Minnesota State Senate District 49

The 2010 candidates for Senate District 49 are Michelle Benson and Paul Meunier.  To learn more about these candidates, you can watch their debate.

Michelle Benson (R)
		About Me:  Michelle is a long-time resident of Ham Lake. She grew up on a family farm in west central Minnesota. She earned a chemistry degree from the College of St. Catherine and worked in the research labs at 3M and Pfizer. She married her husband, Craig, who served as an officer in the Naval Submarine force. Upon completion of Craig’s military service, they returned to Minnesota. Michelle earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and passed the CPA exam. She worked at Deloitte & Touche serving audit clients in health care, small business, and finance. When Deloitte opened their small business consulting group, Michelle joined the team to provide practical solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. After her children were born, she volunteered at Epiphany Church, Soderville baseball, and the local Cub Scouts. During that time she put her skills to use by helping on the board at The Way of the Shepherd Montessori. With a tight budget, Michelle worked with teachers and parents to meet the best educational needs for the children. Michelle was hired in 2007 to run operations for the Upper Midwest Security Alliance.
Important Issues:  Michelle brings vital private-sector and small business experience to the Minnesota Legislature. Small businesses are the primary source of new jobs. Michelle believes that we need to create a more business-friendly environment to encourage growth and hiring. As a CPA, she expects honestly in budgeting. It is time to balance our budget long-term and live within our means. Michelle’s experience with health care audits will be valuable as we try to understand the impact of nationalized healthcare in Minnesota. Ongoing and expanded mandates will cause our health and human services budget to escalate. We must balance empathy for the vulnerable with the need for fiscal responsibility. Technology and innovation will bring good paying jobs to Minnesota. Michelle has an undergraduate degree in chemistry and she looks forward to ensuring a climate that encourages innovation and growth.
Political Philosophy:  Michelle believes that small business and family budgets have already faced tough choices in this economy. Burdening them with tax increases is not the answer to our budget deficit. When looking for specific areas to make prudent cuts, we have to look at areas of inefficiencies and rethink the role of government spending. Minnesota’s Health and Human Services budget makes up 29% of the state budget. It is widely known that Minnesota’s generous welfare program attracts people from out of state. One simple, common sense approach would be to reduce incentive for out-of-state influx. As part of welfare reform, new residents would not receive benefits greater than those available in their prior state. Additional reforms include reducing EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card fraud by simply requiring photo I.D. in order to use it.
Paul Meunier (DFL)
		About me: Hello, I’m Paul Meunier, Mayor of Ham Lake. I was born in north Minneapolis and my parents worked hard to send me to a catholic school where the nuns taught me lessons of goodness. I graduated from North Branch High School and learned the ways and values of a small rural town. I married my wife Lisa in the same church my parents did 40 years later. Lisa is the most dedicated and hard working person I know. Our daughter is 11 and she has complicated medical issues but she is the most courageous person I know. I have learned more from her than anyone else. With a bachelor’s degree from the U of M and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from St. Mary’s College, I’ve worked in the private, non-profit and public sectors. My family includes republicans and democrats. We are a family of entrepreneurs, skilled laborers and corporate employees. I reject the notion of winner-take-all politics. I reject the current political environment of party politics all of the time. Government needs to get back to serving people. I fully intend to take these values to the state senate as your senator. I’m asking for your support.
Important Issues: The debate about government’s role is dictating everything in our political dialogue today and I believe the extreme perspectives outlined are dividing us. The role of government is a balancing act. Too much government does not promote personal responsibility and stifles innovation. Too little government rewards those willing to take advantage of the system and leaves behind less advantaged yet skilled and motivated individuals. Government’s role is to provide regulations and laws to settle disputes and unethical practices. It creates the infrastructure needed for businesses to succeed. It allows small businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive. It builds the transportation system which is used to deliver products and services. It builds the public schools and universities and pays the teachers so businesses have an educated work force ready to compete. We need leaders who know how to work together. It’s easy to divide us but hard to unite us. I unite.
Political Philosophy: As mayor of Ham Lake I have learned firsthand that all people really expect is A Fair Chance in life. It‘s the American spirit that nothing should keep you from your goals besides your own ability or personal desire to succeed. A Fair Chance promotes personal responsibility and benefits those that play fair and work hard. A Fair Chance encourages an economy that works for the majority of people by striking a balance in the need for government. A Fair Chance means that democracy works only with constituent input and government self-accountability. This is what I have practiced as mayor and this is what I believe. These are the values I will take to the State Senate if you elect me. I would appreciate your support.
Endorsements: