Our Candidates

Russ Bertsch

HD50B GOP Endorsed Candidate for State House of Representatives

Russ's desire to run has been brewing for many years as he watched government become more powerful and invasive in our lives. It has finally driven him to stand up for the people of HD50B. He believes we need to start reshaping the political landscape at the local level to make sure the same if not greater opportunities exist for them and all our children and grandchildren.

As an elected official, Russ intends to focus on three main areas:

"We need to look at areas of business creation. Minnesota is losing its competitive advantage over many neighboring states because of its tax policy, workers compensation and government subsidy programs. I would promote the reduction/elimination of the state corporate income tax, look at ways of improving our onerous workers comp laws and look at the unintended consequences of randomly creating government subsidized business that compete unfairly against those that do not receive those benefits. My work as District 4 Representative for the FairTax has opened my eyes to many different taxing policy options that may be available to Minnesota and need to be debated. The discussion about progressively higher taxes on the wealthy is a recipe for disaster. - Just look at migration out of the high tax states as proof of this flawed concept."
"Nothing will be off the table when it comes to the spending side of the equation. Over the past years our biggest areas of spending, K-12 education and Health and Human Services, have been brushed off as untouchable. This is hard to imagine when they comprise almost 70% of our state budget. I have yet to hear a number that would truly satisfy all needs in these areas. In my work as a CPA, we had to justify all major programs and expenditures, and if something did not make the cut, it was reduced or retired."
"We need to continue to understand that government works best when it works locally. I plan to work diligently to communicate with those of you who have concerns about our most pressing needs here in the northern suburbs. We are fortunate to reside in some of the most livable areas in the Twin Cities, and I want to work with local and city governments to make certain urgent needs are being addressed as well as long-term needs are being discussed with honest and relevant facts. In my present business life and committee work with churches, clubs and other organizations, I have been able to analyze needs, educate with facts and provide solutions based on common ground."

Gina Bauman

SD50 GOP Endorsed Candidate for State Senate

Click here to go to Gina's campaign web site.

Gina is the owner of a coffee shop in New Brighton (Cuppachiodos) and a twice-elected member of the New Brighton City Council. She believes that all levels of government should serve the people, not the other way around.

As a small business owner with a corporate finance background Gina has first-hand knowledge of the hardships that excessive taxes and unnecessary regulation cause business owners. Like many owners of residential and commercial property she has experienced the hardships that annual tax and fee increases impose on our ability to support our families and maintain our businesses. As a member of city government she has fought against the bureaucratic processes that make the legitimate duties and obligations of government unnecessarily costly and cumbersome to fulfill. She has made a positive difference as a member of city government and is now looking to help solve some of the many problems our state faces as a citizen legislator.

The career politician who currently holds the SD50 Senate seat seems to have a sense of entitlement to the office and uses it largely to advance his own political career and the liberal DFL party agenda. Gina is looking to return the office back to serving the people of the district and Minnesota. Decisions and policies implemented by government will have significant ramifications, either positive or negative, for years to come and will impact not only us but also our children and grandchildren. It is critical to elect someone like Gina who will make the right decisions and promote good policy rather than nurturing their political career.

Gina is committed to fight hard to win the election and to represent us in the State Senate in an effective and honorable way. She knows that it will not be easy as the DFL is not known to give up their political power without a fight, but is confident that she can help the residents of District 50 our Senate seat back to the people.