Republican Governor candidate Scott Jensen and Lt. Governor candidate Matt Birk began another of their recent “Heal Minnesota” Plane Tours across many cities of Minnesota today. The first stop on Lt. Governor Birk’s trip today was at the Crookston Municipal Airport for a meet and greet with the city’s residents. Kirk was joined by his campaign team and was welcomed by Minnesota State District 1B Representative Deb Kiel and North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer.
We spoke with Lt. Governor Birk to learn a bit more about his and Jensen’s plans to travel around the state and the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 8. “Scott and I are barnstorming the state in the last couple of weeks leading up to the election. Obviously, it’s great to be out here and talk to and meet people, but ultimately, we’re campaigning because we want people’s support, and we want to share our message and our vision for the state,” Lt. Governor candidate Matt Birk explained. “But also, if we win, we have a job to do, and if you’re the Governor and Lt. Governor, you represent all Minnesotans, not just those in the metro area. So, this is invaluable for Scott and me to go out and talk to people and learn what the issues are in Crookston and what they’re concerned about. So, when we are in office, we’re there to do the will of the people, all of the people, so we’re not just here to ask for people’s votes, but spending time out here will serve Scott and me well once we’re in office.” Before the Governor and Lt. Governor candidates began their trips to northwest Minnesota today, they spent the weekend visiting six cities with their wives. They began in Duluth and ended in Rochester to meet with the state’s grassroots. “This whole campaign is built on the people. It’s a true grassroots movement. We have over 43,000 individual donors. We don’t have these billionaires backing us. This is just the people of Minnesota deciding a change needs to be made,” Lt. Governor candidate Matt Birk explained. “That’s not Democrat or Republican. We just need good government. We need people who are going to get into office and are there to serve the people, not to put their party before the people.”
With the election on the horizon for the Governor’s seat and many local and nationwide government seats, Lt. Governor candidate Birk told us a bit more about his thoughts on the election and why he and Scott Jenson were looking to fill the seats. “I think ultimately, Minnesota can do better, and we can do better. We have fallen, we’re a high crime state, our schools are not anywhere near what they used to be, and our economy is very sluggish, whether you’re talking about in the metro area or outside it. There’s so much potential that is untapped in Minnesota, and Scott and I are two try-hard guys. We’ve had a moderate amount of success in other areas, but I think we both have the mindset of, “Why wouldn’t you try to be the very best in everything you do? Why can’t Minnesota be the best place to start and grow a business? Or the best place to raise a family?” Birk explained. “Ultimately, that’s our vision for Minnesota, and I believe that we can get there because I believe in Minnesota. We have some very special people, and I think that there is a moral compass, a character, a work ethic, and respect for one another that’s just part of being a Minnesotan. So, I truly do think that we can be the best, and we’re falling woefully short right now.” State District 1B Representative Deb Kiel was thrilled to welcome Lt. Governor Birk to the city to let the public meet the candidate. “I am thrilled that when a candidate comes up to Crookston because we’re not often visited, and we want them to see what this is like,” Representative Deb Kiel explained. “With the topography and not to mention the benefits of living up here and anytime a candidate or an officer comes up here, it’s really important for us to be able to see those people come up to the district so we can share what is important about rural Minnesota and District 1.”
Matt Birk, Representative Deb Kiel, and North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer then spoke a few words to the public that had come to the airport for the meet and greet. Birk answered a few of their questions about plans for their campaign and if they won office. After the questions, Birk and his team left on a plane for another meet and greet they were holding in Fergus Falls at 2:00 p.m. and will leave for another in Bemidji at 3:45 p.m. Meanwhile, Scott Johnson had visited Winona and Worthington earlier in the day and would later make stops for other meet and greets at Grand Rapids at 3:00 p.m. and Brainerd at 4:45 p.m.
Pictures of Birk, Kiel, and the event can be seen below-
