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My campaign for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 23B seat was an adventure. District 23B includes six townships in Eastern Freeborn County, 16 townships in Western Mower County and Blooming Prairie Township in Steele County.

The most rewarding part of the campaign was meeting the many wonderful, caring people in our District. We met District residents during the many parades, fairs and other events and while going door to door in every community in the district.

Residents expressed their needs for daycare for their children, affordable housing, affordable and accessible healthcare options and increased state aid for public schools. It was obvious local communities need additional State assistance to maintain their facilities and provide services to their residents.

An example of a paradox I encountered was a resident who wanted more assistance with the cost of the street replacement in front of his home but also complained about the taxes in Minnesota.

It is easy to score cheap political points by complaining about taxes. I do not like paying taxes any more than the next person but that is the price we pay to have quality education for our children, safe roads for recreation and for a vibrant economy, emergency personnel to protect our families and our property and numerous other services that protect our health and provide our quality of life.   

All candidate campaigns are required to follow a stringent set of rules so that voters know that their advertising is theirs and is properly paid for. Unfortunately, independent groups have free speech rights that allow them to say whatever they like, true or not, with very little disclosure of who is sponsoring them and paying for them. I hope that voters see through this type of negative advertising, but it must be effective, or it would not be used.

Meeting so many people from 23B was immensely rewarding.

Joe Pacovsky

Hayward, MN