Candidate's viewpoint: Ted Lillie

Two years ago, the people of Woodbury elected me to the Minnesota Senate because there was work to be done in our state. Minnesota’s economic engine had derailed. At our kitchen tables and in our places of work there was an outcry to get back on track. When I was first elected, Minnesota’s unemployment rate was 7.1 percent, the state was facing a $6.2 billion deficit and companies such as Delta Airlines were moving jobs to other states.

Minnesota’s economic climate was at a rocky point; unemployment, foreclosures and business failures were at record levels. Thus, when you elected me to serve as your senator, I vowed to balance the budget and open Minnesota for business. And in the past two years, our state began to turn the corner back towards success.

Over the past two years pro-jobs progress was made at the state Capitol, but there is still so much more we can do to improve our jobs climate. That is why I have been busy meeting with local civic and business leaders. I am committed to take as much information from both you and job creators in our community back to the Capitol in order to make choices which best serve all of us.

If Minnesota wants to continue to grow and attract job creating businesses, we need to remain competitive with our neighboring states. We must provide prospective businesses with the assurance that Minnesota has solid economic stability and can maintain financially viable conditions that are competitive in the marketplace.

I believe Minnesota is on the path to this competitive success. Unemployment has stabilized at 5.9 percent, well below the national average of 8.1 percent. The state budget has improved to a $1.2 billion surplus. Many store fronts are filled with successful businesses again. There are construction workers building new homes in Woodbury. Just this past month, 3M announced plans to build a state-of-the-art research facility right here at its Maplewood campus. This is great news. It shows that our homegrown businesses once again have the confidence to invest in job creation in Minnesota. Let's acknowledge that renewed trust in our state by continuing to provide economic stability so Minnesota families and businesses can continue to prosper.

It has been an honor to serve as your state senator. I ask for your continued support this November as I work towards progress for all Minnesotans.

Lillie is the Republican incumbent running for Senate District 53

Tags: opinion, viewpoint, elections