Janezich brings tour to New Ulm

Confident DFL candidate

emphasizes importance of rural issues

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- With less than a week left before the state primary election, DFL-endorsed Senate candidate Jerry Janezich of Chisholm stopped in New Ulm Wednesday during a tour of the state.

Janezich, who is hoping to unseat Republican Rod Grams Nov. 7, calls his whirlwind tour "We the People."

While other candidates are using television and radio advertisements, Janezich is taking his campaign to the people. He calls himself "a living billboard."

His goals are to guarantee access to education funding at all levels, support for veterans, and fairness in Medicare reimbursement.

"I like New Ulm," he said on his third visit to the city during the campaign. "This is a really nice town with some really good people."

Minnesota voters should pay attention because other DFL candidates have a tendency to overspend without getting to the real issues that are important to the state, he said.

"Representing people at the federal level is about touching them," he said. "I'm going to win this thing. I am the only candidate who can beat Rod Grams."

In order to understand the issues, candidates need to spend time in rural Minnesota, because that is where the votes are that matter. Minnesota is the same state that put Rod Grams, Paul Wellstone and Jesse Ventura in office, he said.

"When we have less farms, we have less families, which equals less children in our schools and less businesses in our communities," he said. "Rural issues are important, and it takes someone who has lived in a rural area to understand that."

People tend to vote for candidates they have met ­ not just people they have seen on television, which is why Janezich values personal contact with potential voters, he said.

He plans to visit 40 outstate communities in the next five days to meet with the people and discuss important issues.

"While traveling, we have been to towns along the major roads," he said. "My goal is to get off the freeway and touch those towns other candidates don't visit. I don't know how to do it any other way. People will vote for someone who is like them. We don't another millionaire in Congress."

Prior to campaigning for the Senate, Janezich rarely traveled around the state; however, he enjoys his time on the campaign trail.

"It is surprising to me how diverse we are here in Minnesota," Janezich said. "I understand why we have different issues when we go to the floor. It is amazing how we put it all together to make it work."

Janezich, 50, and his wife Patty have three children and three grandchildren. He is a graduate of Chisholm High School, Hibbing Junior College and St. Cloud State University. He is part owner of Jerry's Bar and Lounge in Chisholm.

He has served six years as a St. Louis County commissioner, four years as a state representative, and is second-term state senator.