| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| May 4, 2000 | Doug Champeau (651-296-4305) |
ST. PAUL -- State Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston) announced this week that he will run for re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 31B, representing the citizens of Fillmore, Mower, Olmsted and Winona Counties. The five-term representative was first elected to the House in 1991.
Davids emphasized his legislative efforts to lessen the tax burden on Minnesota families, to broaden economic opportunities for farmers and rural Minnesota, and to protect the right to life as some of the primary reasons he is seeking re-election.
"I worked to make sure agriculture and rural economic development needs are not forgotten in St. Paul," Davids said. "The needs of southeastern Minnesota and all of rural Minnesota should not have to take a back seat to metro area concerns."
Davids said he was proud of the accomplishments of the House under Republican leadership. The legislature passed the largest tax cut in Minnesota history including property tax relief for agricultural land, and passed a record K-12 education funding bill that for the first time in almost a decade, put more money on the formula so that funding was shared more equitably among all school districts, especially in rural Minnesota. And this session, the House led a successful effort to pass "Right to Know" abortion legislation. But the bill was vetoed by the governor.
"Overall, it has been a very productive two sessions, "Davids said. "But I take nothing for granted. I will be out knocking on doors, running like I'm a million votes behind."
Davids is chairman of the House Commerce Committee. He is also serves on the Agricultural Policy, Ethics, Jobs & Economic Development Finance, and Transportation Policy Committees. Davids is known for his high level of constituent service. Besides the hundreds of phone calls, letters and e-mails he answers every month, he has also sent out a district-wide questionnaires and does a "wrap-up" after each legislative session.
This session, House Speaker Steve Sviggum appointed Davids to serve on nine conference committees to work out differences between House and Senate versions of legislation. "Davids is one of the most capable and trustworthy negotiators in the House," Sviggum said. "No one does a better job of sorting out details. Many representatives on both sides of the aisle rely on him for advice."
Davids said there is still more he would like to accomplish to help working families, farmers and small businesses in his district and elsewhere in rural Minnesota full funding for ethanol, continued property tax reform and continuing attention to the special needs of rural education.
"But my primary goal is to continue to work diligently to insure that each and every person in District 31B has a voice in the House of Representatives," Davids said. "We have some imaginative and dedicated people in the House Republican caucus. I want to help them retain the majority so we can make real changes in 2001 and the years ahead."
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