On Thursday May 20, 2010 the campaign season officially began when I filed for office.  I am proud and honored to be seeking another two year term for the MN House from District 27B.  As has been reported in the Austin Post Bulletin and the Austin Daily Herald I want to continue  the work we have begun to do for the district.  I will continue to seek bonding dollars for flood mitigation and want to be a part of the serious discussion we will have to balance the state budget in 2011-2013, especially regarding education and most specifically Higher Ed.  I look forward to spending time meeting with constituents this summer and fall.

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Hello. I’m Jeanne Poppe, state representative for District 27B. I am seeking my third term in the MN House.

There is certainly concern on the minds of voters this election cycle. The instability of the national economy has shaken the solid foundation we thought we had. People throughout our district are wondering how we will recover.

Solving the national economic crisis must be handled by our federal leaders. But as state leaders we will have our own economic issues to deal with. Minnesota’s anticipated $2 to $4 billion budget deficit makes it critical for the legislature and the Governor to work together to serve the state. The answers will not come quickly nor easily.

In Minnesota we have great needs and great expectations. We expect our schools to be top notch, our health care system first rate, our roads safe and reliable, and our colleges affordable. As we face this budget shortfall, finding the right balance and the right solutions will require having experienced and effective leaders. When the Minnesota legislature gathers in January we will need to make tough choices and hard decisions. Critical thinking and creative problem solving along with strong communication skills will be required to consider the proposed solutions and to share them with the residents of District 27B.

For the past four years I have served our District. I have advocated for our needs and have provided residents with many opportunities to share their concerns. The 2009 legislative session will be challenging. I believe it is important to understand the legislative process and to consider all views when making difficult decisions. I will continue to work on your behalf and to make responsible decisions.

I ask for your support and your vote on November 4th.

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#1 (re-elect Poppe).
Jeanne Poppe has been our state representative for the past four years. She has listened to our needs and been a strong voice in the MN House. Her leadership has led to millions of dollars being directed to our district to address our flooding problem and solve our sewage treatment concerns. Jeanne Poppe has served us well and it is important to keep her working for us in St Paul. She is a common sense legislator with a reputation for listening and leading. On November 4 let’s re-elect Jeanne Poppe, State representative.
Thanks to the POPPE for the People committee for paying for this ad.

#2 (education).
As good as Minnesota’s schools are, tight budgets and inequitable funding are a growing concern. Classrooms cost money to maintain – textbooks and computer equipment get outdated in a hurry. Good teachers are getting harder to find and even harder to hold on to. Jeanne Poppe believes the investments we make in our students today will pay back dividends to our communities for years to come. Jeanne Poppe has a record for being an advocate for our kids and our schools. Vote to re-elect State Representative Jeanne Poppe.
Thanks to the Poppe for the People campaign committee for paying for this ad.

#3 (strong voice).
Representative Jeanne Poppe has been a strong voice for our communities at the State Capital. As co-chair of the I-90 bi-partisan group of southern MN legislators she demonstrates the importance of finding common ground to successfully solve our problems. Representative Poppe has done a great job on our behalf. On November 4th let’s send her back to St Paul. Vote for responsible leadership, vote for Jeanne Poppe. This ad is paid for by the POPPE for the People campaign committee.

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#1 (Poppe for the People).
This is Jeanne Poppe, your state representative. I’d appreciate your vote on November 4th. With your support, I will continue to work on legislation important to our district. Over the past four years I have fought to reduce the cost of college, to increase health care access and affordability and to protect the environment. There’s no doubt the times ahead will be challenging. I ask for your support to return to St Paul and keep fighting to keep our priorities heading in the right direction.
Vote Jeanne Poppe on November 4th. Paid for by Poppe for the People committee.

#2. Accountability, Balance, Common Sense. This is Jeanne Poppe and during the past four years of my service in the state legislature I have used these three words as guiding principles. With the financial crisis facing our country and Minnesota’s own budget deficit looming, it will be critical to continue to use Accountability, Balance and Common Sense in making decisions. I have appreciated your support in the past and ask for your vote on November 4.
Vote for Jeanne Poppe. This ad was paid for by the POPPE for the People committee.

#3 (Agriculture).
Hello this is Jeanne Poppe. I grew up on a family farm in southern MN within 20 miles of where my dad grew up on his family farm. As the state legislator for District 27B, I understand how important agriculture is to our local economy and the strength of the family farms in our district. I am very pleased to have been given endorsement by the MN Farmers Union and MN Farm Bureau. Along with the support of area farmers, I ask for your support on November 4.
Vote Jeanne Poppe for state representative on November 4. This ad was paid for by the POPPE for the People committee.

#4. This is Jeanne Poppe, state representative. As vice-chair of the MN House committee on higher education I have listened to college students regarding their concerns with the cost of college. As a college counselor I have talked with many students and parents who are concerned about the increasing financial burden of higher education. And as a parent of college students I am personally very aware of the rising cost of tuition. I will continue to work on behalf of college students and their families to keep college affordable and opportunities available.
Vote for Jeanne Poppe November 4. Paid for by the POPPE for the People committee.

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What an exciting weekend in Austin, MN!   Yesterday I attended the grand opening celebration for the Hormel Institute.  After its very humble beginnings 66 years ago in the horse stable of the Jay Hormel family, the Institute has become recognized world-wide for its cancer prevention research.  The dedication and grand opening on Friday October 3 was an exceptionally touching event with personal stories from families of cancer stricken victims along with cancer survivors who hold out hope a cure will be found. Some speakers made predictions that within 8 – 20 years we will have cures for many forms of cancer.

I commend Dr Zigang Dong and Dr Ann Bode for their hard work and dedication in highlighting this hidden gem in Austin.  They have transformed a quiet non-descript building into a vibrant visible and easily identifiable research Institute.  The community of Austin can be very proud they provided assistance in paying for this expansion.  It is rare these days to have a building built with no debt.  The collaboration with Mayo Clinic and University of MN makes it a wonderful public, private, education, medical project. Gail Dennison the public relations director of the Hormel Institute carried off a wonderful dedication.  

Of all the speakers one of the most personal and touching was the story by former president and CEO of Hormel Foods Company and now chair of the Hormel Foundation board, Richard L Knowlton, as he described growing up by the railroad tracks two blocks from the building site of the Hormel Institute.  As a young child he remembers walking to the farm to get (unpasteurized) milk for his family which included 7 siblings living in a five room house.

Another very exciting project sponsored by the Hormel Foundation under the guidance of Richard L Knowlton is the renovation of the science labs and math classrooms on the third floor of the Austin High School.  Dedication of this renovation project was held on Saturday October 4th.  Also the foundation provided funding for 93 Austin public and private school teachers to receive advanced education including master’s degrees in science and math.  What a wonderful opportunity for all Austin school children and faculty members.  Austin is clearly in the fore-front of educational opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).  

These two projects totaled millions of dollars of investment.  We are fortunate to have home-grown leaders who understand how their philanthropy will benefit our region.  These visionaries have put Austin very clearly and firmly on the global map.

Tags: Austin, Austin schools, Dr Ann Bode, Dr Zigang Dong, Gail Dennison, Richard L Knowlton, Rural Economic Development, Science // Add Comment »

On September 4th I attended a meeting in Blooming Prairie with identified leaders in our region.  Southern MN Initiative Foundation gathered leaders from Mower, Steele and Freeborn Counties to discuss rural economic development and how to strengthen our region.  It is a simple yet sometimes controversial approach to rural economic development.  The goal is to work as a region to identify our strengths and challenges and then make adjustments and plans.  Even though this meeting had business, industry, political, educational, and health care leaders from three counties, it was the first of many meetings to be held in southern MN.  We won’t be limited or defined by just what we have to offer within boundaries of our three counties, but will be considering all the southern and southwestern counties of Minnesota.  We also are not just looking at competing against Iowa, Wisconsin or South Dakota but also how we as a region might compete against France, Germany or India.  As a southern MN representative I am committed to finding ways to build our rural economies and keep our youth in our cities and on our farms and starting new businesses.  I am looking forward to future meetings.  In a related group, Senator Dan Sparks and I have already communicated about our continued support of and leadership in the I-90 Coalition the bipartisan, bicameral southern MN legislators.

Tags: Austin, Fillmore County Cities, Mower County Cities, Rural Economic Development // Add Comment »

Recently I received notification of endorsement of two farm organizations.  MN Farmers Union and MN Farm Bureau each completed a screening process and in each case I received the endorsement.  The Mn Farmers Union also gave me the 2007-2008 Farm and Rural Legislative Award.  These endorsements are very important to me.  

 I had the opportunity to attend both the Fillmore County and the Mower County Farm Bureau banquets. Attending these banquets are always educational and fun.  And the food is always great!   MN Farm Bureau is 90 years strong this year and the farmers involved with this grass roots organization are critical to the future success of our ag-based economy.  I was impressed with the Fillmore and Mower Counties’ FB involvement in the Fencing for Flooded Farmers program they helped coordinate and activate along with Houston County FB.  I am very familiar with the devastation of the flooded areas in southeastern MN and it was heartwarming to know fellow farmers and businesses came to the assistance of other farmers.

Tags: Agriculture, Fillmore County Cities, Mower County Cities // Add Comment »

Part of the responsibility of being a state representative is connecting with constituents by phone, email, newsletters and in person.  Communication and dialogue are important when we are in session but it must continue throughout the entire year to sustain the relationship between representative and constituent. Representing people in the Minnesota House is an awesome and exhilirating experience.  Knowing what is on the minds of people in District 27B helps me to be a better advocate and stronger voice for you.  So keep those comments and suggestions coming!

Since the 2008 session concluded in mid- May, I have had meetings with Mower county commissioners, Austin city council members, and Rural Electric Association board members.  Most importantly, I have distributed my legislative report by knocking on doors throughout the district.  Throughout August, September and October I will continue knocking on doors and meeting neighbors on sidewalks throughout the district.   These opportunities for dialogue on the issues of concern for our region are useful and important.  If you have a suggestion for future legislation or a comment on what we have done in the past, please email me at jeannepoppe@hotmail.com or call 507-438-7857.  I look forward to keeping the lines of communication open!

Tags: Austin, Fillmore County Cities, Mower County Cities // Add Comment »