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Governor

RogueOn Minnesota endorses Tom Emmer for Governor.

Tom Emmer, age 49, is a resident of Delano, Minnesota. He has been married to his wife Jacqueline for 24 years, and they are the proud parents of seven children: Tripp, Jack, Bobby, Katie, Joey, Billy, and Johnny. The Emmer family also has a German Wirehair dog named Buzz Lightyear.

Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1961 to Tom and Patsy Emmer, Tom was raised in Edina, Minnesota as a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, attended Our Lady of Grace Catholic Grade School, and graduated from St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

Tom received his Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law in 1988 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Alaska-Fairbanks in 1984.

Tom played hockey at Boston College, in the USHL, and at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks with then Assistant Coach Don Lucia.

Tom is active in the community as a member of the Delano Sportsman’s Club, is a Past President of the Delano Area Sports Arena, and is Vice-President of Minnesota Hockey District 5. Tom is also a member of the Delano Catholic Community and the Knights of Columbus.

Professionally, Tom has represented businesses, local governments, and individuals for almost twenty years. Tom has the reputation as a fair and honest trial lawyer amongst his peers. He began his career representing cities and counties through the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust and the League of Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust. He defended police officers against excessive force claims. He represented volunteer fire-fighters, city and county inspectors, and handled a variety of land use issues. Municipalities served include: City of Fairmont, City of Champlin, City of Saint Louis Park, City of Roseville, City of Dayton, Blue Earth County, Scott County, and City of Belle Plaine.

Tom has been certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the Minnesota Bar Association. He is licensed to practice law in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Minnesota Law and Politics Magazine has repeatedly named Tom Emmer a “Minnesota Super Lawyer”. Only the top five percent of all Minnesota lawyers are granted this honor as voted upon by their peers. Tom has authored articles and spoken on a range of issues including the Minnesota Data Practices Act and numerous aspects of insurance defense and subrogation.

From 1994–2004, Tom served as a member of the Independence and Delano City Councils. He worked with the Lake Sarah/Pioneer Creek Watershed District and various Volunteer Fire Departments in Loretto and surrounding communities. Tom was involved in the building of the new Police Department and City Hall in the City of Independence.

Tom Emmer was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004 and re-elected by an overwhelming majority in 2006 and 2008. He represents House District 19B which includes: Otsego, Otsego Township, Albertville, Saint Michael, Rockford Township, Rockford, Franklin Township, Delano, Woodland Township, Montrose, Waverly, and Victor Township.

Representative Emmer has served on the following legislative committees: Regulated Industries, Public Safety/Civil Law and Elections (chair, Data Practices Subcommittee), Ethics (co-chair), and Health Policy and Finance, Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections, and the Criminal Records Relief Subcommittee. Tom authored a prodigious docket of legislation as a freshman representative including the Corporations Act, truancy reform, sweeping health care reforms, stringent penalties, and alternative treatment options for the worst of the worst convicted sex offenders. Tom also served regularly at the request of the Speaker of The House as Speaker Pro Tem.

As governor, Tom will continue to fight for our conservative values just as he has done in the House:

Tom has been a consistent vote and voice against tax increases.

Tom has led the fight for individual rights and state sovereignty.

  • Authored the Health Care Freedom Act (HF 171) which would allow Minnesota to opt-out of “ObamaCare”.
  • Authored the Firearms Freedom Act (HF 2376) which protects Minnesotans rights against intrusive federal regulations.

Tom has stood for common-sense energy policies.

  • He was one of ten legislators and the ONLY front-runner for governor to take a stand against Minnesota’s version of Cap and Trade (SF 4, 2007).

Tom has been a consistent vote for protecting life and traditional marriage.

Tom’s Top Issues

Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunities

  • Put Minnesotans back to work
  • Restructure government
  • Reduce spending
  • Stimulate the growth of business through fewer government mandates and lower taxes
  • Eliminate unnecessary and excessive regulations

Education

  • Put parents back in charge of their children’s education
  • Equalize funding: a child is a child
  • Take back control of our schools from Washington bureaucrats

Health Care

  • Provide tax incentives to individuals
  • Eliminate mandates
  • Allow shopping for health care coverage across state lines
  • Protect our right to pick our doctors who determine the best treatment

Agriculture

  • Support the family farm
  • Reduce regulatory burdens faced by farmers
  • Ensure the future of the agricultural industry by reducing taxes and mandates

Transportation

  • Prioritize projects
  • Promote investments in transportation that make economic sense

Environment and Energy

  • Promote good stewardship
  • Protect hunting and fishing traditions
  • End the moratorium on developing nuclear power plants
  • Invest in clean coal technologies
  • Make use of ALL resources

States Rights

  • Revitalize a healthy union by recognizing the need for strong state’s rights and sovereignty

Election Integrity

  • Require Photo ID for voting
  • Eliminate vouching
  • Reform absentee voting

For more information, visit Tom’s campaign website Emmer for Governor or his Facebook page.