He knows plenty about security-related issues.

Tuesday, March 05, 2002

He knows plenty about security-related issues.

Come Nov. 5, Steve Andreasen hopes he’ll be able to talk about those issues as a congressman-elect.

Andreasen, of Rochester, announced Monday that he’s seeking the Democratic nod to become elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and unseat incumbent Gil Gutknecht.

Stumping the state’s first district for two weeks a month for the past year, Andreasen said he’s been able to gauge what the region’s citizens have been wanting to know.

And what they’re wanted to see get accomplished.

"There’s a hunger to talk about a lot of issues out there," he said. "You defeat a incumbent by talking a lot about issues that resonate with people. You also beat an incumbent by working hard."

Andreasen said his message focuses on three points: security, the economy and reform.

The latter, although a broad topic, includes taking a closer look how this country deals with Social Security and individual pension programs, along with agriculture and political reform.

"It’s very clear that Congress has been asleep at the switch," he said.