WASECA — After a long stint in politics, Tim Penny has discovered you don’t have to be in elective office to examine the issues and make a difference.

In Waseca, the 55-year-old former congressman is asking the questions he thinks people want answered as host of the weekly radio show It’s Your Call on KOWZ-AM 1170.

A few minutes before 11 a.m. on a recent Friday morning with coffee cup in hand, Penny climbs the steps to the cramped radio studio of KOWZ in the back of the Nelson Realty building in downtown Waseca.

“I try to ask the questions I’ve heard people asking around town,” Penny said. He invites a variety of local people to answer those questions on the air.

Since his first show in September, past and present government officials, the heads of organizations, high school students and other local notables have shared the microphone.

During a recent program, Penny shook hands with his radio guest, jotted a few notes on the back of his mail and adjusted the microphone, waiting for his cue from Bob White, the station’s sports director.

Chuck Noble, a CPA, gave listeners end-of-the-year income tax tips, prompted by a few questions from Penny. Mayor Roy Srp filled in the rest of the hour. Penny describes his radio slot as “somewhat political but low key.” While he tries not to throw softballs, Penny also notes he doesn’t set his guests up for a “gotcha” interview.

“I like the interviewing techniques Gary Eichten on (Minnesota) Public Radio uses,” Penny said.

Penny also remembers one of the first times he was interviewed on the radio. “When I first got elected, I was on a Blue Earth radio station. All I could think of was thousands of people are listening. If I stutter or stammer, thousands of people will hear that.

“I try to make it a conversation so they can forget they are on radio and be themselves,” Penny said.

So far, the radio show has been on a trial basis. Lynn Ketelsen, the station’s owner, invited him to host the show, letting him choose the guests and topics. The two plan to meet in the next few weeks to decide the program’s fate.

“We’ve had just a terrific reaction to Tim’s show, from people in Waseca and the larger region,” said Ketelsen.

Jeff Stewart of Owatonna listens regularly to Penny’s radio show. “I like it. I think he brings a perspective to the Waseca and Owatonna area that you don’t get regularly. He has experience in Washington, but yet he’s a local guy,” Stewart said.

“The topics are interesting,” he said. “Tim Penny takes a look at the things that matter to people like me.”

“He’s a person that transcends politics,” said Ketelsen, who said Penny’s radio show is being considered for a larger statewide audience on the Linder stations.

“I’d like to develop a format for the show,” Penny said. “The radio show is like everything else, you learn as you go.”

In addition to having the Waseca mayor on monthly and addressing a national topic regularly, Penny wants to involve young people.

“I would like a youth perspective on the show, to reach out to high school students in the area and develop a program of value to them,” Penny said. “What are kids really thinking?

“I have a number of projects that keep the oars in the water,” he said. Still adjusting to his wife’s death almost a year ago, Penny has a number of paying and volunteer jobs that keep him busy.

He is a senior counselor in the Minneapolis public relations firm of Himle Horner as well as a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute.

Known as a budget watchdog in Congress, Penny continues this role by serving on the board of Concord Coalition. “We will have a fiscal wake-up tour next year,” he noted.

Penny is also involved in a national nonprofit organization, educating the public on Social Security issues.

He described the political courses he teaches at Metro State, Winona State and Humphrey Institute as “another opportunity to be in the classroom and urge young people to get involved in the issues and politics.”

A former Democrat who ran on the Independence Party ticket four years ago for governor, Penny believes a third party is necessary to provide a meaningful choice to voters.

Asked if he is considering another run at elected office, Penny responded, “I don’t think so.”