Sauter seeks District 23 Senate seat

Teaching experience forms his opinions on funding for education

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

Don Sauter's personal experiences have led to his run for the State Senate.

As an educator, he witnessed tight budgets affect his classroom. As a father and husband, he experienced firsthand the health care system as he watched his wife die from leukemia last September.

"It brought to light some of the major problems in the health care industry," he said.

While Sauter speaks highly of doctors' efforts to save his wife, Lynn, his voice is filled with disdain when he mentions high medical bills that included $5 syringes and $45 bags of saline solution.

He said the state has to control these medical costs.

"It's not an easy solution, but there is a solution out there," he said.

Sauter, who is endorsed by the DFL Party, is running against incumbent Dennis Frederickson (R- New Ulm) in District 23. The district inluces portions of Redwood, Brown, Sibley, McLeod and Nicollet counties.

Sauter, 46, a resident of Arlington, has a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in education from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He taught high school science for much of the past 24 years. He recently took a leave from his job at Sibley East High School to work for a conservation organization.

"I know what it is to teach without supplies in the classroom," he said. "I know what it is to teach with old textbooks."

The solution, Sauter believes, is to increase the state portion that goes into the school system.

"We've seen a drastic decrease in funding," Sauter said. "Schools are in desperate need for someone to speak up for rural areas."

Sauter said the state has wasted millions of dollars in an attempt to implement the Profile of Learning standardized tests. Sauter said that money would have been better spent on classroom equipment or used for busing. He believes the Profile must be turned over to local school board control for the system to work.

Gov. Jesse Ventura has proposed the state should pay 100 percent of school funding. Property taxes would not fund the basic school formula, under Ventura's plan.

Sauter said Ventura's plan is not complete. Sauter does not believe the plan addresses the differences between metro and rural funding, nor does it explain what would all be covered by the state. He also wonders what taxes would be increased to make up for removing property taxes from the equation.

"I do agree with his sentiments to find a way to fund schools differently," Sauter added, but this plan is not polished.

The Legislature will likely decide this year if the legal limit for driving drunk will stay at .10 blood alcohol content, or if it will drop to .08. Sauter said he supports dropping the level, noting that it will make roads safer.

Sauter opposes Ventura's proposals to extend state benefits to gay couples. He questions if the state would then extend benefits to any heterosexual couple that is living together, and noted that the proposal could become quite costly.

"You're just opening a can of worms," he said.

The Legislature also is expected to pass new data privacy legislation next session. Sauter said people should have the right to keep their identities, credit card numbers and other personal information private.

"If you want the information out, you should be the one to give it out," Sauter said. "The privacy issue is a big one, and it will be worse as the Internet develops."

Sauter also promises to be an advocate of improving rural road systems and favors limited access, such as using metal detectors, at the state Capitol.

The Legislature made a wise decision each of the past sessions when it did not return the entire surplus, Sauter contends.

"If we give all the surplus back and the economy falters, are we going to go back to the the taxpayers and ask for an increase?" he asked. "I don't want to do that."

Sauter said District 23 residents should elect him instead of incumbent Dennis Frederickson (R-New Ulm).

"I will speak up and support our area," Sauter said. "I will add new energy."