Thompson cites knowledge of Constitution as qualification

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- For Ben Thompson, who is challenging the Ward 2 incumbent, the U.S. Constitution provides the answer for communities searching for ways to raise more money.

"The Constitution makes it clear that each level of government should be autonomous and independent of the others. They need to cooperate with each other, but they need to be totally independent as far as being able to raise and spend funds," Thompson explained.

While he's running to be "a service to my community," Thompson is touting his knowledge of the Constitution as another reason to elect him to the City Council.

"I have studied the Constitution a lot, and I believe that I have a good basic understanding of the principles of the Constitution. Everybody in public service in the United States, whether it's city level, state or federal, swear an oath to [uphold] the Constitution. I think a lot of folks kind of take it for granted that they understand it without studying it," Thompson said.

"What has happened in New Ulm and cities and states throughout the country is there has become such a great interdependence between different levels of government," Thompson said.

"Recently, our governor said he was going to withhold $750,000 from the City of New Ulm because the state might be short of funds. Well, we have apparently $4.1 million coming, and they are going to withhold $750,000. That situation should never arise."

Born and raised in Austin, Thompson, 57, said he isn't the least bit bashful about standing up for what is right.

"If we're totally independent so we can raise and spend our own money, we don't have to depend on St. Paul or Washington, D.C., and our taxes would be lower. That's because the money we raise, we will spend much more wisely," he said.

The fact that such local control isn't a matter of law doesn't dissuade him.

"Before we can get local control, we have to get a bunch of people to go up to St. Paul and say, 'Hey, you need to lower your taxes. You need to give us complete freedom to raise funding locally and to spend locally, and you have nothing to say about it. I believe that's a Constitutional principle," Thompson said.

"It took us a long time to get into this mess, and it's going to take a long time to get out. But we have to start. I'm the type of person who can initiate things, and I'm not bashful about going against trends or against what the perceived majority says or whatever."

Thompson said he's willing to take the lead in pressing the argument for local control.

"There are a lot of people in New Ulm that haven't participated in government for the last 25 or 30 years because they don't feel they have any control locally. But, if they see somebody who is willing to stick his neck out, I think those people will get behind him, and I'll take caravans of people up to St. Paul, if they're willing to go, so we can testify and put pressure on the State Legislature," Thompson explained.

Thompson, who owns his own roofing, painting, snow removal and lawn care business in New Ulm, also would like to see changes in the way the state raises its money.

"For example, I'd like to completely get rid of the income tax in Minnesota. South Dakota doesn't have one. Their schools consistently rank in the top five in the nation, and they don't have any income tax. We don't need one here. All those things that the state government does with income taxes, we can do here for less money and more efficiently."

Eliminating the state income tax would mean greater opportunities for raising money here at home, Thompson believes.

"So, they eliminate that income tax, and then we raise that money locally and spend it locally. Our taxes will actually be lower because we'll spend it more efficiently."

Thompson also believes the state is not telling the whole truth about its financial condition.

"The state's comprehensive annual financial report shows that they've got a nest egg of $16 billion that the public does not know about."