Echo Press Editorial - Our choice for Senate District 11: Bill Ingebrigtsen

• Bill Ingebrigtsen

Bill Ingebrigtsen

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Senate District 11 needs a strong, proven voice to guide rural Minnesota in the challenging economy ahead and Republican Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, is best suited to provide that leadership.

Ingebrigtsen, who served as Douglas County sheriff for 16 years before beginning his first term in the Senate in 2007, has provided solid leadership in the committees he’s been appointed to, particularly in environmental and natural resources. He also serves on the 12-member Lessard Outdoor Heritage Council – a panel that recommends how to spend a portion of the proceeds from Minnesota’s sales tax.

Ingebrigtsen has stated repeatedly that rural cities and counties should continue to receive their promised aid, which is allocated by the Legislature and is a lifeline for smaller cities, such as Alexandria. Without adequate local government aid for essential services, cities will be forced to once again raise property taxes, which no one should want at a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet. Ingebrigtsen makes the valid point that the state has enough revenue coming in; it’s just a matter of prioritizing how the money is spent.

Ingebrigtsen’s work on behalf of small cities earned him the League of Minnesota Cities’ 2010 Legislator of Distinction Award. He was credited for bringing a balanced and well-informed perspective to the debate on controlled-substance forfeiture and seizure legislation, and to the issue of preserving the appropriate use of local land use authority.

Ingebrigtsen has proven to be an approachable public servant who is accessible to his constituency while keeping close tabs on what’s happening in his district and at the Legislature.

We don’t agree with all of Ingebrigtsen’s positions and we wish he’d be more of a consensus builder instead of continually foisting blame on the other political party, as he’s done at recent political forums. However, once the session begins, we’re confident that Ingebrigtsen will tone down the political rhetoric and work on the things that he knows matter most in the district – helping local governments, protecting and creating jobs, energizing education, supporting small businesses and preserving the quality of our lakes and outdoors.

Ingebrigtsen’s opponent, Jim Thoreen, DFL-endorsed, Morris, brings an impressive background in county government to the race (30 years of service as Beltrami County auditor and as county coordinator in three other counties). He appears to be a thoughtful candidate who would take a methodical approach to trimming the budget.

But Ingebrigtsen, having already served with distinction in the Senate, clearly deserves another term. He’s a proven leader and the best fit for District 11.

Tags: opinion, editorials, politics, ingebrigtsen