My name is Rande Gronseth. I live in District 27 on a farm North of Sargeant on the Dodge/Mower County line.

I enjoy politics and consider myself an informed voter and have known for quite a while for whom I am voting. On a monthly basis, some friends and I get together to talk about current events. I enjoy listening to talk radio and Minnesota Public Radio, but even I have grown weary with what has been going on at the top level, and am amazed at one of the most prominent offices in the world and that our candidates act this way to get elected.

But persevere people, look through all the smoke and mirrors, and vote; do not stay home and not participate in the process. We are a self-governing nation, this is where the rubber meets the road.

In District 27, we have a state Senate race between an incumbent of 14 years and a newcomer, Gene Dornink. Thankfully, these two men have chosen to take the high road and to my knowledge, have not stooped down to gutter politics.

I have known Mr. Dornink for 20-some years. Some of our kids have grown up together (we only had seven, they had 12). Gene understands government and how it should run.  He has a wealth of understanding of the principles and beliefs of our founding fathers and understands hard decision making.

Sen. Sparks has had 14 years to make a difference. At the KAAL Channel 6 debate, he stated how well our state health care system is working. Yet the governor, just a week or two later says it is broken. The senator missed a candidate forum in Hayfield because he was helping a friend pick corn. Well I know Mr. Dornink, he has helped a lot of people too and, being self-employed, I’m sure he had better things to do, than attend a forum in Hayfield, but he came. He understands that being in public office means he needs to be a servant to the people.

So when you go to the ballot box on Nov. 8 and pick your people for office, calibrate yourself and choose people like Gene Dornink.

                                  

Rande Gronseth

Sargeant