Hello Friends,
A lifelong resident of Western Minnesota, I grew up in Browns Valley with my parents and identical twin brother, Jay. During high school, we started our own lawn business. We also worked with our father in his independent mechanic business as well as working with area farmers. The money we saved was used to help pay for college.
In 1990, my twin brother and I started our business, BW Inc., in Browns Valley. Like most small businesses in greater Minnesota, we’ve experienced both good years and challenging years. Through it all, we’ve worked hard to provide good products at fair prices and treat our employees like family. I’m proud to say we’ve succeeded.
In 1991, I graduated from St. Cloud State University with two degrees, Chemistry and Public Administration. Two years later, I married my wife, Judy Gnifkowski. We have been married 22 years and have one daughter, Brittany, age 19.
Since 1995 I have served as a volunteer EMT for the Browns Valley Ambulance. For the last 16 years, I have taught Bible study to fifth and sixth graders at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley, where I am an active member.
In 2000 I was elected to the City Council. I served in that capacity until 2004 when I was elected as Mayor, and served three terms. During that time we found ways to keep taxes down, combine services and worked extremely hard to cut costs. We also successfully started the Westside Floodway Diversion project. This flood relief, project serves South Dakota and Minnesota and protects the citizens of Browns Valley from future flooding.
I have also served as a member of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, Browns Valley Lions Club and Browns Valley School District 801.
I would describe myself as a commonsense conservative. I believe in efficient and effective government that spends money wisely on important state priorities. However, it must also be held in check to ensure personal responsibility and to protect individual liberties.
On social issues, I am pro-life and support traditional marriage. I am a strong supporter of our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
I hope this information provides you with background to know my core principles and where I will stand on issues important to you. Please feel free to contact me at Jeff@JeffBacker.com if you want to know more about my position on any issue not discussed here, or to volunteer or to assist us in some way.
I respectfully ask for your vote.
Sincerely,
Jeff Backer
Issues
Traditional Marriage
Traditional marriage of a man and woman is the bedrock of any society throughout all of history. In fact, it is as old as the Garden of Eden when God created Adam and Eve and blessed their union as husband and wife.
Some claim that marriage was “invented” by government and therefore government has the right to modify the definition of marriage to whatever it deems best. It is true that the state is involved in the preservation of marriage by ensuring that both man and wife have legal protection in civil law and criminal law. For example, laws of inheritance, property rights, and contractual obligations allow for a married couple to be treated differently than unmarried people. In criminal law, there are also protections for either partner. Bigamy and rape are examples concerned with maintaining the sanctity of marriage. Therefore, the State’s role is not to modify the definition of marriage, but to preserve marriage.
I do not endorse same sex marriage or same sex civil unions because both undermine traditional marriage. By allowing same sex marriage, there is no reason to prohibit polygamy or other “creative marriages.” I firmly believe that only traditional marriage between a man and a woman should have legal recognition by the state.
And as we all know, on supporting traditional marriage, Metro Jay was away – far away – when he voted to legalize same-sex marriage. His vote was a slap in the face to over 64 percent of his constituents – Democratic, Republican and Independent – who voted in overwhelming numbers against same-sec marriage. In Mr. McNamar’s home town of Elbow lake, 64.19 percent of voters supported traditional marriage, a fact seemingly overlooked by McNamar.
When traditional marriage is not defended, families will not have the same stability essential for raising the next generation. The state will become the final authority over the definition of marriage and this definition will be held hostage to whatever political powers that be. It is essential to defend the traditional marriage that has worked over the centuries rather than use marriage for “social experimentation” that some so vocally advocate.
I will defend and support traditional marriage.
Immigration
Since America is a land of freedom and opportunity, it is understandable that many people would seek the advantages of immigrating to this country. Early in the history of the United States, laws and procedures were written to ensure that the flow of immigration did not overwhelm the ability of our country to assimilate them. Qualified immigrants that followed the written established procedures were granted citizenship. Citizenship was a privilege and not a right.
Today, by comparison, there is an open border on all fronts. Many come illegally to our country despite laws to the contrary. Instead the motivation is chiefly for economic benefits. Many illegal immigrants use social services such as welfare, medical assistance, and food stamps. In addition, a growing segment of the U.S. prison populations are illegal aliens. Many believe our borders are being overwhelmed.
Minnesota is not immune from this national problem. Our Social Services are straining to maintain services to citizens and county and state officials correctly question the priority of who should receive such services. Minnesota’s laws of immigration need to be enforced just like other laws are enforced. To turn a blind eye to the problem only magnifies the problem. There is a need for serious discussion of how best to deal with this problem.
Our country is a beacon of hope for those who long for liberty, religious freedom and economic opportunity, and for that we should all be thankful. At the same time, the federal government needs to address the severe problem of illegal immigration. If they fail to do so in a timely and appropriate manner, states will continue to confront the very real problems that illegal immigration creates. The cost of ignoring the problem is simply unacceptable to our citizens.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the backbone of House District 12A. Agriculture in this district ranges from producing pork, milk, and beef, to sugar and ethanol. When all employees from the farms; implement dealers, and input suppliers and processors are counted, agriculture is one of the largest employers. All of these businesses and employees depend on a healthy agriculture industry.
Although many polices affecting agriculture take place at the national level, there are still areas where the state of Minnesota has a large impact. One area is that of regulations from the state.
Since the number of farmers is a very small percentage of the total population, their political voice is often not strong enough to compete well with larger well-funded political action groups proposing legislation contrary to the best interests of agriculture. In particular, regulations directly and adversely affecting crop production, ethanol production and livestock husbandry are put in place by bureaucrats pressured by lobbyists. Typically, these bureaucrats have no first-hand knowledge of agriculture. They are one or two generations removed from the farm and are totally out of touch with the needs and the methods of farmers.
For example, fringe animal rights groups seek to dictate how all livestock should be raised. A selected “horror story” of mistreated animals is used to prove how all livestock being raised are mistreated. Other selected examples of poor farm management are used as an excuse to punish excellent producers with unnecessary regulations that only increase costs and drive smaller producers out of business.
I trust the producers much more than the regulators. The producers as a whole do an excellent job to provide food and fiber at a bargain for the consumer. I will seek to limit the power of regulatory agencies from mandating new state regulations. Instead, any new regulations should have a full hearing of both the Senate and House before becoming law, with those in the agricultural industry most affected being given the largest voice.