Local Republicans started small Saturday but set their sights on big change.

The Mower County GOP convention brought a grassroots approach to tackling big issues, as Congressional candidates Mike Parry and Allen Quist stopped by to ask for support in their campaigns to unseat U.S. Rep. Tim Walz.

“I’ll make a pledge: I will defeat Tim in November with your help,” Parry said.

Both men talked about getting control of spending, specifically the federal reserve and national debt.

“They’re both good guys,” said Mower County Republican chairman Dennis Schminke.

Schminke said the convention is government at its most basic level. Delegates were elected at the convention to go on to the regional convention.

“I think American politics is very much a grassroots thing,” he said. “Caucuses and this is where people who care show up and have their say. And I’m glad they show up.”

“It’s one thing to have an opinion. It’s another thing to do something about it,” he added.

They briefly discussed repealing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare. Local Republicans made repealing the health legislation one of their top priorities on their resolutions and urged the state not to support it or abide by it.

“I think Obamacare is a terribly bad law,” he said, noting it’s an expensive piece of legislation.

Even at the level of national Senate and presidential races, Schminke said, the campaigns often hinge on volunteer efforts.

“I think there’s a perception of way too much organization in politics,” he said.