation and new taxes with record spending mean that it is time we take our situation more seriously. We need a representative who is dedicated to the unique problems in our District
I am a 34-year-old life-long International Falls resident with boundless energy and excellent health. I have an acute awareness of our real immediate problems, independence from special interests from outside the area and a laser-focus on District issues.
I will work hard to support and embrace our beloved timber, tourism, mining, health care, technology and retail related industries. I will work hard to curtail the ever-increasing taxes and regulations that stifle expansion of these industries and the valuable jobs they create.
I will do a better job in the legislature.
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