Oakdale man to challenge for Senate District 53 endorsement

An Oakdale man is making the Democratic endorsement for Senate District 53 a contest.

John Becker, a musical composer who worked for more than 21 years as a publishing firm editor, announced late Monday that he will seek the DFL endorsement for the seat. The new Senate District 53 seat includes all of Woodbury, Landfall and portions of Maplewood and Oakdale.

“The citizens in the 53rd District have not been adequately represented in the

Legislature the past two years,” Becker said in a new release. “I plan to change that. I will listen to as many voters as I can and use my experience as a community builder and problem

solver to fix what’s wrong at the Capitol.”

Becker’s announcement now makes the endorsement a contested race. Woodbury resident Susan Kent last week announced her intention to seek the Senate District 53 endorsement.

The endorsing convention will be Saturday at Tartan High School.

Becker served for 13 years as music director at Guardian Angels Church. According to the release, he is “well regarded as a composer,” with published works being used internationally.

The release states that he was editor of state laws at West Publishing – now Thomson Reuters – for more than two decades. He was also once a contestant on “Jeopardy!”

He is married to Karen. The couple has three grown children.

“I like my life; the American Dream works for me,” Becker states. “But life is hard for many. Government does not exist to make people like me more comfortable; it exists to make a good life possible for everyone.

“I will look out for the next generation by restoring badly needed funds for education at all levels. I will also work to meet the needs of vulnerable people who need others to speak for them. And I will do what I can to improve the divisive atmosphere at the capitol. Let’s work together for a change.”

Tags: news, elections, woodbury