Fresh off winning the GOP endorsement Saturday to challenge U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, DFL-Mankato, Aaron Miller is making the rounds around the 1st Congressional District.

Miller stopped in Austin Wednesday and discussed some of the key issues he’s focused on early in his campaign. Miller will base his campaign on three areas he thinks southern Minnesota residents are most concerned about: The U.S. economy/growing debt, jobs and economic growth, and health care.

Miller said he was inspired to run because of his two daughters, 10 and 14, as he was concerned about their futures and doesn’t want to leave behind a vast debt and a stagnant economy for them.

“The government needs to live within its means,” he said.

He’s also concerned about the economic recovery in Minnesota, and he said there’s not enough job growth.

“Jobs are obviously very important, and we’re just not seeing a lot of job growth in southern Minnesota,” he said.

Miller would like to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act — or MNsure, as it’s known in Minnesota.

“We had the best healthcare delivery system in the world and what needed to be reformed was the cost and how it was paid for,” Miller said. “Obamacare really doesn’t address that.”

He’d like health care to return to more free market-based principles. He’d also like to see insurers sell across state lines to create competition, and he’d like workers to have the ability to keep their insurance from job to job.

When it comes to immigration reform, Miller is a strong proponent for securing the border.

“Before we do anything, we have to secure our own border,” Miller said.

He also wants to bring citizens who are here into the light and legalize their stay through some form of visa, but he does not support amnesty.

“I believe the folks who are here illegally have to get in the back of the line and work through the citizenship program,” Miller said.

Miller is a senior account hospital manager with Revo Biologic, with several years in the health care industry, and a command sergeant major in the Army Reserves.

Miller garnered the nomination Saturday in Albert Lea, when he faced off against Jim Hagedorn, a Blue Earth businessman and Mike Benson, a state representative from Rochester.

Two years ago in Mankato, retired St. Peter farmer and former state Rep. Allen Quist and state Sen. Mike Parry of Waseca fought through 23 rounds of balloting over nearly 14 hours. Even then, neither candidate abided by the nomination and the battle continued to the August primary.

This time, all three candidates had agreed to abide by the nomination.

The Minnesota DFL Party released a statement earlier this week in reaction to Miller’s nomination. DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin said Miller would be a “rubber stamp for the reckless Tea Party agenda.”

Martin praised Walz’s record on veterans, farmers, students and seniors.

“We are confident that southern Minnesota will again strongly support Tim Walz,” Martin said in the statement.