PETER’S TOP PRIORITIES

GROWING JOBS & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

by reducing government spending, eliminating silly government mandates and regulations, and lowering taxes.

STRENGHTENING EDUCATION

by putting parents back in charge of their children’s education and equalizing funding for outstate school districts.

IMPROVING HEALTH CARE

by providing tax incentives to individuals, eliminating mandates, allowing shopping for coverage across state lines, and protecting our right to choose our doctors.

PROTECTING AGRICULTURE

by supporting the family farm and by ensuring the future of the agriculture industry through reducing taxes and the burden of mandates.

MAINTAINING TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

by prioritizing projects and promoting those investments in transportation that make economic sense.

BALANCING ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS

by promoting good stewardship and protecting hunting and fishing traditions, ending the moratorium on developing nuclear power plants, and investing in clean coal technologies.

BRINGING ELECTION INTEGRITY

by requiring photo identification in order to vote and reforming the absentee voting process.

Mankato Free Press: GOP names rival for Sheran

By Mark Fischenich
The Free Press

ST PETER — Republicans meeting in St. Peter Thursday night endorsed an opponent for Sen. Kathy Sheran, DFL-Mankato, and gave their blessing to a previously announced candidate to run against Rep. Terry Morrow, DFL-St. Peter.

And earlier this week, Republicans in the Waseca-Owatonna House district replaced an earlier candidate who dropped out of the race.

The actions filled the last empty slots in south-central Minnesota legislative races for the Republican Party. Democrats are still looking to fill several holes in their slate of legislative candidates in the nine counties around Mankato.

The differences in the candidate recruitment process is probably partly a sign of Republicans’ high hopes for the 2010 election, and that was a factor in Peter Trocke deciding to run against Sheran.

“This is a good year for a conservative message,” said Trocke, co-chair of the Nicollet County Republican Party, a car salesman at Lager’s Inc. in St. Peter and an auctioneer.

Trocke said he’s thought about running for office for years and has been active in the  local party for about 10 years, working as treasurer for Mike Bidwell — a North Mankato car salesman who ran unsuccessfully against Morrow in 2008.

The struggling economy spurred Trocke’s decision to run this year, as well. Three car dealerships have closed in the district and the list of home foreclosures in local newspapers began to show familiar names.

“It hits close to home when you start reading names in there of people you know, and it hits closer to home when the names are of relatives,” he said.

His campaign will be focused on job creation and the importance of lower taxes. Senate District 23 includes all of Nicollet County, other than a single neighborhood in lower North Mankato, and much of Sibley County.

Trocke grew up on a Sibley County dairy farm in New Auburn Township, providing him with a  connection to that part of the district.

“So I know Sibley County, I know agriculture,” he said. “I think I’m a good fit for the district.”

See full story at the Mankato Free Press.