Let's Give Everybody an Opportunity for Success

Hi, I'm Mark Wackerfuss and I'm running for the Minnesota Legislature.

My persona is one of rugged individualism and dedicated team work for success. I believe that elected officials should work on their communities’ behalf, not the other way around. Instead of just reactions to events as they occur, I offer solutions. In an age where cooperation should be paramount, we saw tens of thousands of folks in our communities having their livelihoods affected by the chasm in political discourse.

Long before economic times got bad, hard work stopped paying off for too many people. Few of the folks who contributed to the success of our economy actually benefitted from that success. Those at the very top received bonuses and grew wealthier, while everyone else struggled with the costs of food and fuel that were growing and paychecks that weren’t. Too many families found themselves racking up more and more debt just to keep up. I want to reduce this apparent disparity through equality, justice, and fairness for all.

   The contrast between my platform with that of Woodbury’s current legislator’s is clear. They  support billionaires, big oil and businesses that ship American jobs overseas, I will stand up for working families in Woodbury and in Minnesota to level the playing field so all of us have an opportunity to succeed. What’s at stake in this next election is nothing short of our ability to protect hard working Woodbury families who want to earn enough to raise a family, help their children succeed, build a modest savings, maintain a nice  home, and secure their fair retirement through their lives of hard work.

Coming from a family of veterans, I spent a portion of my childhood on an Air Force base in Washington as my father defended our country. We moved to Woodbury and saw Woodbury grow from a farming community to the vibrant city it is today. I graduated from Woodbury Senior High School and received my undergraduate degree in Minnesota. I’m proud to say that I am a longtime resident of Woodbury.

I am running as a DFL primary candidate because of the disparity I see today between the very fortunate folks and the others in our community.  

A disconnect exists today which is breaking of the basic bargain of linking pay to productivity. I believe that by taking a proactive approach, everyone can contribute to a recovery of jobs and our economy for everyone in Woodbury, Minnesota and our nation.

My number one goal is to put all Woodbury and Minnesota citizens in a position to succeed into the future through hard work and a dedication to what each individual sees as a contribution to growing our city and state into the best place in America.

I also believe that we should protect our natural resources and the environment, bring high ethical decision making back into government, advance our children into a prosperous future, and respect our elders and seniors with a strong Social Security and Medicare network for their supplemental care into the future. By taking proactive, instead of reactive approaches to these issues they can be secured for the future without taking drastic, reactive measures.

When hard working people are attacked by those who would support Big Oil, Billionaires and Big Business that ship our jobs overseas over the needs of the hard working folks of our community I will stand up and say “enough is enough." We have seen enough of some folk’s idea’s about “family values."

It should be clear to everyone that some people want to slash programs that help the middle class and rather protect others from paying “their fair share.”  

Working families and consumers should not have to continue paying the price for political ploys that have repeatedly undercut the enforcement of rules against Wall Street abuses and the rights of working people. I’m here to reaffirm my deep conviction that we are greater together, than we are on our own.

These lofty goals won’t be easy, but I am dedicated to ensuring that our local businesses and people have all the tools and opportunities available to prosper to once again get our community and state on the correct path towards prosperity for all.

Thank you for allowing me to seek state office where in many other countries this would not be possible. I hope that in 2012 you will vote for Mark Wackerfuss for Woodbury and start building bridges in the community, instead of driving wedges in our community as some would like to do. No single individual built America on their own. We built it together, so let’s get back to work for all the people, instead of a select few.

Here are my positions that I am most passionate about and an overview of my background, and go to markwackerfuss.com to learn more and e-mail me at vote@markwackerfuss.com :

• Supports our troops with a family of veterans.
• Academic & Community service USA Today/ All MN. Award.
• Longtime Woodbury resident and graduate from Woodbury Senior high.
• Degree in teaching supporting teachers, schools & kids.
• Promote and protect  natural resources and the environment.
• Uphold Medicare and Social Security for folks.
• Encourage all to contribute their fair share in taxes.
• Put Minnesotan’s back to work instead of just talking about it, with a strong labor/ union’s partnership.
• As  health counselor, advocate  health/wellness care for everyone.
• Experience of Summer Practice in Law at William Mitchell College of Law provided framework for understanding of law.
• Degree in ethics and work with the MN. Attorney General’s office of OLPR.
• Federal FEMA Certification & MN. HSEM Emergency Manager Certification.
• Board member for Washington County Public Health Emergency preparedness committee.

Thank You,

Mark A. Wackerfuss / Candidate for State Legislature.                            

02 / 04 / 2012