Lakeville's Thompson Named Top GOPer on Senate Tax Reform Division

Thompson was also appointed to three committees: education, state and local government, and tax committees.

Sen. Dave Thompson, (R-District 58), of Lakeville, the newly appointed assistant minority leader in the senate, has received his committee appointments. During the 2013-2014 legislative session, Thompson will serve on the education, state and local government, and tax committees. "Education must remain a priority in our state, and I am prepared to do the necessary hard work to help make our schools more effective and our students more successful,” Thompson said in a statement. In addition, Thompson was named the ranking Republican member of the Senate Tax Reform Division, something he expressed excited about. "I am particularly honored to serve as the Ranking Republican Member on the Senate Tax Reform Division Committee," he said. Thompson…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

Letter to the Editor

Letter: Dave Thompson Says 'Limited Government' the Right Path

Dave Thompson: "I respectfully ask for your vote on November 6th."

To the editor, It has been an honor to serve in the Minnesota Senate for the last two years. I am asking for your vote again on Tuesday. In February 2011, Minnesota faced a projected $5.1 billion budget deficit. Governor Mark Dayton and DFLers in the Legislature immediately started pushing a tax increase that would have slowed our economy, resulting in less job creation and higher unemployment. The Republican Legislature stood up to the Governor, and we balanced the budget without raising taxes. Unfortunately we were unable to persuade the Governor to hold spending at the same levels as the previous biennium. The compromise ended up being approximately $1.5 billion more in spending using revenues taken from an education “shift” and “…

• Photos (1)

Election 2012

Filing Closed: Who's Running to Represent Lakeville in State Offices?

Lakeville is now part of three house districts and three senate districts. Here's a look at who has filed to run for all six seats.

The candidate filing period for state legislative races ended at 5 p.m. on June 5 according to the Minnesota Secretary of State's website. So who's officially running for office to represent Lakeville at the State Capitol? Remember, Lakeville was split into three house districts in February, and thusly, three senate districts. In total, Lakeville will now have six legislators at the capitol next year, up from three. House District 56B represents a small chunk of northwest Lakeville and is predominantly a Burnsville and Savage district. District 57A will represent a small chunk of northeast Lakeville but is mostly an Apple Valley and Rosemount district. Most of Lakeville, meanwhile, is located in District 58A. The list of those who have …

• Photos (1)

Dakota County's Kurt Bills Wins GOP Nomination for U.S. Senate

The former state representative for part of Apple Valley is the GOP nominee to run against U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Former state respresentative and Rosemount resident Kurt Bills has won the Republican endorsement to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Bills won on the second ballot, competing against former state Rep. Dan "Doc" Severson and war veteran Pete Hegseth. While serving in the Minnesota Legislature, Bills has continued to teach economics at Rosemount High School. His teaching duties over the past 15 years have included advanced courses in micro and macroeconomics and American government and politics. Bills and his wife, Cindy, have been married for 17 years and are parents of four children ranging in age from 5 to 14. The couple also owns and operates a home daycare. In a press release, Bills said, "America …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

House, Senate Approve Reconciled Vikings Stadium Bill

Mary Liz Holberg and Dave Thompson were no votes, but Pat Garofalo supported the stadium bill.

The Minnesota Vikings have their stadium. After a few weeks of wrangling, both the Minnesota House and Senate approved a reconciled bill to build the team a brand new stadium on the site where Metrodome now stands. Earlier this week, Minnesota's House and Senate passed two different versions of Vikings stadium bills. Yesterday, it was the job of a conference committee made of members of both chambers to negotiate a workable melding of the bills that would appease the team and the legislature. Around midnight, the committee announced it had reconciled such a bill, and the Vikings were on board. Then, at 3:30 a.m., after a couple hours of debate, the House of Representatives passed the reconciled bill 71-60. Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-District…

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Lakeville's Thompson Talks Education, Bonding Bill

State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville, discusses education, paying back the schools, as well as the bonding bill.

State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville, released his most recent legislative update.

• Documents (1)

UPDATE: Photo ID Amendment Passes Senate, Will Head to Ballot

Voters will weigh in on the constitutional amendment in November.

This November, Minnesota voters will decide whether photo IDs should be required the next time they go to the polls. The Senate, by a 35-29 vote, passed a bill on Wednesday afternoon that will send the question to the ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment. The House passed the same bil learly Wednesday. Because it is a proposed constitutional amendment, Gov. Mark Dayton will not get a chance to approve—or veto—the bill. State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville, voted for the measure. The issue has divided the Legislature on party lines, with Republican supporters saying it would add integrity to Minnesota's election system, while Democratic opponents say the measure is unnecessary and could disenfranchise some voters. …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Apple Valley Republican to Seek Endorsement for District 57 Senate Seat

Tim Gould announced his candidacy for current Sen. Chris Gerlach's seat at the Minnesota Capitol.

Apple Valley resident Tim Gould announced Wednesday he will seek the Republican endorsement to run for the District 57 Senate seat, which includes all of Apple Valley and Rosemount, the town of Coates and the north east corner of Lakeville. Gould said in the letter announcing his candidacy that he has lived in Apple Valley for 16 years and is an Apple Valley High School graduate. He attended Northwestern College and William Mitchell College of Law. The District 57 Republicans plan to endorse candidates for state Senate District 57 and state House District 57B at a April 14 convention, according to an email from district secretary Kevin Ecker. The district didn't endorse candidates for the two seats at their March 17 convention, largely due…

• Photos (1)

Dave Thompson Talks Voter ID, Anti-Shutdown Updates

State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville, discusses the Vikings stadium, teacher seniority, and other topics in this edition of his legislative update.

State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville, released his most recent legislative update.

• Documents (1)