I am a lifelong resident of Minnesota.

I was born and raised in the cities and townships of Stillwater and Grant. I was the eldest of five children in a family that gradually grew to nine when my cousins were fostered by my parents. I attended the Stillwater area public school system and graduated from Stillwater Senior High School.

During and immediately after high school I volunteered at my church affiliated summer camp, worked a variety of entry level jobs and attended different post secondary institutions while I tried to decide what I wanted to do with my life. I had difficulty seeing the value of spending a lot of money that I didn’t have getting an education that I wasn’t really interested in.

I decided to enlist in the US Navy as an engineer. I became an engineman; operating, maintaining and repairing internal combustion engines. This also allowed me experience with other equipment in use throughout ships such as propulsion, steering, galley, laundry and a host of others. After basic and advanced training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois, I was assigned to a commissioning crew for a new Mine Countermeasures ship under construction in Wisconsin. I was able to attend more advanced training in the Norfolk Virginia area while awaiting the ships completion. After commissioning, testing of and training on the new ship, we sailed for the Persian Gulf and Kuwait to clear mines placed by Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.

After discharge from the Navy, I searched for a career that would allow me to use my experience. I worked for short times as an apartment caretaker, steam plant operator and Heavy equipment mechanic before ending up as an Emergency Management Engineer at a semiconductor manufacturing facility. I spent the next 20 years designing life safety systems, training emergency teams and assisting with expansion plans. I worked extensively with outside governmental and regulatory agencies.

Wanting to get out of the cubicle and see more of our great country, I decided that driving truck would allow me a change while still contributing to our country. I have visited every one of the lower 48 states, and 5 Canadian provinces. After a decade on the road, I retired from driving in 2024.

I am married with two children and three grandchildren. Like most, we have had to deal with difficult circumstances both personal and financial. At times, I have needed to work two jobs to make ends meet for my family. We have dealt with illness and disability. My family has always been there to help each other through our trials.

I have met many hard working people along the way and found that most people want the same things. They want their families and themselves to be safe and healthy. They want fair compensation for the work that they do and for the government to take as little as possible of it. They don’t want handouts, but they do wanted to be treated respectfully in whatever they are doing. They want to peacefully live their lives as best they can and according to their beliefs.

I have also realized that my heroes have changed. Whereas I used to look up to great inventors and courageous leaders, as I have gotten older and hopefully wiser I find myself very thankful for the people that just work to take care of their families and their customers. The attendant that makes sure I have a clean shower at the truckstop after a long day. The freight handler that efficiently loads or unloads my truck. The essential workers that put themselves at risk everyday during the pandemic to make sure that everyone had what they needed. The engineers, technicians, tradesmen and operators that design, build and maintain all the things that make our lives a little better today than yesterday. They allowed me to keep going, moving essential goods to Minnesota families.

Also, my dad, who was always there for anyone that needed him and never asked for anything in return.

I don’t know most of their names. There are so many people that their faces fade into the past. They don’t do it for fame or fortune. They do it because it’s the right thing to do. These are the people I dedicate my campaign to.