Hello Friends, 

My name is Jeff Backer Jr. and I am running for Minnesota State Senate District 9 which includes all of Clay, Wilkin and Traverse counties and Detroit Lakes and southwest Becker County. The reason for this letter is to give you some background on who I am and why I believe I am the right candidate for the current challenges facing our state.

Jeff, Brittany and Judy (2010)

A lifelong resident of Western Minnesota, I grew up in Browns Valley with my identical twin brother, Jay.  In High School, we started our own lawn business and also worked with our father in his independent mechanic business along with helping area farmers to help pay for college. In 1991 I graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Chemistry and a degree in Public Administration.  Two years later, I was married to my wife, Judy Gnifkowski and we have been married for 17 years and have one daughter, Brittany, who is now 12 years old.

I have been a small business owner for 20 years. In 1990, my twin brother and I started our catalog business, Bwinc, in Browns Valley.  Through hard work we grew that business to 22 employees.  Then through a series of setbacks, in 1995, we found ourselves in debt to our venders for $300,000.

We made a decision at that moment we were not going to declare bankruptcy but pay our debts in full.  After years of sacrifice and many hours of hard work, the debt was completely paid off in February of 2006.   This experience gives me first hand knowledge as to why it is so important for individuals, families, businesses and governments to live within their means by setting priorities. 

Today our business is debt free.  We have employees and continue to remain profitable in spite of the poor Minnesota business climate created by the long term St Paul Politician.  

Since 1995 I have served 16 years as a volunteer EMT for the Browns Valley Ambulance and for the last eight years I have taught fifth and sixth grade release time at Zion Lutheran Church in Browns Valley where I am an active member.

In 2000 I was first elected to the City council and served in that capacity until 2004 when I was elected as Mayor and currently am serving my 3rd term.  During that time we found ways to keep taxes down, combine services and worked extremely hard to cut costs.

Currently I serve as the President of the Browns Valley Lions Club and on the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training.

Jeff, Brittany, Muffy and Judy at the Lake July 2008

In March 2007, Browns Valley experienced, what most would say, was the worst flood in its history.  After the initial recovery, I assembled a key task force and together we successfully started the Westside Floodway Diversion project, an undertaking most people said could not be done.  This project runs both in South Dakota and Minnesota and will serve to protect the citizens of Browns Valley from future flooding.  The list of agencies and red tape we had to go through to start this project is way too long for this letter. 

I am a conservative both fiscally and socially. Government must live within its means.  At a time when Minnesota needs real leaders finding a solution to a once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis, St. Paul has failed us. Last year the legislature did not even do their most basic job and pass a balanced budget. 

In St. Paul, the long time politicians mistakenly believe that spending more money and increasing government is the answer. They are wrong. The state of Minnesota must do a better job to grow its business climate and create more quality jobs. It is a sad fact that not one community on the Minnesota side of the border is larger than its neighbor in the Dakotas. One primary reason for this misfortune is year after year St. Paul continues to burden its citizens by asking them to pay more taxes which make it harder for family farms, main street businesses and families alike to survive and thrive.  Higher taxes equal less economic growth and fewer quality jobs with benefits.  St. Paul needs to learn to live with less, like the people of west and northwest Minnesota have done. 

I feel the State of Minnesota should treat all students the same.  The fact that should make all parents and grandparents in this district cringe, is students in greater Minnesota receive significantly less state aid per pupil in funding compared to the school districts in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The long term St. Paul politicians failed us again. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter.  Together, we can win this election.  Currently the balance of power in the Minnesota State Senate is so one sided that the DFL can convene the Senate without a single member from the Republican Party.  Our founding fathers never intended for political power to be this lopsided. 

Our government belongs to those who show up and get involved.  We all need to be involved because your freedom and your children's freedoms are that important.  Please feel free to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you want to know more about my position on any issue, or to volunteer or assist us in any way.

Together with your help, we will win this election.

Sincerely,

Jeff Backer Jr.

www.JeffBacker.com
home: 320-695-2641 
mobile: 701-361-1909

Prepared and paid for by the Citizens for Jeff Backer Jr., 318 E Broadway, Browns Valley, MN 56219