Letter to the editor: Representation was an honor

I would like to thank all of my volunteers, supporters, and constituents for allowing me the great honor of representing you these past two years in the Minnesota Senate.

I am proud of my service to you in these two short years. In 2010, new legislators inherited a $6.2 billion deficit, and left with a $1.2 billion surplus, without raising job-killing taxes. I came into office with Minnesota unemployment over 8 percent and left with unemployment under 5.8 percent. Two years ago many were facing home foreclosure, today construction crews are again building homes in our community. Store fronts are filled and companies are reinvesting in growing their labor force. Our economy is moving again, here in Woodbury and all over the state. As vice chair of the Jobs & Economic Growth Committee, I followed through on my commitment to you to be a fiscal conservative and to help families grow and prosper. 

I am equally proud of the campaign we ran this year. My campaign committed to and ran an entirely positive campaign with not one negative or misleading attack on my opponent. Politics can divide people and communities and campaigns should be about promoting ideas not focused on negativity that offends everyone. It was unfortunate that there was a record amount spent by outside independent expenditure groups running negative messages about both me and my opponent.

I proudly leave this seat to our new senator, honored and humbled that I was able to serve you, and gratified with the record accomplished. Thank you for electing me to serve and represent you and your family. Lynne and I have made many incredible friends throughout this process, we look forward to seeing you in the future. 

Ted Lillie – Woodbury

Lillie, a Republican, represents Senate District 56, which will become Senate District 53 in January

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, updates