Drawing on his experiences as a small business owner, farmer and area resident, state Rep. Randy Demmer on Tuesday explained the importance of electing someone to Congress who will represent the people.

Demmer, R-Hayfield, who announced his candidacy for the 1st District seat in December, said people have a “tremendous opportunity” to make change in the upcoming election. The person elected to the 1st District seat needs to understand what’s important to this area’s residents.

Demmer shared this message at The Trumble’s Restaurant to about a dozen area Republicans. He said he is trying to make as many stops to cities in the district before the legislative session starts in February.

If chosen as the Republican nominee, he would then face incumbent Democrat Tim Walz in November.

Demmer suggested he doesn’t think the district has the representation right now that knows what’s important to this area’s residents.

He claimed that the district has a representative who’s going along with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi instead of making decisions based on what’s important to southern Minnesota, he said.

Demmer talked about the health care bill and asked how it is possible to have better coverage at lower cost without more regulation.

Because of decisions like that one, along with others, he said he thinks conservative people are appalled with what’s happening in Washington.

He said Republicans cannot lose hope and must take one step at a time to make change.

Demmer described Walz as a person, who is lending support to more of a “socialist” path, which is something Demmer “strongly believes is not the path we should take,” he said.

How can the Republicans change this?

Demmer said they need to start with a candidate who can defeat Walz, a Mankato teacher and soldier who defeated a 12-year Republican incumbent in the 2006 election. Demmer said he does not agree with everyone, and everyone does not agree with him, but he is a person who does not say what people want to hear just because they want to hear it.

As a former farmer, he said he understands farming and agriculture, and the importance to the area.

He’s also served on the school board for 11 years and in the state Legislature for eight years as of this year.

Demmer said those aren’t qualifications, but they give perspective. He currently is the assistant House minority leader and describes himself as a strong fiscal conservative.

He asked for the support of the area Republicans.

Demmer also sought the party’s endorsement for the congressional seat in 2008, but lost to Rochester physician Brian Davis, who ended up losing to Walz.