Smith up to the Westrom challenge
Political novice feels Rep. Westrom is vulnerable.
BY C. A. RAY, Editor
To most, Bennett Smith’s quest to unseat seven-term District 11A Representative Torrey Westrom is Quixotic at best — to Smith, it is very doable.

Smith grew up on the family farm near Donnelly, where his family has had roots for 140 years. Following graduation from Morris Area High School, he decided to attend the University of Minnesota, Morris. He graduated just this past spring with a degree in political science with an emphasis on American government and international relations. He said the semester he spent in Argentina was beneficial as he learned both to appreciate his country more and see how other countries viewed us.

Smith, who was voted Most Representative Senior by the UMM Class of 2010, claims Westrom may be a good person, but, “he has gotten out of touch with what it means to live out here.”

“Westrom has let his leader’s [Governor Pawlenty’s] ambition to become President, get in the way of what’s good for rural Minnesota.”

“When I grew up, I never heard my parents talk politics,” Smith said. “They never took sides and their priority was that the candidate care about people, be honest and treat everyone the same.”

Smith said he became interested in politics during the Clinton/Dole presidential race of 1996, when his father asked him who he favored and he studied the issues to form an answer.

“I realized it has to be about doing right by the people.”

He began to be active in the DFL caucus because he felt the things he valued, such as schools and the family farm, were not being addressed by the Republicans at all.

“K-12 education is not being fully funded and higher education is not accessible to all, as tuition has gone up 100 percent in the past decade. Republicans were in charge of the House six of those ten years.”

Smith was elected DFL Precinct Chair in Donnelly and soon discovered it was difficult to recruit someone to run against Westrom.

“It’s hard for a family man, who has to support his family, because it takes so much time.”

Smith, who is not married, said he has a six month window between graduation from UMM and when he has to start paying back his college loans, so, he figured, why not use that time to run against Westrom himself?

He was enthusiastically endorsed at the DFL district convention, and has been hitting the parade circuit ever since.

“I’m loving every minute of it,” he said as he visits the farmers’ market in Hoffman Wednesday evening. “I love a parade and getting out and meeting people, finding out what they are concerned about. Hands down, the two main things they are worried about are health care, and that the quality of education has slipped in this state. They are willing to pay, but they want it to be fair.”

Smith feels that Westrom, and all Republicans, are vulnerable on their main issue that they have held down taxes.

“The idea that the GOP has held down taxes is simply not true. More state revenue came from property taxes last year than at any time in history. Property taxes on ag land went up six and one half percent in 2009 alone.”

“Taxes are too high in Minnesota for working families and the family farmer. The responsible route is for the rich, who have gotten tax cuts under Republicans, to start paying their fair share. But that won’t be enough, we have to lower the cost of government as well.”

Smith said taking a long, hard look at revenues and the budget does not have to be a divisive thing.

“It is an opportunity to reshape the way we do things, but we must keep the interests of all in mind.”

Smith also favors finding unique ways to help local districts rely more on their natural resources, and less on politically leveraged state resources.

“Education must be equal for every student in our state, that’s our obligation. Morris High School’s new greenhouse project is a great example of subsidizing the cost of food in schools by creating it on-site. UMM’s bio and renewable fuels initiatives have lowered their need for state tax dollars.”

He also says we have to look at combining and lowering administration costs, while maintaining district independence.

Smith said communities can become more sustainable if the Legislature passes the Opportunity Minnesota legislation to give Minnesota college grads a reason to stay in our state and in rural communities by giving them a tax credit on paid school debt.

“We need to harness youth energy to revitalize our communities.”

He said we need property tax relief for rural communities by fully funding school districts, and reexamining the speculative versus the productive value of farmland.

On the issue of sustainable energy, Smith said we need to continue funding clean energy projects like the University of MN, Morris biomass gasifier that was a result of the 2005 legislative bonding bill; encourage innovation to help our state’s economy become independent of oil; and help low-income residents and residents receiving state assistance lower their long-term costs and fuel our economy by teaching easy money and energy saving practices in their homes.

During the campaign, Smith has met many local community leaders and asked them what the state can do for their community.

“Muriel Krusemark, Hoffman’s Economic Development Authority president, told me that Hoffman needs a coffee shop on main street where people can go and get a cup of coffee. But state regulations make opening even a simple coffee shop prohibitive. Now why can’t there be different regulations for a coffee shop than there are for a restaurant that is serving meals?

“This is just one simple thing a state representative can work on to make life better for the people he, or she serves.”

Smith knows his youth – he is 23 years old – can make potential voters pause, but anyone who sees him working a parade route can appreciate his youthful energy. Besides, as he likes to say, “Torrey Westrom was the same age as me when he first ran for the Legislature.”

Back to top