A few years ago our County Commissioners and other leaders signed contracts to build a $59 million dollar court complex over the many voices that said property taxes would be too high! A few commissioners rushed the contracts through without a referendum.

Again, our county commissioners and planning commission now are going over the heads of many resident neighbors to split a 35 acre plot for sale down to 10 acre plots. Commissioner Phil Trusty made the motion to split the 35 acre tract down to three 10s and one 5 and the other commissioners followed. Are we puppets?

Now we have a plan for a new LEC (Law Enforcement Center) rearing its ugly head at a price of possibly over $15 million dollars for another tax hike. I would hope people would fight for a referendum on this item and the other land split. Again have we been pushed into a puppet government?

Does our Constitution mean nothing anymore? Government of the people, by the people, for the people. We are not puppets.

I know Phil Trusty is a very nice person but he is not standing up for the people. This is not a job for him! Paul Koering I have known for 20 years and I cannot think of anything he did for the general public in his eight years of senator. This is not a job for just being a nice person. We must stand up and be counted for the people’s rights.

Marv Begin

Fort Ripley

Begin is a candidate for the District 1 Crow Wing County Board seat.