By Katie Winter
Republican candidates for the U. S. House of Representatives in Minnesota’s 1st District addressed the topics of immigration, taxation and conservative values at an appreciation picnic on Sept. 13 in Edgerton. The candidates in attendance were state Sen. Dick Day of Owatonna, state Rep. Randy Demmer of Hayfield, and Brian Davis of Rochester. Mark Meyer of Lake Crystal is also running for the seat but had scheduling conflicts and was unable to attend. All four are looking to take the house seat from Democratic Rep. Tim Walz in the September 2008 election.
The three candidates were each given eight minutes to speak to an audience of nearly 50 in the south shelter of Swimming Pool Park. The three men shared similar positions on limiting taxes paid by the middle class.
“People from the 1st District want fiscal responsibility from the government,” Demmer said, “reasonable taxation. Not go[ing] out and simply rais[ing] our taxes every time there is a need for something.”
Brian Davis attributed some of the financial burden on Americans to the growing immigrant population.
“Illegal immigration works to tax the middle class,” Davis said. “It drives down wages and drives up the cost of social services.”
Davis also added that illegal immigration “undermines law and order.” He is encouraging residents to push their state and local leaders to enforce a specific section of the Immigration and Nationality Act labeled 287g.
The section is part of the 1996 act and gives police officers the permission and training to perform the duties of immigration officials.
Sen. Day labeled immigration his top issue for 1st District. In August he released his Illegal Immigration and American Border Security Proposal. The four-part plan focuses on border security, immigrant identification, penalties for sanctuary cities and a strict guest worker program.
A theme of conservative values underlined each congressional candidates message. Day mentioned his consistent conservative voting record as a source of praise, while Davis extolled the good work of past conservative leaders. Demmer stated that knowing the culture of 1st District is key.
“You can’t represent this district without understanding that we are conservative by nature,” Demmer said.
Republican Party Chair Ron Carey and state Rep. Doug Magnus of Slayton also attended the event.
Minnesota 1st District Republican candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives visited Edgerton on Sept. 13. The three candidates discussed the key issues of their campaign platform and answered questions from the audience. Pictured from left to right are: Bud Vis, state Rep. Randy Demmer, Brian Davis, DeAnna Bahn, state Sen. Dick Day and Republican Party Chair Ron Carey.
