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  • State Rep. Randy Demmer, the Republican nominee for the 1st Congressional District, talked to a vendor of corn-fueled heating stoves at the Nicollet County Fair. Both Demmer and Democratic Congressman Tim Walz were in St. Peter Friday. Pat Christman

    Demmer

August 13, 2010

Demmer talks up private sector

By Mark Fischenich The Free Press

ST PETER — About an hour after Democratic Congressman Tim Walz left St. Peter, his Republican challenger arrived.

State Rep. Randy Demmer strolled to the Republican booth in the commercial exhibits building, his third fair stop in three days after spending a couple of hours at the Pipestone County Fair on Thursday and couple at the Brown County Fair earlier Friday.

“For me, it’s really about people meeting me and realizing there’s a face and personality with the name,” Demmer said.

The name is probably pretty well-known in the southeastern corner of Minnesota. Demmer is a lifelong resident, former farmer and business-owner, and four-term lawmaker from Hayfield — a town of about 1,300 southwest of Rochester. But the 1st Congressional District stretches across southern Minnesota all the way to the South Dakota border, and as he moves west he’s introducing himself to people who are likely more familiar with Walz .

Demmer has hit 10 of the 22 county fairs in the district already, and he said it’s obvious that many people aren’t looking for deep political discussions as much as they are mini-donuts, Kettle Korn or thrill rides. They’re Minnesota Nice about it, but they’re also clear.

“You can tell if they’re ready to move on,” he said.

Occasionally, though, they’re actually excited about the idea of talking in person to a lawmaker. There was one in New Ulm earlier Friday.

“He said, ‘I’ve always wanted to visit with a guy like you,’” Demmer said. “... He wasn’t upset. He was just curious.”

The man asked questions about the relationship between Democrats and Republicans, about special interest-financed campaign advertising and other issues. For fair-goers like that, Demmer can get more detailed about why he’s running for Congress and contrast his views with those of Walz.

“I always stress my belief that private sector job creation is what it’s all about,” he said.

Demmer talks about his view of the proper role of government, about how it needs to focus on core responsibilities such as transportation infrastructure and providing for public safety. He can talk about his opposition to tax increases and intrusive government regulation of the marketplace.

“By and large, that’s the philosophy I want them to understand,” he said.

Demmer also talks about his experience as a farmer for 18 years and later as a small business owner, that he knows about employing people, buying inventory, the impact of government regulations.

More than 330,000 people voted in the 1st District election two years ago, so the few dozen people he can meet at a fair aren’t going to swing the election. But Demmer said it’s one way, along with walking parades and attending community events, of connecting with the people of the district in their summertime element.

“This is the way we live our lives in the 1st District,” he said. “... You want to be a reflection, to be a reflection of the people you’re representing.”

And despite the sauna-like heat county fairs seem to attract, Demmer said he enjoys attending them. And like most fair-goers, there’s a food stand that often proves irresistible.

“I like ice cream,” he said. “I always say we have to go and support the Dairy Association.”

 

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