I'm Mike Wiener. I want to thank all of the people who attended the endorsing conven- tion April 2 and overwhelmingly supported me to be the next representative for House district 5b. As candidates we were all asked if we would abide by or honor the endorsement. All the candidates gave their word that they would not go to the primary. It's not a good way to start a campaign to say you're not going to do some- thing and then do it anyway. The endorsement of the people is the only one of any value. Special interest and outside influences who endorse candidates all come with strings attached. When the special interest wants a bill passed they call on those favors. Favors are the currency of politics. So when your politicians are endorsed by special interest they work for the special interest not the people. During covid the capital was closed to the public, but special interest lobbyists had access. That shows the influence special interests have and the reason why I rejected their endorsements. When I received the endorsement from the people I resigned from both the Todd County planning and zoning board and the deputy chair of the Todd County Republicans. Minnesota does not have a "resign to run law" but it should. Other states require board members and nonpartisan elected positions like sheriff and county commissioners to resign before they run for partisan po- sitions. The chance of conflict of interest is too great. Would you want a board member voting in order to gain votes? Or a county commissioner using their position to influence elections? Good people don't need to be compelled by law to do the right thing. I would like to thank the Todd and Cass County Republicans for their donations and the people who have donated to our cam- paign. Primaries are expensive. We have self funded this campaign as much as possible. When gas is 4 dollars a gallon, inflation is 9% and taxes are out of control, I cannot ask the people to donate for a primary. According to campaign finance my opponent is spending 3 times more money on his campaign than we are. That doesn't include the mailers that are being sent by special inter- est and political action committees. Candidates who are willing to spend these amounts on a primary will have no problem spend- ing your tax dollars when they're in office. Sanctity of life. I'm glad that more candidates are using that term. Sanctity of life means more than just opposing abortion. Life starts at conception until natural death. Sanctity of life means all life is precious and we have seen the catastrophic effects when society loses that view. As a father of 9 I am 100% prolife and will always fight for the rights of the unborn and our elderly. The 2nd Amendment is very clear, "the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed". Weak politicians cave every time there is another tragedy. We cannot just defend the 2nd amendment, but need to push back on legislation that restricts our rights. Wadena County is the third highest taxed county in the state, Minnesota ranks 9th for taxes. We are driving business and peo- ple out of our state. Nearly 20,000 people and countless business have left for lower taxed states. We need to eliminate the Social Security Tax, the Income tax and re-evaluate property tax. We need change in government. We cannot keep electing career politicians who are in the back pockets of special interests. We need someone who sees the issues, someone who will fight for the people, not a political career. We need change and that's why I'm running. Please Vote for Mike Wiener August 9. Thank you. Prepared & paid for by the Mike Wiener for House of Representatives Committee. Mike WienerforHouse.com I'm Mike Wiener . I want to thank all of the people who attended the endorsing conven tion April 2 and overwhelmingly supported me to be the next representative for House district 5b . As candidates we were all asked if we would abide by or honor the endorsement . All the candidates gave their word that they would not go to the primary . It's not a good way to start a campaign to say you're not going to do some thing and then do it anyway . The endorsement of the people is the only one of any value . Special interest and outside influences who endorse candidates all come with strings attached . When the special interest wants a bill passed they call on those favors . Favors are the currency of politics . So when your politicians are endorsed by special interest they work for the special interest not the people . During covid the capital was closed to the public , but special interest lobbyists had access . That shows the influence special interests have and the reason why I rejected their endorsements . When I received the endorsement from the people I resigned from both the Todd County planning and zoning board and the deputy chair of the Todd County Republicans . Minnesota does not have a " resign to run law " but it should . Other states require board members and nonpartisan elected positions like sheriff and county commissioners to resign before they run for partisan po sitions . The chance of conflict of interest is too great . Would you want a board member voting in order to gain votes ? Or a county commissioner using their position to influence elections ? Good people don't need to be compelled by law to do the right thing . I would like to thank the Todd and Cass County Republicans for their donations and the people who have donated to our cam paign . Primaries are expensive . We have self funded this campaign as much as possible . When gas is 4 dollars a gallon , inflation is 9 % and taxes are out of control , I cannot ask the people to donate for a primary . According to campaign finance my opponent is spending 3 times more money on his campaign than we are . That doesn't include the mailers that are being sent by special inter est and political action committees . Candidates who are willing to spend these amounts on a primary will have no problem spend ing your tax dollars when they're in office . Sanctity of life . I'm glad that more candidates are using that term . Sanctity of life means more than just opposing abortion . Life starts at conception until natural death . Sanctity of life means all life is precious and we have seen the catastrophic effects when society loses that view . As a father of 9 I am 100 % prolife and will always fight for the rights of the unborn and our elderly . The 2nd Amendment is very clear , " the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed " . Weak politicians cave every time there is another tragedy . We cannot just defend the 2nd amendment , but need to push back on legislation that restricts our rights . Wadena County is the third highest taxed county in the state , Minnesota ranks 9th for taxes . We are driving business and peo ple out of our state . Nearly 20,000 people and countless business have left for lower taxed states . We need to eliminate the Social Security Tax , the Income tax and re - evaluate property tax . We need change in government . We cannot keep electing career politicians who are in the back pockets of special interests . We need someone who sees the issues , someone who will fight for the people , not a political career . We need change and that's why I'm running . Please Vote for Mike Wiener August 9. Thank you . Prepared & paid for by the Mike Wiener for House of Representatives Committee . Mike WienerforHouse.com