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Robin Brown officially announces bid for re-election
Published Friday, July 11, 2008
Though she indicated her bid for re-election on July 1 by filing for office at the Freeborn County Courthouse, District 27A Rep. Robin Brown is officially announcing her intent this weekend to continue another term in the state House of Representatives.
Robin Brown
She will make the announcement at the Saturday DFL picnic at Edgewater Park, which begins at 4 p.m. So far she is slated to run against Republican Erik Larsen and DFLer William Wagner, of Ellendale.
She was the officially endorsed DFL candidate in May.
“I feel that I really do understand the district,” said Brown, of Moscow Township. “And that’s the entire district — not just Albert Lea.”
Brown, who was elected to office in November of 2006, said she thinks during her time in office thus far she has made it a priority to understand her constituents.
Rep. Robin Brown’s legislative committees:
Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs
E-12 Education
Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness
K-12 Finance Division
Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Tax Division (Vice Chair)
“I think understanding the community is so very important,” she said. “I have continued from my campaign to now of making doorknocking my summer tradition in order to keep in touch with the community.”
Politicians can send out mailings or make phone calls, but there’s “nothing like standing at the door with a constituent, right there where they feel comfortable, telling you what’s on their mind,” she said.
In addition, she thinks she has set a standard for competent legislation in this area, she said.
“We made some really hard decisions this year,” she said. “For example, the transportation bill was a hard decision to make. It’s always difficult to increase a tax. I have to pay a tax and so do my constituents.”
Some of her 2007 to 2008 legislative accomplishments include helping to secure $2.5 million in funding for the North Edgewater Park Landfill project, funding for Riverland Community College, $25 million in direct property tax relief to homeowners in the state and $10 million in new funding for roads and bridges over the next 10 years in Freeborn County, to name a few.
Serving on three different education committees, she pointed out, she helped to increase funding in a sustainable manner for special education students during her first year in office, and is currently helping to revamp the funding formula.
“What we’re trying to do is bring more fairness across the state and make funding more adequate,” Brown said. “We’re targeting dollars into priority areas.”
This legislative session, she said she is proud of the work that was done for the North Edgewater Park Landfill project — which is so important to the area.
“It was hard fought for,” she said. “We were not on the governor’s initial bonding list. It took many phone calls, e-mails, letters, but also the help of the district. I still am so thankful to the mayor and for the letters and e-mails to the governor. We worked as a community.”
For her, Brown said, concentrating on the local issues is what’s important to her.
“As quiet as I am, I think that I’ve been very productive and very competent in m service as a legislator,” she said. “I think it’s important to continue in that work.”
Along those same lines, she said she also thinks it’s important to continue developing relationships, even across party lines.
Her focus, she noted, is on competent government.
“That’s what I’m basing my campaign on,” Brown said. “Competent government takes everybody into consideration as much as possible.”
Between now and the election she will continue doorknocking all over the district in her efforts to get to know constituents and spread the word of her campaign.
Already since early June, she has knocked on 4,444 of the 10,000 houses in the district. That number includes doors in Alden, Adams, Hayward and part of Rose Creek, as well as all of Wards 1, 4 and 5 in Albert Lea.
“I think the more people I can speak to and the more people that can share their views with me, the more effective I can be,” she said.
Out on the campaign trail and usually at events, people can expect to see her in her signature yellow blazer, which she says has served her well.
“It makes people smile, people love the color, it makes me easy to pick out in a crowd and it also lets people know when I’m in their neighborhood,” Brown said. “I think that’s all good.”
She hopes people feel comfortable coming up to her or contacting her, even on her cell phone, if they have any concerns.
She and her husband, Joe, have raised six adult children who live across the Midwest, including Jeb, 28, Nathaniel, 27, Bristen, 24, Crystal, 24, Earnest, 22, and Madison, 22.
The entire family is extremely supportive, she said, and she usually talks to each one of the kids at least once weekly. Her husband has also been a great asset and support during her time in office.
“You have to have a certain kind of spouse to be successful politically,” Brown said. “He truly understands the demands on the job. In that type of relationship, it gives me the freedom to do the work I need to do to truly serve the district. I couldn’t do it without that kind of support.”
Joe is the superintendent of Grand Meadow Schools.
During the first part of the year, Brown teaches photography and art at Albert Lea High School and then takes an unpaid leave of absence during the session. She earned a bachelor of science degree in art education from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 1996 and earned a masters in education from St. Mary’s University in 2006.
She also raises horses.
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Comments
Posted by golfreak (Mike Falk) on July 11, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Robin Brown is not right for our district. We need solid leadership that actually focuses on the real needs of our area, economic development.
Posted by DasherDude (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh goody!
Hi Golfreak.
Posted by regulators (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep up the good work Robin!
Posted by golfreak (Mike Falk) on July 11, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep raising our taxes Robin! Be sure you don't ever have your own voice in St. Paul either, just follow the Speaker's vote everytime. You did a great job of that in your first two years.
Posted by COMPETENTGOVERNMENT (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Robin Brown has consistently supported economic development in District 27A by voting for and supporting the continuation of JOBZ; by voting for and supporting safe roads and bridges and transportation infrastructure; and by voting for and supporting funding for public schools including Q-Comp that provides additional funding for schools with merit pay for quality teaching for the districts of Albert Lea and Alden-Conger. Robin Brown has carried on a tradition of quality representation by developing positive legislative relationships across party lines that resulted in $2.5 million for the cleanup of Edgewater Park. She has worked hard for District 27A and provides timely and quality constituent service. She has already personally visited 4,444 homes in her re-election campaign in 2008 that will result in personally visiting over 10,000 homes. Congratulations Representative Robin Brown on a job well done. Your family and constituents are greatly appreciative of your effective representation of District 27A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Continue striving to provide competent government. By providing safe roads and bridges, additional economic development, and quality schools District 27A will continue to be a great place to live.
Posted by golfreak (Mike Falk) on July 11, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
District 27A is a great place to live FOR NOW until the Liberalism that has invaded St. Paul taxes us out of our shorts so no one will be able to afford to live here anymore. Robin Brown has not established herself as a voice for us up in St. Paul. When you say "Your Family" you obviously are giving it away that this is, once again, her husband speaking for her. Continue raising the taxes Democrats, then we'll be sure to push all of our small businesses out of this state and our economy will really crash.
Us citizens in 27A need to get our heads out of our butts and fix the mistake we made in 2006. We had inspirational leadership up to that point, now all we've done the last couple years is send a puppet up to St. Paul that Margaret Anderson Kelliher can control with the snap of her finder.
Posted by COMPETENTGOVERNMENT (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is unfortunate when people make charges that are not substantiated by facts. Representative Robin Brown did vote for an increase in the gas tax that had not been raised for almost 20 years. How many people have to die on Minnesota roads and bridges before Governor Pawlenty and other anti user fee folks acknowledge the fact that it takes real money to maintain our current system of roads and bridges. Economic development needs quality transportation infrastructure. The bi-partisan effort in the legislature that over rode the governor's veto was the right thing to do to save lives and maintain our quality of life. Representative Brown voted to continue JOBZ tax breaks. Representative Brown voted to place a cap on local property tax increases. Representative Brown voted on property tax relief. Get your facts right. Representative Brown is serving District 27A in an outstanding manner. Remember that Representative Dan Dorman voted to increase the gas tax during his last term in the legislature. Thank you for comparing Representative Robin Brown's votes with Representative Dan Dorman. They both supported safe roads and bridges and were willing to back up their support with an increase in the user fee. If you really want to stop wasting tax dollars, how about bringing an immediate end to the immoral Republican war in Iraq that is costing tax payers over $12 billion per month and more importantly the precious lives of our young soldiers.
Posted by wooduck46 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rep. Brown has done a good job. Keep fighting for us Robin
Posted by dapa2 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Compentent Government - Now there is an oxymoron!
Rep. Brown voted for way to wasteful bonding bill. (03/06/2008) Check.
Voted for the gas tax increase twice. House approval (02/21/2008) and House override (02/25/2008).
Check (actually raised a lot more than just the gas tax but what is a billion or 2 with the over $6.6 billion it taxes families, taxpayers and businesses?
Voted against preventing local government grants from going to organizations that provide abortions. Amendment defeated (04/01/2008). Check
Voted against banning public funding of abortions. House rejection (04/20/2007). Check
Voted for DREAM Act - In-state tuition for illegal immigrants
House approves DREAM Act component of higher ed bill
(04/19/2007). Check
Voted for Gas tax both times in 2007. House floor approval (03/24/2007). House approval (05/14/2007). Check. Check.
Voted for fiscally irresponsible global warming Mitigation Act ( in omnibus energy bill). House approval of omnibus energy package (05/21/2007). Check
Voted for health care coverage expansion and eligibility changes that were unneccessary. House passage of the omnibus health care bill (04/21/2007). House approval (05/07/2007) . Check. Check.
Voted for renewable energy standard that will cost Taxpayers, families and businesses billions. House approval (02/19/2007). Check
Voted against requiring doctors performing abortions to have clinical privileges at a nearby hospital. House rejection (04/21/2007). Check
Voted for sales tax increase for natural resources and cultural programs. House approval (05/19/2007).
Voted for Smoking ban twice. House approval (04/26/2007). House approval of conference committee (05/12/2007) .
And these are just some of the examples. Taking one or two good votes while at the same time voting with St. Paul the other 99% of the time is not representing District 27A.
If you think more and more spending on government and St. Paul special interests is good then you bet Rep. Brown is for you. But if you want somebody that looks out for families, taxpayers and businesses then Rep. Brown is the farthest thing from it. We can not tax and spend our way out of a recession, a down turn , a slump what ever you want to call it. Spending over $3 billion more last year and doing virtually nothing to address the deficit but take the majority from the states savings account just moved out the impending budget shortfall.
Let's keep electing those that know little about budgeting, planning, priorities and the folks back home who are hurting.... makes no sense to me!
Posted by dapa2 (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh buy the way the cap on property taxes was offset by the exceptions and more local government aid that does little to control spending. That is the problem....spending, spending, spending. You liberal loonies just dont get it. You can not keep spending beyond your means. Taxpayer dollars are limited resource. At what point is enough - enough? Cap on property taxes is being paid for with other peoples..... hold on get this........ taxes! Tell me how many of you are seeing a decrease in property taxes?
And stop using the lies of Senator Murphy of using tragedy to exploit taxpayer extortion of increased taxes. They are not related and there is plenty of transportation money, plenty of taxpayer money, plenty of resources. When you have a $34 billion state general fund budget (still over a 10% increase taking into account the miniscule cuts this year) it is priorities that are lacking not resources.
Oh thats right this was coming from Competent Government...........enough said!
Posted by MaBarker (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, golfreak, sounds like your frustrations should be directed at Pawlenty, not Brown. You must have been fooled by the term "fees." Fees and property taxes are what have drained us, both a direct result of Pawlenty's cuts and gimmicks. Also, Pawlenty was the veto king. He's looking out for his own interests, not ours. If there's economic problems right now, perhaps you should look at Bush's mistakes as well. And also realize that it's the fall-out of Republican spending. As I see it, Robin focused on the real needs of our area.
And dapa2, I live in this district, and I like that voting record. Those are responsible votes that Brown voted. Forward thinking. The fact that you think smoking is good and health care is not needed and that you're upset about a tiny gas tax (compared to the percentage of price gouging by the oil companies - that's ok with you?) shows that your logic is simply twisted.
Robin, you are doing a great job.
Posted by MaBarker (anonymous) on July 11, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dapa2, have you been living in a cave? You should take a look at Bush's spending. The tables have turned. It's now the Republicans that are the big spenders. They just hope you're dumb enough to not realize how the dress up their spending. 'nuff said.
...remember the good old days when our biggest problem was Clinton's infedelity and we were in the black??? ...sigh
Posted by golfreak (Mike Falk) on July 12, 2008 at 1 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If it wasn't for the great governor of this state, we would be in absolute economic chaos. As a previous letter to the editor stated in this paper, "He is like the adult, babysitting all of these silly liberals that all they want to do is tax and spend". When are you guys going to see that it doesn't do us any good for businesses to just consider relocating to Minnesota, that doesn't create any jobs or any revenue. We need to loosen the lock on small business if Albert Lea even wants a chance to get back to a level that could be considered respectable. More taxes, more spending is not the answer. Government needs to be better, not bigger.
And to compare the votes of Dorman to Brown is out of line. To vote for the biggest tax increase in state history during a time when some Minnesotans are deciding between filling their vehicle with gas or heating their homes can not be permitted.
Posted by wooduck46 (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"the great governor of this state"??? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. That's funny. Gimme a break.
Where was your outcry when Dorman was backing a 10 cent gas tax increase? But you whine about an 8 cent increase spread across years? Double standards. Geez - bridges are falling and roads are falling apart and people are DYING! Shame on you!
Posted by COMPETENTGOVERNMENT (anonymous) on July 12, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Saturday morning. Well, I just finished my monthly trip to the recycling center. Dapa2's comments remind me of the same old Republican themes they have recycled for too many years with gloomy results.
Which president has run up the largest national deficit in our nation's history? Answer: George Bush
Who was president when 9-11 happened? Answer: George Bush
Who went to war in Iraq based on faulty intelligence? Answer: George Bush
Who was Minnesota House Majority Leader when the state ended up with a $4.6 Billion dollar deficit in 2002? Answer: Tim Pawlenty.
It seems to me that the only thing growing in Minnesota right now is the prison population. Can we start connecting the dots and observe that for over the past six years we have seriously under funded public education while our prison population at the state and county level are growing?
Competent government is about making good choices. Our nation became one of the most powerful countries in the 1950's and 1960's when we had strong political leaders such as president Eisenhower that proposed the building of the Interstate Highway system. He implemented the national gas tax to provide funding to build a wonderful network of roads and bridges. Fifty years later, it is now time for our generation to repair and maintain our fragile network of Interstate highways. This is vitally important for District 27A that has two major Interstate highways (I-35 and I-90).
Political campaigns should be based on what individuals are willing to fight for. I want specifics on what programs a politician is for and I want them to inform me how they plan to provide the adequate funding for these programs.
Now is the time to pull together as a region, as a state, and as a country and prioritize on the role of government and the cost of government. I firmly believe in a pay-as-you-go government. I do not believe that any government at any level should ever spend any money that they are not willing to tax for.
For an example, who is really going to pay the $12 Billion per month that we are spending on the war in Iraq? The president and congress have not been willing to raise additional revenue since the war began in 2002. During WWII, congress and the president supported the selling of war bonds to pay for the war effort. Is it really responsible to spend $12 Billion monthly on a war that is being funded on the backs of our children and grandchildren? This is not an example of competent government.
Now is the time to work together to get America focused on the future. This is why we need competent political leaders at the local, state and national level that will actually deliver on their promises to make America a better place to raise our children and grandchildren. We have been fortunate over the past 200 years to have many examples of good competent political leaders from both parties representing us.
Posted by dapa2 (anonymous) on July 13, 2008 at 2:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok ... the liberals here are the ones obviously in a fog. Yes, 9-11 occurred during President Bush's term a whopping 9 months into it. Everyone is missing the point while slick Willy was more interested in getting a monica he should have been paying attention to what was going on in the intelligence arena. But that was not going to happen with Slick Willy's further gutting of defense and intelligence funding.
You call the war that ousted Sadam based on faulty intelligence I call it justified. Just think of the women, men, and children no longer being raped, tortured, and killed because of the madam Saddam who was thankfully killed for his actions.
The $4.6 billion deficit was solved thankfully without raising and spending $4.6 billion more or we would be in even worse situation today. But get your facts straight - Tim Pawlenty was Governor when addressing this situation - caused by the the 1/3 compromise of tax rebates, school one time spending and increasing big government.... bet you can not guess which one the House Republicans pushed..... one guess..... did not have to do with spending.
And by the way we still had massive national debt during the Clinton years.... he just borrowed all the excesses from social security, the postal service and everything else to say we had a surplus when we did not!
We need our own Boston Tea Party in Minnesota to tell those in St. Paul we are tired of tax and spend, tax and spend what all you liberals are arguing for.
Oh by the way MaBarker ... we are talking about Rep. Brown not President Bush. Nice to try and divert from a record that does not support local families, taxpayers and businesses.
What next..... $6 billion tax increase for schools - wouldnt be a conflict of interest here with both Browns drawing a government paycheck from the local school district... which would do zippo for actual educational attainment for the kids but I am sure we would see whopping pay increases for teachers and administration.
Or how about...... $13-15 billion tax increase for the univeral health care - eveybody is covered nobody can opt out plan similar to what the Dems in Wisconsin introduced and shortly dropped when they saw the price tag and knew they could not push it.
This on top of the other tax and energy increases coming from the ignorant global warming legislation passed in Minnesota along with renewable energy standards.... another thing the Dems at the national level could not pass when they saw the REAL economic costs taking more than a $1 trillion out of economy.
So your plan of sitting down with the terrorists, making it so we can not defend America or Democracy around the globe, and taking the living daylights out of anything that moves, doesnt move, dead or alive is the answer? God help us all!
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