Fred Turk
Name: Fred Turk
Public Office Sought: Minnesota House of Representatives District 67B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-231-1293
Campaign website: https://fredturkformnhouse67b.wordpress.com/
Twitter handle:
Facebook page:
Candidate Bio
I have been an East Sider for nearly 50 years. Married for 40 years. Two sons.
I am a former member of the Democratic Party and I’m proud to have met Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Norm Coleman. I became a Republican in 1978 because it better fit my moderate views. I have been an active Republican for over 40 years and ran for the District 67B House seat twice before.
I received a BS in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I worked for 35 years as an engineer for the 3M Company and Goodrich Aerospace. I have six patents. I’m an experienced problem solver.
I am an Army veteran, six years with the 247th Military Intelligence Detachment as an intelligence analyst and foreign language interrogator.
I support law enforcement.
I was licensed for 10 years to teach high school mathematics.
I have been an avid runner and bicyclist for over 50 years. Between running and bicycling I have put on more than 100,000 miles over 50 years.
I coached soccer and baseball for 15 years at Battle Creek Recreation Center.
I am an award-winning amateur historian.
Finally, I am a kidney cancer survivor.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro and what role do businesses play in supporting quality of life issues in East Metro communities?
The business climate is bad right now in the East Metro due to high crime rates, high taxation, and poor schools in the city. Many businesses have closed and many won’t come back. New and remaining businesses can support our quality of life by rebuilding, providing jobs, goods, and services.
What role do you think the State should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to and retain existing businesses in the East Metro?
I think the state can have a role in attracting and retaining jobs. I generally don’t favor handing out money as is done in states like New York or as Minnesota did for the Vikings Stadium. Government has a poor track record of picking winners and losers. We should get rid of unneeded laws and regulations that are not business-friendly. I would use states that have been successful in attracting and retaining jobs, like Florida and Texas, as role models.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a proposal on the many types of businesses in the East Metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
No, I don’t support any specific employment-related proposals. Studies have shown that setting a high minimum wage, for example, actually hurts the workers it intends to help by increasing unemployment and decreasing hours worked.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you use to address public safety issues?
I believe we need to support our law enforcement and I call for violent criminals to be caught, convicted, and imprisoned. In particular, I believe drug laws should be more strongly enforced. We need to hire more police where needed.
What strategies or policies would you use to address transportation issues? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
My strategies and views have not changed a lot due to the pandemic. I believe we should stop light rail construction. The Green Line and the Green Line Extension (Southwest Light Rail), for example, have been abysmal failures. The Green Line has slowed down traffic on University Ave and also on I-94. I have opposed light rail for over 40 years and I was right to do so. I believe mass transportation as it is in the Twin Cities is a 19th century solution to 21st century transportation problems, though I take the bus or ride my bicycle whenever it is practical. I like the idea of the Houston Wave, a jitney system (https://www.thehoustonwave.com/jitney/ century). I think we should move to a ride on demand system using our cell phones.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
I believe that the way to provide housing for those with low incomes is to help them raise their income, lower taxes, and keep interest rates low. I don’t believe that raising taxes makes housing more affordable in the long run. I favor minimizing burdensome regulation. I would also look at allowing manufactured housing. I think house flippers have helped address housing issues and perhaps the state can work with them to address more housing issues.
What are your priorities for the State’s budget? Are there any services currently provided by the State that you believe should be expanded, cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I generally support the position of the Republican Party on the budget. My top priority is to rein in wasteful spending like the Metropolitan Council, MNSURE, Medicaid, stadiums, light rail, and DHS. I think many programs were allowed to waste a lot of money. Oversight has been lacking under Gov Walz. Better auditing is also needed.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
I will work to provide:
A. An educated population that can provide a stable supply of labor
B. A low tax rate that won't hinder growth
C. An attractive community where employees will feel welcome and comfortable
D. Reliable infrastructure including transportation and communication networks
E. A positive, vibrant, and supportive business community
F. Low crime rate.
G. Free markets
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce, and address the achievement gap?
I was a licensed teacher for 10 years. If you look at ratings of schools in my district on greatschools.org the ratings are very low in spite of high funding. Money isn’t the answer. The school board is a problem since it is dominated by the teachers union. More school choice would help. Firmer discipline would help. I also believe that if a student fails in every subject he should change to a more suitable school.
I would like to look at more successful K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses such as those in Japan, Singapore, and Europe to try to find ways to improve. I would also like to see if successful educators and businessmen there have looked at our K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses and see if they have any opinions and suggestions.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
The state can have a limited role in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses. Education is one. Lowering taxes is another. Simplifying state involvement and decreasing paperwork are others. Modest supplier diversity initiatives can also help. In general I don’t believe that discrimination decreases discrimination.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Lifting covid restrictions safely ASAP is the best way to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Walz has been too heavy-handed. We need to pass legislation that limits the amount of time that a governor can have executive power and lockdowns.
The state also needs to reassure the business community that we will better protect their businesses from looting, arson, and vandalism
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I believe that a revenue-neutral carbon tax is the best way to conserve natural resources and slow global warming. In other words I favor lowering income taxes and making up for the lost revenue by raising energy taxes. I believe both parties can endorse this.
Public Office Sought: Minnesota House of Representatives District 67B
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-231-1293
Campaign website: https://fredturkformnhouse67b.wordpress.com/
Twitter handle:
Facebook page:
Candidate Bio
I have been an East Sider for nearly 50 years. Married for 40 years. Two sons.
I am a former member of the Democratic Party and I’m proud to have met Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Norm Coleman. I became a Republican in 1978 because it better fit my moderate views. I have been an active Republican for over 40 years and ran for the District 67B House seat twice before.
I received a BS in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I worked for 35 years as an engineer for the 3M Company and Goodrich Aerospace. I have six patents. I’m an experienced problem solver.
I am an Army veteran, six years with the 247th Military Intelligence Detachment as an intelligence analyst and foreign language interrogator.
I support law enforcement.
I was licensed for 10 years to teach high school mathematics.
I have been an avid runner and bicyclist for over 50 years. Between running and bicycling I have put on more than 100,000 miles over 50 years.
I coached soccer and baseball for 15 years at Battle Creek Recreation Center.
I am an award-winning amateur historian.
Finally, I am a kidney cancer survivor.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
- We Must Address Minnesota's Crime Epidemic, especially drug crimes.
- It's Time to get Serious about Inflation, the Economy, and over-taxation. In particular I would try to rein in the bloated Metropolitan Council.
- Fund Kids, not Broken Schools, and Keep our Classrooms Open.
How would you characterize the business climate in the East Metro and what role do businesses play in supporting quality of life issues in East Metro communities?
The business climate is bad right now in the East Metro due to high crime rates, high taxation, and poor schools in the city. Many businesses have closed and many won’t come back. New and remaining businesses can support our quality of life by rebuilding, providing jobs, goods, and services.
What role do you think the State should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to and retain existing businesses in the East Metro?
I think the state can have a role in attracting and retaining jobs. I generally don’t favor handing out money as is done in states like New York or as Minnesota did for the Vikings Stadium. Government has a poor track record of picking winners and losers. We should get rid of unneeded laws and regulations that are not business-friendly. I would use states that have been successful in attracting and retaining jobs, like Florida and Texas, as role models.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address our state’s critical labor shortage?
- I would get schools to focus more on teaching students fundamental skills such as science, math, and writing, that would enhance their employability.
- I would stress enforcement of drug laws. Drug abuse increases crime and mental illness, making many Minnesotans unemployable.
- I would encourage employers to raise wages to attract workers.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of a proposal on the many types of businesses in the East Metro and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
No, I don’t support any specific employment-related proposals. Studies have shown that setting a high minimum wage, for example, actually hurts the workers it intends to help by increasing unemployment and decreasing hours worked.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you use to address public safety issues?
I believe we need to support our law enforcement and I call for violent criminals to be caught, convicted, and imprisoned. In particular, I believe drug laws should be more strongly enforced. We need to hire more police where needed.
What strategies or policies would you use to address transportation issues? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
My strategies and views have not changed a lot due to the pandemic. I believe we should stop light rail construction. The Green Line and the Green Line Extension (Southwest Light Rail), for example, have been abysmal failures. The Green Line has slowed down traffic on University Ave and also on I-94. I have opposed light rail for over 40 years and I was right to do so. I believe mass transportation as it is in the Twin Cities is a 19th century solution to 21st century transportation problems, though I take the bus or ride my bicycle whenever it is practical. I like the idea of the Houston Wave, a jitney system (https://www.thehoustonwave.com/jitney/ century). I think we should move to a ride on demand system using our cell phones.
What strategies or policies would you use to address housing issues?
I believe that the way to provide housing for those with low incomes is to help them raise their income, lower taxes, and keep interest rates low. I don’t believe that raising taxes makes housing more affordable in the long run. I favor minimizing burdensome regulation. I would also look at allowing manufactured housing. I think house flippers have helped address housing issues and perhaps the state can work with them to address more housing issues.
What are your priorities for the State’s budget? Are there any services currently provided by the State that you believe should be expanded, cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I generally support the position of the Republican Party on the budget. My top priority is to rein in wasteful spending like the Metropolitan Council, MNSURE, Medicaid, stadiums, light rail, and DHS. I think many programs were allowed to waste a lot of money. Oversight has been lacking under Gov Walz. Better auditing is also needed.
What will you do to expand your district’s tax base?
I will work to provide:
A. An educated population that can provide a stable supply of labor
B. A low tax rate that won't hinder growth
C. An attractive community where employees will feel welcome and comfortable
D. Reliable infrastructure including transportation and communication networks
E. A positive, vibrant, and supportive business community
F. Low crime rate.
G. Free markets
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce, and address the achievement gap?
I was a licensed teacher for 10 years. If you look at ratings of schools in my district on greatschools.org the ratings are very low in spite of high funding. Money isn’t the answer. The school board is a problem since it is dominated by the teachers union. More school choice would help. Firmer discipline would help. I also believe that if a student fails in every subject he should change to a more suitable school.
I would like to look at more successful K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses such as those in Japan, Singapore, and Europe to try to find ways to improve. I would also like to see if successful educators and businessmen there have looked at our K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses and see if they have any opinions and suggestions.
What is the role of the State in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses?
The state can have a limited role in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses. Education is one. Lowering taxes is another. Simplifying state involvement and decreasing paperwork are others. Modest supplier diversity initiatives can also help. In general I don’t believe that discrimination decreases discrimination.
What further policies can the State of Minnesota adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Lifting covid restrictions safely ASAP is the best way to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Walz has been too heavy-handed. We need to pass legislation that limits the amount of time that a governor can have executive power and lockdowns.
The state also needs to reassure the business community that we will better protect their businesses from looting, arson, and vandalism
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I believe that a revenue-neutral carbon tax is the best way to conserve natural resources and slow global warming. In other words I favor lowering income taxes and making up for the lost revenue by raising energy taxes. I believe both parties can endorse this.