By Brian Ojanpa
New Ulm businessman Bob Skillings and St. James farmer Paul Torkelson are vying for the Minnesota House District 21B seat being vacated by Brad Finstad.
For Skillings, aspiring to that office carries a precedent: He garnered 45.7 percent of the votes in losing to incumbent Brad Finstad in 2006.
He said that experience provided mixed emotions.
“As hard as I worked, I really wanted to win, so in a way I was disappointed. But then after taking a few breaths and re-evaluating, I was pleased overall.”
Skillings describes himself as a pro-life Democrat and said that even with constituent concerns about the economy hanging heavy, the abortion issue remains prominent.
“When I go knock on doors, the pro-life issue is the first thing on a lot of people’s minds. One issue that has really helped young mothers is the Positive Alternative Act, and I’d like to see that continue.”
That 2005 Minnesota legislation is a state-funded abortion prevention grant program to help pregnant women and new mothers with health care, education, job training, and information relating to abortion alternatives and adoption services.
As for the economy, Skillings said people’s fears are palpable with worry abounding over health insurance, their 401(k)s, and job statuses.
Closer to home, Skillings sees the need for improvements to Highway 14 between New Ulm and Mankato as a top priority.
“It’s imperative that we do that in the next 10 years, and not just put it off forever, as it seems they want to do.”
Skillings said he developed an interest in the political process in his first job after college, working for Minnesota Lt. Gov. Marlene Johnson.
He has also served as chairman of the New Ulm Park and Recreation Commission and on boards, including the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce and New Ulm Baseball Association.
Torkelson, a fourth-generation Watonwan County farmer, said his entry into the race came at the behest of fellow Republican Finstad.
Torkelson talked it over with his wife and college-age daughters, plus the people who would have to pick up his slack on the farm, and decided to enter the fray.
“Other incumbents have told me that the first time around (running for office) is far more difficult,” said Torkelson, who has been surprised by how time-demanding it can be.
“It’s been more than I expected. I thought it would be split about half and half between campaigning and farming, but it’s been more like 90-10. I have about 600 acres of soybeans, and I think I personally harvested about 25 acres this year.”
Torkelson, a former Minnesota Farm Bureau vice president, lists three priority issues for his district: family-focused health care, attracting and retaining jobs, and education funding and reform.
He said those issues are not unrelated.
“The cost of health care is part of what’s driving up the cost of education funding,” he said.
The pro-life advocate said the economy has people worried, though rural areas have been buffered to some extent.
“The ag economy is still fairly strong, which insulates us a little bit. Our rural banks didn’t do this crazy lending that some (urban) banks participated in.”
