Candidate Viewpoint: Ron Lischeid

Talk about it

In poll after poll, about four out of 10 eligible voters identify themselves as independents. But in most elections, voters are only given the option to choose between Republicans and Democrats. I have entered the Minnesota House race for District 54A so that voters in part of South St. Paul, all of Newport and St. Paul Park and part of Cottage Grove have a third voting alternative.

I have met both of my opponents and both of them are qualified candidates who have been endorsed by their respective political parties. Shortly, I will receive my endorsement from the Independence Party as well.

The main difference between me and my two opponents is the fact that I can make a promise to the voters in District 54A that neither of them can make. I can promise voters that I will never be told by my party or by special interests how to vote. As a member of the Independence Party, I have promised to cap contributions to my campaign at $100 per individual and will never accept any PAC, lobbyist or special interest contributions. I will have the political freedom to work for all of the residents in my district specifically and for the greater good of all Minnesotans in general.

Like many of you reading this, I am disheartened by the sharp partisan political divide that has taken place in St. Paul and in Washington, D.C., in recent years. This political gridlock has sucked the productive potential of the Minnesota Legislature dry. Most votes that take place are along strict party lines. There is no political will in St. Paul to do what is best for Minnesota anymore. Compromise and working for the greater good are gone. I hope that I am given the opportunity to be a catalyst for change.

I have spent my entire life in the workforce in the private sector, owning, managing and working for small businesses. I have invested my own money in creating businesses and jobs. My work experiences have been in the auto repair, vehicle rental and the hospitality industry. In all of these areas, the key to being successful is providing an exceptional level of customer service. So another promise that I can make to voters is that neither of my opponents will be more customer-focused than I am. I believe in that old-fashioned idea that elected public officials are public servants and work for those people that they are elected to represent. That makes each and every resident in the district ‘the customer’ within my focus.

The main theme of my campaign is jobs, jobs and jobs. My goal is to help make Minnesota become the best place to own and operate a business in the entire country. Providing Minnesotans with good paying and stable jobs throughout the state would go a long way toward providing the revenue needed to solve our state’s budget problems.

We have a generation of young people in our state who believed us when we told them that they should continue their education past high school and who have graduated with degrees and job skills that they are unable to currently use. They are strapped with huge student loan obligations. They are the generation that will be forced to pay for many of the entitlements that past legislatures have promised. Simply stated, we need to provide the opportunity for this current generation and future generations to become productive members of the workforce so that they can achieve their full potential.

I can’t get elected this November and can’t work to reduce the partisan gridlock that has paralyzed our state’s politics unless the 40 percent bloc that makes up the independent voting majority exercises its right to be heard and votes for me. I have provided voters the opportunity to vote their conscience. I only hope that they will seize that opportunity Nov. 6.

Lischeid is an Independence Party candidate for House District 54A. For more information, he can be reached at 612-250-7272.

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