A few weeks ago I went to the debate between state Rep. Shannon Savick and Peggy Bennett. Mostly, I wasn’t surprised by what either candidate said. Rep. Savick is running on her record of accomplishments such as paying back the schools, funding all-day kindergarten, balancing the budget and pushing through the funding for the dredging of Fountain Lake.

Ms. Bennett is running on the stance that she advocates less government. Which leads me to my one surprise of the evening. When asked how she felt about what the Minnesota Legislature did to support education, Bennett said she has a problem with the government providing programs such as free breakfasts for students. That, she said, should be the responsibility of the parents.

Really? As a teacher she should know and be concerned that a hungry student cannot learn. She should know many parents are just getting by, working odd hours or multiple jobs. Making breakfast is the ideal but not the reality for most families.

So that makes me wonder. If Ms. Bennett became a representative, would she throw aside practical solutions to real problems? Would she reject what’s good for our students or other citizens because it conflicts with her small government idealogy?

I know I don’t want a rigid person who votes lockstep with her party representing me.

 

Miles Pechacek

Albert Lea