Candidate Profiles Choose one ------------------- ALL CANDIDATES Charles Aldrich David Allen Douglas Aitken Warren Anderson Joe Atkins Brian Balfanz Colin Berg Connie Bernardy David Bly Lynda Boudreau Jim Carlson Michael Corbin Ray Cox Lloyd Cybart Chris DeLaForest Keith Ellison Tom Emmer Sondra Erickson Paul Gardner John Gibeau Barb Goodwin Mindy Greiling Tom Gromacki Mike Jaros Brian Hanf Wade Hannon Bud Heidgerken Bill Hilty Paul Holmgren Melissa Hortman Jim Huhtala Sigrid Hutcheson Gail Kulick Jackson Patrick Kirby Lonn Kiel Lyle Koenen Glenn Kuehne Tina Liebling Bernie Lieder Shelley Madore Paul Marquart Jay Mastrud Pat Mellenthin Frank Moe John Muenich Kent Nelson Kathryn Ness Anne Nolan Bud Nornes Lynne Osterman Dennis Ozment Maxine Penas Sandra Peterson Jim Pithan Greg Prest Len Price Rob Rapheal Tom Rukavina Carl Samuelson Lori Schmidt Aaron Schweiger Dan Severson Bruce Shuck Steve Simon Nora Slawik Becki Smith Loren Solberg Valerie Solem Mike Starr Adam Steele Timothy Sycks Tom Taylor Paul Thissen Ben Thome Lynn Wardlow Andy Welti Roger Westall Maryjane Westra Bonnie Wilhelm Lauri Winterfeldt-Shanks Pam Wolf News Headlines

Brian Balfanz

District:		55A
Party:		Independence
Residence:		Maplewood, MN
Web site:		www.votebrian55a.org

Statement from the campaign:
I am runnning to let the voters of Maplewood and North Saint Paul know that they have a real choice in 2004. Over 50% of voters do not agree with Democrats OR Republicans. I want to give this Majority of the Middle a voice in our State Legislature. I support the platform of the Minnesota Independence Party, and want to focus on "Less Politics, and More Results". To learn more about the MN Independence Party, go to: www.mnip.org

I promise to vote the way constituents dictate, not based on party politics. I accept no special interest money, and seek no special endorsements.

Biography:
SWM, 32, No Children, Hill-Murray H.S., Served in US Army Reserve, Operating Room Tech; College: B.A. Geography, St. Cloud State Univ., MN.
Private Sector Experience: Mortgage, Surveyors Assist, Construction, YMCA Youth Coach, Medical Imaging, Landscaping, Manufacturing, Transportation.
Civil Service Experience: Public Works Mapping and Right of Way, Parks and Recreation Geographic Information Systems.

On the Issues:

Should increased taxes be considered as part of a solution to a projected budget deficit?		Undecided
Should gambling be expanded in Minnesota to generate new revenue for the state?		Yes
Should state funds — directly or indirectly — be used to build new sports facilities for the Twins and Vikings?		Yes
Do you support Gov Pawlenty's JOBZ zones program?		Yes
Should K-12 spending in Minnesota be curtailed in order to balance a projected budget deficit?		No
Should a constitutional amendment be presented to voters that would ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota?		No
Should the state spend money for expanding mass transit options in Minnesota?		Yes
Should there be additional restrictions on abortion in Minnesota?		Undecided
Should the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which seeks to protect wildlife habitat and wetlands by paying farmers for taking marginal lands out of agriculture production, be supported?		Yes
Should the state's subsidized health care program be trimmed in order to reduce a projected budget deficit?		No