Letter: Vickerman endorsing Bakk for governor

• Sen. Jim Vickerman

Dist. 22 Sen. Jim Vickerman, DFL-Tracy

Talk about it

I am supporting Sen. Tom Bakk for governor because he is the experienced leader we need to get Minnesota back on track.

Tom represents the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota. If you’ve been to Duluth, the Boundary Waters or the North Shore of Lake Superior, you’ve visited his district. Tom has a unique district in that he represents a first-class city as well as some of the smallest cities in the state. A native of Cook, which has a population of about 600, Tom and his wife, Laura, live on Lake Vermilion. Tom understands firsthand the challenges rural townships, cities and schools face. He is a strong voice at the Capitol for all Minnesota communities.

Although we represent opposite ends of the state, I’ve gotten to know him pretty well because we share an office suite at the State Capitol. We also share a lot of the same concerns, like the number of Minnesotans without a job.

A carpenter and union leader for more than 30 years, Tom knows the importance of bringing home a paycheck every Friday to take care of a family’s needs. During the 1981-82 recession he went on unemployment, exhausted his benefits and lost his health insurance. This economy is worse than the early ’80s, and soon there won’t be a family in this state that hasn’t been touched by this recession. Tom knows what that feels like and the anxiety families are going through. That fuels his passion to get people back to work and he knows the 2010 election has to be about jobs, jobs, jobs.

Tom chairs the Senate Tax Committee. He knows that Minnesota is facing serious financial challenges. The next governor will face up to a $7 billion budget deficit, and there is no way to tax or cut our way out of the problem. If we want to have money to invest in the areas that are important to us, such as education and health care, the next governor must get people back to work. As governor, Tom will make job creation his top priority.

Tom is running for governor because he loves this state and wants to build a stronger Minnesota. I am supporting Tom for governor because I know he will get the job done.

Please visit www.bakk2010.com to learn more about Tom and his campaign.

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