Primary election day

Today is Primary Election Day in Minnesota. Go to the polls today and support the candidate of your choice. To find your polling place and a sample ballot, visit mnvotes.org.

My precinct's primary ballot in SD44 has little drama. The party endorsees should win on the front page of the ballot. The back page is a little more interesting.

There are ten primary candidates for Hennepin County Commissioner in District 2, which includes Golden Valley and Medicine Lake; portions of Crystal, New Hope, and Plymouth; Northeast and North Minneapolis; and Saint Anthony. The district's former commissioner, Mark Stenglein, resigned to head the Mineapolis Downtown Council.

Rolf Erickson is the only unapologetic fiscal conservative on the county commissioner ballot. On his campaign Facebook page, Erickson says, "My work history as a former union member, a former Hennepin County employee and now as a contract property tax assessor, supervising employees, and working with local and county governments, gives me a unique insight into the internal workings of government that most career politicians do not have.

"I understand how government employees view the law makers and policy creators who define their jobs. I have struggled to administer the same types of laws that require employees to spend much of their time on busywork while the important part of the job has to be hurried along.

"I will work to simplify government and make it more efficient. I pledge to listen to county employees and I will do this with a monthly meeting where county employees will have a chance to bring forth ideas on how to improve delivery of services.

"When elected my top priorities will be:

• Public safety
• Cut the County Commissioner salary by 10% the first year.
• Maintain existing infrastructure of roads and bridges.
• Put together a joint task force to overhaul Minnesota’s property tax system.
• Use zero-based budgeting on the county budget."

Former Hennepin County Commissioner Penny Steele is one of three candidates vying to challenge the incumbent for Three Rivers Park District Commissioner in District 1. Steele proved her dedication to good government and fiscal responsibility over four terms as county commissioner.

Vote for Erickson and Steele, or similar candidates in your "down ticket" races in today's primary election to ensure that voters have clear, commonsense conservative choices in November.