I want to thank all the people who participated in the Primary election this past Tuesday. Grassroots politics is where positive change is achieved in our local communities, and I am grateful to be given the opportunity to win the privilege of representing my local district.

I will be running for State Senate in District 27, which is comprised of all Freeborn and Mower counties, three townships in Dodge County, and the city of Blooming Prairie in Steele County.

As a lifelong Minnesotan, I love my state and the opportunities it has given myself and my family. I grew up on a dairy farm, where my Dad used to say, “You don’t go to work; it surrounds you.” After high school, I attended the vo-tech school here in Austin and worked in construction as a Carpenter’s Union member. Presently, I own a family business that has been in operation since 2009.

Some of the biggest challenges facing the people of District 27 this election cycle are healthcare, jobs, education, the ag community, and the business climate. Minneapolis-St. Paul politics are out of touch with the needs of greater Minnesota. We do not need light rail, new office buildings, and heavy tax burdens on businesses and the farming community. We need common-sense solutions that bring more opportunities and less regulation to the hard-working individuals and families of our towns and rural areas. It is time for the people’s voice to be heard, instead of the business-as-usual policies that come from career politicians.

As a leader, I know that it is very important to KNOW the people I am supposed to be leading. I want to know the people of this district, their concerns, their experiences, and their stories. I never want to lose touch with the people I serve, or to forget who I am supposed to represent.

Thank you again to the candidates and voters who invested their effort and energy in the Primary this week, and I look forward to meeting you on the campaign trail.

Gene Dornink,

Hayfield