I was raised in Rochester, Minnesota and have four generations of family in the surrounding rural communities. My childhood was one in which I had fun playing in the outdoors, playing trumpet in the Kellogg Jr. High School band, youth basketball, football and traveling soccer. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity for a good upbringing to include good health and education. A lifelong history of meeting great people, friends and extended families have formed my upbringing as a true Minnesotan. Rochester has given me strong community roots that include learning about and sharing people’s differences and growing together to embrace all walks of life.
I have known my wife, Melissa, since attending Harriet Bishop Elementary. Together 20 years, we were married at the Plummer House 15 years ago. Melissa grew up in Country Club Manor, her family church is Gloria Dei. She graduated from John Marshall High School and attended college for architecture. She currently works at Mayo Clinic where she enjoys working with people.
I went to John Marshall High School where I played varsity football and was elected to the student government. I later attended Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps in St. Paul. My education has been professionally based with the Brown Institute of Technology for Advertising Design and experience as an advertising director/reporter for the Byron Review, a community newspaper. I received my real estate license from the Minnesota Department of Commerce in 2002. Recommended by an alumni, I was awarded a full scholarship to the University of St. Thomas – Opus College of Business where I studied the Commercial Real Estate Specialist Program and graduated in 2006. I also received an extended mini MBA in real estate development. In 2014, I earned a graduate certificate in Economic Development from Hamline University – Center for Public Administration.
I am a real estate professional and have been in the business for 20 years. I am the owner of Bush Companies – a community and economic development firm located in downtown Rochester. I have devoted my life to public service and civic causes and I am excited about the opportunity to continue this work at the Minnesota State Capital on behalf of the people.
I have served and currently serve on several local and national organizations including:
• The Olmsted County Planning Board of Commissioners
• Olmsted County Zoning Board of Adjustment
• Rochester Area Builders – Governmental Affairs
• Rochester Area Foundation Affordable Housing Steering Committee
• Southeastern Minnesota Association of Realtors Governmental Affairs
• Board Member Bolder Options
• Destination Medical Center (DMC) Certified Tourism Ambassador
• Rochester Chamber of Commerce
• Harvard Business Review, Convention of States
• Republican Leadership Initiative Fellow – Republican National Committee
• Olmsted County Republicans.
I am known as an effective communicator with a common sense approach to the debate and issues at hand. As your representative, I will be a valuable legislator centered on my experience living, working and talking amongst those that live in today’s society. I want to work with real-life concerns and want to be that person who represents the values and interests of Minnesotans. I share these concerns and as your representative my goal is to make sure the people are heard at the Capital.
I will listen with passion and have the knowledge and skills to be a voice on behalf of the people. I will work hard to protect Minnesota values and make certain to keep Rochester a safe and economically thriving community. I believe we must bring a new generation of leadership to the State Legislature as it is a key to our city, region and state. We cannot continue to have rubber stamp candidates and legislators representing our future and the next generations.
I look forward to your vote in November, 2018.
Issues
MY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY:
I believe the party starts with the people. The political class has acted way to comfortable for the people’s understanding of what their rights are and who represents them and how will their families or business hopes dreams and futures measure up to what past generations have paved for us all.
Too many of our representatives have not lived regular lives amongst the people. I have lived my life and like many Americans whether it be failure or success I have gotten up never given up based on my faith in God and the people’s encouragement in My life. The more failure the more opportunity harbors character and I have learned from those experiences that I could do better.
As your representative what I bring to the table is the ability to build briges not barriers. It’s my priority to bring the real issues from the engine of the people to the capital and on behalf of you. I Will fight for what is right based on constituent suggestion and consensus.
EDUCATION
An excellent education has long been recognized as key to the American Dream. Unfortunately, the current monopolistic and expensive K-12 education system is failing our students, leaving them unprepared for college, careers or life. Similarly, our higher education system is leaving students with higher debt burdens and fewer career guarantees than ever before.
HOUSING
Creating a market-oriented housing policy that allows housing supply to fit demand and encourages the creation affordable housing through market forces can boost a state’s human capital and help to develop an area’s economy. As job opportunities grow, human capital must be there to sustain and benefit from the increased economic activity. Crafting polices that allow the most vulnerable among us to better themselves and their families by enacting common-sense housing reforms can be crucial in limiting people out of poverty.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The United States is among the most developed economies in the world. This has led to a standard of living that is simply unmatched throughout the world or throughout history. Even in such a developed and comparatively wealthy nation, policymakers still must allocate resources appropriately to encourage further economic development in their own communities and bring the benefits of a developed economy to their constituents. Encouraging economic development and adopting policies that promote that development rather than hinder it can mean an enormous improvement in the economic opportunity and quality of life for all people.
This content was originally published at http://www.kennethlbush.com/