With the state budget bleeding billions and the economy still as shaky as the Swinging Bridge at Jay Cooke State Park, the Iron Range and Northeastern Minnesota needs a rep in a position of power in St. Paul.
Voters in House District 5B can do the region a favor Nov. 2 by re-electing Tony Sertich, long considered a rising political star and, for the last four years, the House majority leader, a position of influence that gives the Northland critical, long-needed legislative clout.
"These are very important times in our state's history," Sertich said last month during a News Tribune Opinion page forum with Iron Range candidates. "When you see the downturn in the economy -- not just in Northeastern Minnesota and not just in our state, but in the country -- we really need great leaders to step forward and to make good decisions for the state of Minnesota."
Sertich certainly fills the need, even if he wasn't talking just about himself. He was humbly stressing the importance of a strong legislative team of Northland representatives and senators.
His own record, written over five terms and during 10 years in the House, includes key roles in appropriating state money to study mesothelioma cancer cases, to expand the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and to make an Iron Range steel plant a reality. Sertich was the chief author of bills to improve streets, storm sewers, the Chisholm-Hibbing Airport, the Hibbing Fire Station, a business park in Floodwoo, and other public amenities across the Iron Range.
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His focus this legislative session, he said, will be the economy and solving the state's massive budget deficit.
"While it's easy to blame state government, we know this is an international and global issue," he said. "We need to put in perspective how large this budget deficit is. It could be upwards of 20 percent of the entire state budget. So when people talk about either raising taxes enough to cover it or cutting spending enough, I don't think you can get there (either way). We've done a good job of prioritizing our state budget."
About 80 percent of the state budget goes to education, health care and Local Government Aid, Sertich pointed out.
"So when you're looking at a
20 percent deficit, we could eliminate everything else we're doing and still not get there," he said. "Another way of looking at it: You could lay off every single state employee and you still couldn't balance the deficit.
"I would argue for a balanced approach; some cuts, some revenue," he said. "Leadership in these difficult issues is absolutely necessary."
And absolutely why voters in House District 5B can do the rest of Northeastern Minnesota a favor by sending Sertich back to St. Paul.
