About
Hi, I’m Rick Blake, and I’m the DFL endorsed candidate running for the Minnesota House of Representatives. I was born and raised in Grand Rapids and my wife and I raised our 4 children here. I know how important our way of life is here in Northern Minnesota.
I decided to run for a number of reasons, but these three are, I think, the main ones:
First, we cannot continue to get nothing done. The last legislative session concluded with very little having been accomplished. Our communities were relying on what was in the tax bill that the legislators appeared to have agreed on, including a rewrite of the local government aid formula and additional local government aide dollars that would have helped our communities keep the lid on property taxes, but it went nowhere. Another example, replacing lead water supply lines is critical to the health of our children, it’s funding also went nowhere.
Second, many of the current legislators who were good at getting things done are leaving. Senator Carrie Ruud from Breezy Point, a Republican who represented her constituent’s interests even when it got her in hot water with her caucus. Representative Paul Marquart (DFL) from Dilworth, Rep. Rod Hamilton (R) from Mountain Lake, Sen. Tom Bakk (I) from Cook, and the late Sen. David Tomassoni (I) from Chisholm. A good example from the past would be our very own DFL Rep. Loren Solberg. These were all legislators who effectively represented their districts but were also very good at working together to get things done. None of these effective legislators will be in the legislature next year.
Third, and I must say it is by far mostly on the Republican side, local party conventions have nominated candidates with extremist views. This includes the Republicans in the district I am running in, district 6A.
In summary, first, we can’t continue to get nothing done. Second, we are losing a boatload of effective legislators, and third, we are nominating extremists who will find it difficult to work effectively with others.
We need effective representation in St. Paul that gets things done for us here in northern Minnesota. My life experience has prepared me for this role. I have over 30 years’ experience working with people in the paper, mining and construction industries and I know how to get things done. I’m a small business owner. I have worked for years in public service, both in elected office and as a
volunteer. I’ve been on the Grand Rapids City Council and various associated boards and commissions
for 7 years now. I have a proven track record of getting things done, on a non-partisan basis,
because I know how to listen to different viewpoints, and find common ground.
