Hello!
My name is Keith Allen and I am your new State Representative for House District 19A. If you are unfamiliar, our district includes Faribault, Wanamingo, Kenyon, Morristown, Elysian, Janesville, Nerstrand, and surrounding townships.
My wife, Morgan, and I live in the rural Kenyon area with our two amazing children, ages 13 and 7. Morgan and I love the area, as it reminds me of where I grew up, and is a great place to raise a family. I have been working in the farming and agriculture business for more than two decades and have been involved in our community for years. I served on the MN Farm Bureau board of directors and Goodhue County Board of Adjustment, as a Dale Lutheran Church Board member, and I recently retired as the Cherry Grove Township Supervisor. I am also a member of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and National Rifle Association (NRA).
Minnesota is a great place to live and work, but too many families are feeling the strain of rising costs, often due to government inefficiencies. One of my top priorities is eliminating fraud and waste in government programs. Hardworking taxpayers deserve to know that their money is being used responsibly and not lost to fraud or abuse. When fraud goes unchecked, it costs taxpayers millions and steals valuable resources. I will work to strengthen oversight and increase accountability to ensure that state programs are efficient and transparent.
Another key focus is making Minnesota more affordable. Families are struggling to deal with high energy costs, rising property taxes, and inflation. We need to provide meaningful tax relief, reduce unnecessary government spending, and lower the cost of everyday living. Minnesota families deserve to keep more of what they work hard to earn.
We also need to reduce mandates that make it harder for businesses and our local schools to function effectively. Too often, state government decisions create unnecessary challenges for outstate communities like ours. It appears that greater Minnesota has often been forgotten in conversations over the past several years. Many people very clearly told me this summer that we need policies which offer flexibility, not more rigid mandates. I will push back against one-size-fits-all policies and advocate for solutions that reflect our needs.
Finally, we must better support our schools. I apprentice the very candid conversations I have had with parents school staff and superintendents. Children deserve access to a high-quality education, and that starts with ensuring schools have what they need. The recent closure announcement of the Wanamingo Elementary School is an example of this in our own backyard. We need to empower teachers, involve parents, and have strong fundamentals for our students. I will work to prioritize funding that goes directly to the classroom and advocate for policies that strengthen our education system.
I look forward to continued conversations as we work together to make Minnesota a better place to work and live. Thank you for your trust and continued support.
Representative Keith Allen
District 19A